TRIBALS

 

Meaning of Tribe

A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.

Tribal Population

• India in the South East Asian subcontinent is an abode of nearly 2000 ethnic groups of people that includes some 550 tribal communities found inhabited with their language and culture in 30 different States and Union Territories (except Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCT, Chandigarh UT and Pondicherry UT).

• As per the census 2011, the tribal population of India is 10, 42, 81, 034 (i.e. 8.2% of country population. As per the census 2011, the tribal population of India is 10, 42, 81, 034 (i.e. 8.2% of country population.

• The states and Union territories with tribal population in the descending order can be arranged as follow:

Lakshadweep Islands UT (94.8%), 

• Mizoram (94.4%),

• Nagaland (86.5%),

• Meghalaya (86.1%), 

• Arunachal Pradesh (68.8%), 

• Dadra Nagar Haveli UT (52.0%), 

• Manipur (35.1%),

• Sikkim (33.8%),

• Tripura (31.8%),

• Chhattisgarh (30.6%),

• Jharkhand (26.2%), 

• Odisha (22.8%), 

• Madhya Pradesh (21.1%),

• Gujarat (14.8%), 

• Rajasthan (13.5%

Assam (12.4%), 

• Jammu & Kashmir ( 11.9%),

• Goa (10.2%),

• Maharashtra (9.4%), 

• Andaman & Nicobar Islands UT (7.5%), 

• Andhra Pradesh (7%), 

• Karnataka (7%),

• Daman & Diu UT (6.3%),

• West Bengal (5.8%),

• Himachal Pradesh (5.7%), 

• Uttarakhand (2.9%),

• Kerala (1.5%),

• Bihar (1.3%),

• Tamil Nadu (1.1%) and

• Uttar Pradesh (0.6)

The study of tribal communities (Ethnobotany)

The term 'Ethno botany' was first coined by Dr. J.W. Harsh Berger on 4th Dec. 1895, at a lecture in Philadelphia, to describe his field of inquiry, which he defined as the study of "plants used by primitive and aboriginal people." 

• In 1896, Harsh Berger published the term and suggested "ethno botany" be a field which elucidates the "cultural position of the tribes who used the plants for food, shelter or clothing" (Harsh Berger 1896)

• The term quickly began to be used and a new field was opened. Until the turn of the 20th century, ethnobotany was primarily the study of native uses of plants.

• Prior to this term (ethnobotany), many botanists were already including the use of plants by people within their study.

• However, it was Harsh Berger who proposed that discipline of ethnobotany might be developed with its own definition, scope, objectives and methodologies. 

• Although Harsh Berger's definition still provides the root of the ethnobotany, but to describe the field in broader sense ethno botanists have given their definitions time to time.

• Jones (1941) defined it as “The study of interrelationship of primitive men and plants”.

• Faulks (1958) “The total relationship between men and vegetation”. 

• Schultes (1962) “The study of the relationship which exists between people of primitive society and their plant environment”. 

• Jain (1986) “The total natural relationship between man and plants''.

• The forests have been the home for many of these tribes and they have deep rooted association with the forests and nature around.

• Their relationship with the forest has always been harmonious and their whole life revolves around the forest resources.

• Tribal's depend on forests for their livelihood and food security.

• The tribal's also depend on forest flora for meeting their food, medicine and other material

Plants used by Tribals for various purposes

1. Plants used as medicine. 

2. Plants used as food. 

3. Plants used for extracting oil. 

4. Plants used for gum and resin. 

5. Plants used for fish poison. 

6. Plants used for food plates. 

7. Plants used for narcotics, drinks and intoxicants.

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