Introduction
In this answer, we provide simple and clear short notes on four key topics related to tribal identity and culture in India: Mongoloids, seasonal migration, the idea of ‘others’ in relation to tribes, and the mendicant nomads of West Bengal.
(A) Mongoloids
Who Are They?
- Mongoloids are one of the three major racial groups used in anthropology (along with Caucasoids and Negroids).
- In India, Mongoloid tribes are mainly found in the northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam.
Features:
- Physical characteristics include straight black hair, yellowish skin tone, flat face, and small eyes.
- Speak Sino-Tibetan languages and follow their own customs and traditions.
Examples:
- Naga, Mizo, Garo, Bodo, and Lepcha tribes
(B) Seasonal Migration as a Strategy of Survival
What It Means:
- Seasonal migration means moving to other places for work during certain times of the year and returning later.
Why It Happens:
- Lack of jobs in the village during dry or non-harvest seasons
- To escape poverty, drought, or lack of food
As a Survival Strategy:
- Helps families earn money temporarily
- Used by tribal people to survive in the absence of local employment
- Common in states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh
Problems:
- Leads to child labor, school dropouts, and poor living conditions at work sites
(C) Tribes and the ‘Others’
Meaning of ‘Others’:
- ‘Others’ refers to people outside the tribal community—non-tribal, mainstream society, government, and outsiders.
Relationship:
- Often marked by misunderstanding, exclusion, and discrimination
- Tribes are seen as ‘primitive’ or backward by the ‘others’
Effects:
- Tribal identity becomes a struggle to protect their land, culture, and language
- Policies and development plans are made by ‘others’ without full tribal participation
Current Efforts:
- Tribes are demanding inclusion, respect, and rights in national development
(D) Mendicant Nomads of West Bengal
Who Are They?
- These are wandering people who survive by singing religious songs, performing rituals, or begging.
- They do not have permanent homes and live a mobile life.
Examples:
- Bauls: Mystical singers who travel across villages singing songs about love, spirituality, and humanity.
- Sannyasis and Fakirs: Religious wanderers who live on alms and blessings.
Cultural Role:
- They are carriers of oral traditions and folk music
- Play a spiritual and cultural role in rural Bengal
Modern Challenges:
- Urbanization, poverty, and lack of government recognition
Conclusion
These short notes highlight how race, mobility, survival, and cultural expression shape the lives of tribal and nomadic communities in India. Understanding these aspects helps us appreciate their contribution and struggle within the broader Indian society.