BSW-042 Tribal Society Indira Gandhi National Open University School of Social Work Block 1 INTRODUCTION TO TRIBAL SOCIETY AND CULTURE UNIT 1 Tribal Social Systems 5 UNIT 2 Tribals and Religion 25 UNIT 3 Rites of Passage 36 UNIT 4 Tribal Languages, Art and Culture 49 EXPERT COMMITTEE Prof. Ramdayal Munda Dr. Bipin Jojo Dr. Sanghmitra S.Acharya Former Vice-Chancellor, Centre for Social Justice Centre for Social Medicine Ranchi University and Governance and Community Health Jharkhand-834008 School of Social Work Jawaharlal Nehru University TISS, Deonar, Mumbai-400088 New Delhi-110068 Prof. Virginius Xaxa Dr. Shweta Singh Dr. Marianus Kujur Department of Sociology Lady Shri Ram College Indian Social Institute Delhi School of Economics Delhi University Lodhi Road Delhi University New Delhi-110003 Delhi-110007 Prof. Tiplut Nongbri Dr. Bodhi Ranee Dr. Grace Donnemching Centre for the Study of Centre for Social Justice School of Extension and Social Systems and Governance Development Studies School of Social Sciences School of Social Work IGNOU, New Delhi-110068 Jawaharlal Nehru University TISS, Deonar New Delhi-110067 Mumbai-400088 Dr. George Plathottam Prof. Anjali Gandhi Dr. Rose Nembiakkim CBCI Centre Jamia Millia Islamia Director New Delhi-110001 New Delhi-110025 School of Social Work IGNOU, New Delhi-110068 Prof. Sanjay Bhatt Prof. Gracious Thomas Department of Social Work Faculty Delhi University School of Social Work Delhi-110007 IGNOU, New Delhi-110068 COURSE PREPARATION TEAM Block Preparation Team Programme Coordinator Unit 1 Dr. C. Devendiran Dr. Rose Nembiakkim Unit 2&3 Dr. Grace Donnemching Director, School of Social Work Unit 4 Dr. Mercy Vungthianmuang IGNOU, New Delhi-110068 PRINT PRODUCTION Mr. Kulwant Singh Assistant Registrar (P) IGNOU, New Delhi August, 2018 Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2018 ISBN : 978-93-87237-650 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Further information about the Indira Gandhi National Open University’s courses may be obtained from the University’s Office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068. Printed and published on behalf of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, by Director, School of Social Work, IGNOU, New Delhi. Laser Typeset by : Rajshree Computers, V-166A, Bhagwati Vihar, Uttam Nagar (Near Sector-2, Dwarka), New Delhi-110059 COURSE INTRODUCTION Certificate in Tribals Studies (CTRBS) is a unique programme started by the School of Social Work, IGNOU. In this course BSW-042 ‘Tribal Society’ apart from learning about the Tribal society in India you shall also be learning about the question of their identity as well as the tribal society in transition. There are four blocks in this course comprising of 16 units which have been prepared by experts on the subjects. Block I deals with ‘Introduction to Tribal Society and Culture’. The block has attempted to highlight the tribal religions and social systems as well as their rites of passage which is distinctive of every tribal group. The language, art and culture of the tribes are also discussed in the block. Block 2 is on ‘Tribal Society in Transition’. It provides information about how the tribal societies in India have been in transition from the governance to the economy to the shift in the gender and class within the tribal society. It also points out the intersection between gender, class and caste in relation to Tribes. Block 3 and Block 4 are about the ‘Tribal Identity and Ethnicity I and II’. The two blocks highlights the concept of difference and inequality among the tribes as well as the tribal identity in the modern world. The block also touches the issue of alienation and migration, which is prevalent among the tribal groups of different regions and also talks about the employment trends of the tribals among other issues. Introduction to Tribal Society and Culture BLOCK INTRODUCTION The block titled ‘Introduction to Tribal Society and Culture’ consists of four units. Efforts have been to provide accurate information about the various tribal cultures that we see prevalent in India, ranging from the social systems to the religious practices as well as their art forms. Unit 1 is about the ‘Tribal Social Systems’. This unit introduces the geographical divisions of tribes in India while at the same time highlights the social system, organization and social structure of tribal community. This unit will help us to understand the various tribal social systems. Unit 2 ‘Tribals and Religion’ provides information about the early tribal religion and the different tribes of India and their form of religion. It also describes the religious practices of Shamanism and Bongaism while discussing Hinduism as well as Christianity among the Tribals. Unit 3 is about ‘Rites of Passage’. It talks about the practice of pregnancy, Child Birth Rites among the different tribal group of India. It also provides information in regards to the practice followed during the puberty and initiation Rites. Marriage and death which is a common phenomenon the world over has also been described in this unit but with particular reference to the marriage and funeral rites among the tribal population. Unit 4 is about the ‘Tribals Languages, Art and Culture’. Language, art and culture cuts across all groups. This unit deals with the particular tribal language, art and culture prevalent among the tribal population of India. Hence, it traces the origin of the tribes’ in India while understanding the different tribal languages. It also provides an insight to the tribal culture that has been a part of the Indian society and traces the growth and development of tribal art. 4 Tribal Social Systems UNIT 1 TRIBAL SOCIAL SYSTEMS Structure 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Social System, Structure and Organization of Tribals 1.3 Units of Tribal Social Systems 1.4 Patterns of Tribal Social Systems 1.5 Let Us Sum Up 1.6 Further Readings and References 1.0 OBJECTIVES Tribal Social Systems is one of the important areas to understand the institutions of tribal systems of the tribal people. This unit concentrates on understanding the tribes, their characteristics, and tribal social systems like a group of tribes, sub-tribe moiety, phratry, clan, local group of village community, lineage, and family. By the end of this unit, you should be able to: describe the social organization and social structure of tribal community; to know the geographical division of tribe in India; and understand the various tribal social systems. 1.1 INTRODUCTION Tribal people constitute an important segment of India. It is having the largest tribal population in the world next to Africa. It constitutes 8.6 percent of total population (2011 Census). There are 705 tribal communities (MSW-001) who speak over 150 languages and 225 subsidiary languages. The tribal groups of India belong to various racial, linguistic, cultural and ethnic categories. Each and every tribe has its unique culture, tradition, values, mores and folkways. In India the diversity of the tribes is very rich in nature from the length and breadth of its region. It is quite interesting to know the social systems because every society or group has a system without which no unit can operate. Each social system has sub-systems such as educational system, economic system, religious system and political system. In the same way, the tribal system speak about its traditional pattern of living as well as its unique features like a group of tribe, tribe, sub-tribe clan, lineage, family and so on. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the various tribal social systems of our country and related concepts of tribal social systems such as tribe, sub- tribe moiety, phratry, and clan, local group of village community, lineage, and family. We will discuss in detail the above aspects later in this chapter. 5 Introduction to Tribal Society and Culture 1.2 SOCIAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF TRIBALS The core of the human life depends on the social life of a person. The social life develops through social interaction and building relationships among the human beings. There are some common characteristics found among the Indian tribes in terms of social life. But, there are some local differences found as well. There are five factors which form the prevailing conditions of social life among the tribes. They are 1) natural environment, 2) population, 3) human being, 4) material technology and 5) social environment. Among these components, the natural environment is basic for all societies. They depend on it for basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, fuel etc. The population provides a raw material for well organized society without which social life cannot exist. The human being is another factor that is responsible for the patterns and ways of the social life. All individuals are supposed to meet the requirements of the group by collective means. Material technology is an indivisible part of social life because it helps in getting natural resources, erecting a shelter, making tools and preparing food. The social environment plays a vital role for social life. A systematic social life occurs in consonance to the surroundings of uncountable other social environments such as social organization, social interaction, social order, its design, co-operation, the economic construction etc. Therefore, the social life is a combination of whole or a web of varied social organizations. Piddington (1952) cited that the tribal social life is specific in nature as the tribal people have their own ways of life. He mentioned ten factors of primitive structure and organizations of tribes. They are sex difference, age, kinship, locality, social status, political power, profession, religion and magic, totemism and volunteer associations.