Documentation of various facets of tribal social reality is very much essential before they are totally eclipsed by the rapid process of globalization of the world economy. While examining the current literature on tribal societies, we notice a curious absence of scientific studies based on intensive fieldwork among a large and important section of the world population. This ongoing series, Contemporary Society: Tribal Studies, tries to fill in this gap and thereby attempts to remove our ignorance about many aspects of tribal world.
This volume, containing seventeen papers, addresses the key issues concerning structure and exchange in tribal India and beyond. Analysing the different aspects of the Bali Jatra, the contributors deliberate on the buffalo sacrifice of the Konds, brotherhood and otherhood in Bastar, sister exchange in Middle India and the concept of society in highland Orissa. They also present an elaborate discussion on village relations, the segmentary lineage system and the models of social life in tribal India. The issue of 'to be or not to be a tribe' in India has also been addressed.
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