India is home to a vast array of tribal communities, spread across various states and union territories. These tribes represent diverse cultures, languages, and traditions and inhabit distinct geographical zones ranging from the Himalayan regions to the central plains and southern peninsulas. Tribal communities have historically lived in close harmony with nature, subsisting on agriculture, hunting, and gathering. This article explores the geographical classification and distribution of India’s tribal population, highlighting their diversity and spread across different regions.
Background
The territories inhabited by tribal populations in India are vast, crossing multiple states and even international boundaries. Several tribes are found across five to six states and often share cultural and familial ties with tribes in neighboring countries such as China (including Tibet), Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Census of 2011
- The total population of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India, according to the 2011 Census, is 10,42,81,034 persons, making up 8.6% of the total population of India.
Diversity of Tribal Communities
The distribution of tribal communities in India is marked by an enormous diversity and heterogeneity. Tribes are found in a variety of ecosystems, ranging from dense forests and hilly regions to coastal areas, practicing distinct forms of livelihood and cultural traditions.
Classification of Indian Tribes
B.S. Guha’s Classification
Anthropologist B.S. Guha classified Indian tribes into three broad zones:
1. North and North-Eastern Zone
- Regions Covered: Sub-Himalayan regions and the mountain valleys of North-East India.
- Tribes: This zone, though large in area, has a relatively sparse population. Most tribes here practice terrace farming or jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation.
- Tribes Found:
- Himalayan Region: Bhotiya, Gaddi, Dard Aryans, Gujjar, Kinnaur
- North-East India: Naga, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Apatani, Mikir, and Bodo.
2. Central Zone
- Regions Covered: Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Distribution: More than 55% of the tribal population resides in this region, practicing jhum cultivation as well as plough agriculture in some areas due to cultural contact.
- Tribes Found:
- Bihar: Oraon, Munda, Santhal, Gond.
- Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: Bhils, Gonds, Baigas, Banjara, Ho, Muria, Khond, and Koya.
3. Southern Zone
- Regions Covered: Peninsular region south of the Krishna River.
- Tribes: These tribes mainly inhabit dense forests and hilly areas and include some of the most economically backward communities in India. They subsist primarily on hunting and gathering.
- Tribes Found:
- Andhra Pradesh: Koya, Bonda, Chenchu.
- Tamil Nadu: Irula, Kadiyar, Badaga.
- Kerala: Kurumbas, Kattunayakan, Mannan, Urali.
- Karnataka: Kuruba, Gond.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
While Guha did not include the island tribes in his classification, the tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a distinct fourth zone. These tribes are ethnically closer to South Indian tribal groups.
- Tribes Found: Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, Nicobarese, Shompen.
Vidyarthi and Rai’s Classification (1976)
Vidyarthi and Rai proposed a fourfold geographical classification of Indian tribes, which also includes a distinct sub-region for the islands.
1. Himalayan Region
- This region constitutes 2.03% of India’s ST population, with a high concentration of tribal people.
- Sub-regions:
- North-Eastern Himalayan Region: Assam (Bodo, Kachari), Meghalaya (Garo, Khasi), West Bengal (Bhotiya, Lepcha), Arunachal Pradesh (Apatani, Naga).
- Central Himalayan Region: Tarai areas of Uttar Pradesh (Bhotia, Khasas), Bihar (Korwa).
- North-Western Himalayan Region: Himachal Pradesh (Gaddi, Gujjar), Jammu and Kashmir (Balti, Gaddi, Gujjar).
2. Middle India Region
- Population: More than 2 crore tribal people.
- Regions: Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Tribes:
- Bihar: Oraon, Munda, Gond, Santhal.
- Odisha: Gond, Ho, Savara, Baiga.
- Madhya Pradesh: Bhil, Gond, Kamar, Agaria.
3. Western India Region
- Population: Includes around 1 crore tribal people.
- Regions: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
- Tribes:
- Rajasthan: Bhil, Mina, Sahariya.
- Gujarat: Dhodia, Bhil, Warli.
- Maharashtra: Bhil, Koli, Dhanka, Warli.
4. South India Region
- Population: This region has a small tribal population, constituting 1.66% of the region’s population and about one-sixteenth of India’s total tribal population.
- Regions: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala.
- Tribes:
- Andhra Pradesh: Koya, Chenchu, Gond, Pradhan.
- Tamil Nadu: Irula, Kota, Badaga.
- Kerala: Kurumba, Kanikkar, Mannan.
5. Island Region
- This region is home to tribes that constitute 54.3% of the population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Tribes:
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Andamanese, Jarawa, Nicobarese, Sentinelese.
- Lakshadweep: Moplah.
Tribal Communities by Population Size
Indian tribes vary widely in population size:
- Large Tribes: Gonds, Bhils, Santhals, Oraons, Minas, Mundas, whose populations range from 1 million to over 7 million.
- Small Tribes: Communities like the Andamanese Islanders, Birjia (Bihar), Asur (Bihar), and Birhor (Madhya Pradesh) have populations of less than 200 persons, making them extremely vulnerable.
Conclusion
The tribal populations in India are geographically diverse, and their distribution spans across several regions and ecosystems. The rich cultural heritage of these tribes adds to the social fabric of India. From the Himalayan valleys to the peninsular forests, each tribal group brings with it unique traditions, practices, and challenges. Understanding their geographical distribution is crucial for formulating policies aimed at their upliftment, preservation of culture, and integration into mainstream society.
- Discuss the geographical distribution of major tribal populations in India and its implications for tribal development policies. (250 words)
- Analyze the role of geographical isolation in preserving the cultural identity of the tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (250 words)
- Evaluate the socio-economic challenges faced by the tribal communities in central and southern India. (250 words)
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