TRIBAL STUDIES IN INDIA: Perspectives of History, Archaeology and Culture

Book Details

• Editor: M.C. Behera

• Publisher: Springer

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9789811696039

• Pages: 336

• Cover: Hardback

• Sale Territory: This edition may not be sold outside India,

About the Book

This compelling volume offers a multidisciplinary perspective on tribal studies, challenging conventional academic boundaries by integrating history, archaeology, and anthropology. Through a collection of deeply analytical chapters, the book explores the dynamic interaction of tribal societies over time and space. With an innovative cross-disciplinary framework, it redefines the understanding of tribal histories and cultures within the broader spectrum of human civilization.

Structured into three core parts—Tribes in History, Ethno-Dimension of Archaeology, and Historicity in Cultural Understanding—the book spans a wide range of topics. These include colonial education policies in Chhotanagpur, the historical reconstruction of Northeast India, megalithic art in Manipur, the ethnoarchaeology of Assam, witchcraft beliefs among Indian tribes, and cultural expressions in Lakshadweep and the Andaman Islands.

Each chapter, penned by leading scholars, provides deep insights into tribal life, blending empirical observations with theoretical interpretations. The volume thus offers a valuable roadmap for understanding the contemporary relevance of tribal communities within a historical and cultural framework.

This book is an essential reference for researchers and scholars in anthropology, archaeology, ethnohistory, and allied fields like sociology, social work, and geography. It also serves as a critical resource for policymakers looking to frame culturally informed and historically rooted strategies for tribal welfare.

Contents at a Glance:

• Part I: Tribes in History
  Covers historical narratives from Bhils in Western India to Bible translation in Kuki-Chin regions.

• Part II: Ethno-Dimension of Archaeology
  Focuses on the intersection of ethnography and archaeology, rock art traditions, and prehistoric cultural practices.

• Part III: Historicity in Cultural Understanding
  Examines tribal worldviews, cultural identity, and community interactions in diverse regions.

About the Editor

Dr. M.C. Behera, a distinguished economist and tribal studies scholar, holds a Ph.D. from Utkal University. With an academic career spanning over four decades, he has authored or edited over 30 books and published more than 60 research papers in reputed journals. Dr. Behera has presented his work at numerous national and international platforms and served in key academic roles, including Dean of the School of Cultural Studies at Central University of Jharkhand. He currently serves as Director of the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar. His scholarship is widely respected for advancing theoretical and empirical understanding of tribal and rural communities in India.