3 Review(s)

India is a land of diversities. While tribes could be integrated into a single unit-distinct from the mainstream society, they are highly diverse among them­selves. Administering the tribes in the country has never been an easy task despite having specific policy-formulations, separate administrative machinery, budgetary allocations, and fixed targets over a period of seven decades. Over the years, there have been a number of high-powered committees that have studied tribal issues, on the basis of which several Acts have been passed and modifications made in the existing Acts. Our Constitution recognises 645 tribes as Scheduled Tribes of India. South India represents several tribal communities such as Andh, Bagata, Bhil, Gadaba, Gond, Kolam, Dulia, Helava, Kurvikaran, Pardhan, Porja, Rona, Savara, Sugali, Valmiki, Yanadi, Yerukula, Koracha, etc. Among these, some tribes are identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).This study is a modest attempt to deal with some of the forgotten Adivasis of South Indian states, their heritage, socio-cultural milieu, economic status, present conditions and their overall development. These tribes have a rich cultural heritage, and indigenous knowledge at their command. However, tribal cultural heritage is fast disappearing. Against this backdrop, there is a need to document their heritage for the benefit of posterity.There are four parts in the present work. Part-I deals with the Tribes of Andhra and Telangana: Nomadic, Semi-nomadic and De-notified Com­munities; Part-II discusses the Profile of Selected Tribes; Part-III covers the Tribes of South India: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala; Part-IV discusses Development and Change in the Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and Denotified Communities.In the reconstruction of the narrative, the study uses varied kinds of sources, old, new, contemporary, oral traditions, etc., and also field survey data and extensive personal interactions with members of respective tribes in the selected places. It is expected that the study will result in furthering the commitment of those concerned with tribal welfare activities in the country, especially in South India.