Sociology II · 10 marks · 150 words

Are definitional issues an obstacle in tribal development? Discuss.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2024

Tribal Communities

Syllabus: Tribal communities in India: (a) Definitional problems. (b) Geographical spread. (c) Colonial policies and tribes. (d) Issues of integration and autonomy.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 150 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A figure2 of 3
  • No separate opening1 of 3

Body

  • Points3 of 3

Close

  • A way forward2 of 3
  • No separate close1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Aayushi BansalAIR 7 · CSE 2024 · 152 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Tribals' diversity has posed a challenge in uniformly defining them.

Body · points

Definitional issues

  1. Residual terms :- Defined as not having features of caste like hierarchy, patriarchy, historical religion & so on.
  2. Hinduisation : NK Bose gave 'Hindu form of absorption' while Ghurye called them 'backward Hindus'.
  3. Sanskritisation : Positions in caste hierarchy open for tribals like Raj Gonds, Bhils (Srinivas).
  4. Colonial :- Tribes as practising 'primitive' agri economy in forests.
  5. Constitutional → ST identity as a measure of backwardness

Obstacle in tribal development

⊙ Defining them in own features leads to autonomy while considering them 'backward Hindus' requires development by integration.

⊙ Without definition, it is difficult to ascertain backwardness parameter.

Not an obstacle in development

Close · a way forward

⊙ Constitution goes for 5th, 6th Schedule & Forest Rights Act 2006

⊙ Panchsheel → controlled integration without definition

Tribals must be defined based on their own features (Xaxa) for holistic development.

More on Tribal Communities

Definitional problems, geographical spread, colonial policies, and integration and autonomy of tribes.

All Sociology II questions on Tribal Communities