Tribal Cultures And Change

The tribal society of India has been, a late, undergoing a vast transformation. The nature of acculturative influence and degree of change have varied depending upon unmerous factors including extent of exposure toalien conditions. This book chiefly aims at analysing and interpreting the diverse aspects of tribal social structure in the context of change, on the one hand, and in respect of continuity on the other. The positive as well as the negative impacts, on the life and culture of the tribals, of fast grown culture contact and acculturation are discussed in specific tribal situations. The discussion in which the contemporary tribal society is heading, and the concerned ongoing and underlying processes have been studied with a view to delineate certain issues of immediate concern to applied social anthropologists and sociologists, as also to others who are engaged in reshaping the destiny of tribals in terms of development. Of vital importance are some specific problems, concerning tribal life and culture, which have been highlighted for action-oriented agents of change. Barring those housed in traditionality, the rest of these problems crystalised as part of transitional phase, especially attributing to non-directed efforts of change. Though the account provides mapping of status-quo and change only in a few micro tribal settings, the emanating issues are no less applicable to macrocomic tribal scene.