The essentials
Adivasi ("original inhabitants") is a term used by tribal activists to express a shared identity and a claim to land and resources. Tribal communities have been marginalised through a long process. Under colonial rule, forests were declared state property and access to forest produce was restricted. Moneylenders, traders and settlers from the plains acquired tribal land, and many tribal people became landless labourers or migrants.
After independence, national development often added to this. Large dams, mines, factories and wildlife sanctuaries were frequently located in tribal regions, leading to displacement without adequate compensation or rehabilitation. The struggle over the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river became a symbol of this conflict. Tribal people bear the costs of development while others enjoy most of the benefits.
Tribal communities have resisted through movements for land, forest rights and political autonomy. The creation of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in 2000 followed long tribal struggles. The Constitution provides reservations for Scheduled Tribes and special provisions for tribal areas, and many tribal people have gained education and jobs, forming a small tribal middle class.
Key points
- Main causes of marginalisation: loss of land, restrictions on forest use, displacement, exploitation by outsiders, low access to education and health.
- Tribal identity is often asserted against the state and dominant groups.
- Development projects can create inequality between those who gain and those who are displaced.
- Ecological and livelihood issues are closely linked in tribal movements.
Exam tips
In case questions, look for the "who gains and who loses" pattern in development projects.
Common mistakes
Do not describe tribal marginalisation only as a result of their own isolation; it has been produced by policies and outside pressure.