Next to Africa, India has the largest tribal population (67.7 million) in the world. Indian tribes, spread over the length and breadth of the country, are concentrated in hilly and forest regions. The tribes of India differ considerably from one another in race, language culture and beliefs, and present a spectacle of striking diversity. It is this diversity marked by varied social characteristics and diverse cultural traditions and linguistic traits that lends luster to the cultural mosaic of India. Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes, first of its kind, seeks to present a concise but comprehensive account of the socio-cultural profile of all the tribal communities who have been declared as Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India. The tribes are arranged alphabetically in order to facilitate easy reference. Each profile deals with the geographical distribution of the tribal population, the social structure, the means of subsistence and economic organization, religious beliefs and practices, the political institutions, and modern social changes sweeping the community. At the end of each profile, there is a short bibliography for the more inquisitive reader. Each entry in this four volume set has been contributed by a scholar who has deep personal knowledge and contact with the community. This classic multi-volume set will be extremely useful to scholars studying tribals in India and abroad and to all those interested in a standard reference work on the Indian tribes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR R R Prasad
Dr. R.R. Prasad is presently working as Director in the Faculty of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology, National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad. He received his M.A. degree in Anthropology and Ph.D. from Ranchi University, Ranchi. Before joining National Institute of Rural Development, he was associated with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and Home Ministry as Research Officer. Dr. Prasad has carried out several research studies on the problems of development of the weaker sections of society, particularly the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Besides, he has also carried out research studies on pastoral nomads, social forestry, displacement and rehabilitation, leather artisans, etc. He has to his credit 8 books and several research papers published in the reputed journals and edited books. Books published by Dr. Prasad are: Change and Continuity Among Scheduled Caste Leather Workers, Development of Leather Artisans: Profile, Problems and Prospects, Bhotia Tribals of India, Social Factors in Social Forestry, Tribals, Rehabilitation and Development, Pastorial Nomadism in Arid Zones of India, Bonded labourers: Dynamics of Rehabilitation and Organisation, etc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sachchidananda
Prof. Sachchidananda, D. Lit., is one of the seniormost Anthropologists in India. He received his education from Patna University, and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He has taught at Patna University and New York University. He has held several important posts like Director, Bihar Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Ranchi; Director, A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna; and Vice-Chancellor, Ranchi University, Ranchi. Prof. Sachchidananda has contributed a large number of papers and book reviews to research journals in India and abroad, and published a number of books in Sociology and Anthropology. Important amontst which are : Culture Change in Tribal Bihar (1964), The Tribal Village in Bihar (1968), Social Dimension of Agricultural Development (1972), Tribal Voter in Bihar (1979), Elite and Development (1980), Industrialisation and Social Disorganisation (1985), Tradition and Development (1988), Shifting Cultivation in India (1989). A past President of the Anthropology Section of Indian Science Congress, Prof. Sachchindananda is the recipient of the R.P. Chandela Medal for distinguished work in Anthropology in 1982. He is associated with a number of social science research institutions in the country in an advisory capacity.
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