© Kamla-Raj 2004 Stud. Tribes Tribals...

© Kamla-Raj 2004 Stud. Tribes Tribals, 2(1): 15-18 (2004)

The present paper is an attempt to discuss

about the relevant anthropological studies which

directly or indirectly promote application of

anthropology in middle India. Also the applied

anthropological efforts and activities would be

examined in terms of protection and development

of the tribal communities on the one hand and

perpetuation of cultural behaviour on the other.

Central India covering the entire state of Madhya

Pradesh, adjacent areas of Gujrat, Bihar, Orissa

and Maharashtra have been taken for consideration.

Census of India 1961 and 1991 listed 58 and

46 tribes respectively in Madhya Pradesh. But

there are about 70 tribes in total because some

20 tribal groups due to various reasons have

been left out. Unfortunately very little

anthropological research has been conducted.

Some monographs have been published between

1939 and 1963. A good number of classical

monographic studies by Elwin (1963: Baiga),

(1942: Agaria), (1943: Maria), (1947: Muria), Naik

(1956: Bhil), Nag (1958: Baiga), Fuchs (1960: Gond

and Bhumia), Nath (1960: Bhils of adjacent state),

Naik (1963: Abu jhmarhias). A Socio-economic

report on the condition of primtive tribes in

Madhya Pradesh was published in 1963 by the

National Council of Applied Economic Research.

W. Kopperís many articles on the Bhils published

in various journals in German language and these

were later translated into English (1948). Leela

Dubeís ëThe Gond Womaní is worth mentioning.

On some other tribes in the adjacent states were

covered by Elwin (1950: Bondo Highlander),

Griffiths (1946: Kol), Mc Dougal (1963: Hill Juang),

Pfeffer (1982) published two important articles

and a book on the middle India tribes. South Bihar,

adjacent to Madhya Pradesh also have attracted

many anthropologists to work on tribal society

and culture between 1912 and 1993. Important

monographic studies were published by Roy

(1912: Munda), (1915: Oraon), (1925: Birhor),

(1928: Oraon religion and customs) ( 1953: Hill

Bhuinya), (1937: Kharia). Majumdar in 1937

studied on social change among the santal tribe.

Jay, Edward published three important articles

on tribal polity and religion in Madhya Pradesh.

Anthropological studies on scheduled

castes and higher castes were also made by

Robertson (1938: Mahar). Two important

contributions on castes of M.P. by Mayer ( 1960)

and Mathur ( 1964) on the higher castes of M.P.

by Mayer (1960) and Mathur (1964) on the higher

castes of Middle India must be mentioned here.

Government of India after having realised the

urgency of anthropological studies established

Tribal Research Institute in Chhindwara (M.P.)

and then it was shifted in the capital at Bhopal.

Anthropology Departments were opened in

Sagar and Raipur universities and later in 1989 at

Bilaspur University. Another Depatment was set

up at Jabalpur University in the name of Tribal

Studies. A good number of research institutes in

the State of Madhya Pradesh came into being

that started conducting researches on various

problems of tribal and scheduled caste groups.

Government of Madhya Pradesh set up a separate

Ministry of Tribal Development for giving proper

attention to the tribals. As many as six

development authorities were set up for the

protection and development of seven primitive

Contributions of Anthropology in Central India

B.M. Mukherjee

Department of Anthropology and Tribal Studies, Guru Ghasidas University,

Bilaspur 495 018, Chattisgarh, India

KEYWORDS Tribals; culture; backward; development

ABSTRACT In the State of Madhya Pradesh the beaurocratic structure is so strong that there is hardly any scope for

human consideration. Politicians and administrators in most cases, cannot be expected to have patience for experiments

or time for research. Two years back an UNESCO Sponsored Programme ìEducation For Allî started at Bhopal

and suddenly collapsed. The reason is not known to me. Another reason for the present status of applied anthropology

in central India is that the publications of this region remain unknown and unobtainable. Partly responsible is the

paucity of anthropological literature/text book due to the lack of library facilities and lack of knowledge in English

language. This gives me an impression that the region has not been able to establish the discipline of applied

anthropology inspite of the fact that Madhya Pradesh by virtue of its tribal concentration and problems deserves

immediate attention of applied anthropologists.

16 B.M. MUKHERJEE

tribes, namely, Abujhmaria, Baiga, Bharia, Hill

Korwa, Kamar, Birhor and Saharia. It was also

felt necessary to establish museum in Bhopal in

a big way which in known as Indira Gandhi

National Museum of Man with a view to work for

documentation and Preservation of tribal culture

of India in general and Madhya Pradesh in

particular. Regional centre of the office of the

Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and

Scheduled Tribes started in Bhopal for providing

protection and remedy to those categories. In

the recent years a large number of Government

schemes under different programmes were

thrown open for these people. Anthropological

Sruvey of India, Govt. of India is having one

regional centre at Sagar to conduct researches

on the tribes and castes of Madhya Pradesh in

addition to the activities of its central Region at

Nagpur. During the last decade a good number

of NGOs have started functioning for the

upliftment of those backward and downtrodden

communities. An effort was made by the Govt. of

Madhya Pradesh towards development of these

communities. An effort was made by the Govt.

of Madhya Pradesh towards condification of

tribal customary laws in M.P. from 1992 to 1997.

The International Fund for Agricultural

Development (IFAD) in May, 1998 launched a

programme to promote a replicable model of self

reliant development of tribal communities based

on the exercise of their rights over the

management of their natural resources. From time

to time the Tribal Research and Development

Institute, Bhopal and the Tribal Research

Institute, Ranchi have brought out their respective

bulletins provide materials of substantive nature

on the tribes inhabiting the respective areas.

Those publications contain materials on

economic, socio-cultural, educational, religious

beliefs and practices, linguistic, demographic and

health and hygienic conditions of the tribals. Quite

a good number of articles and books may be

found on tribal problems, welfare evaluation and

development. In these papers focus has been

given on retaining the tribal culture, customary

law, least interference in the implementation of

welfare and development schemes. Some

publications by academic anthropologists have

also indicated the problems and prospects of tribal

development, self management and joint forest

management.

Late Prof. L.P. Vidyarthi produced a number

of books dealing with the methods, general

principles of applied and action anthropology.

T.B. Naikís and Fuchsí writings have bearing

upon the tribal problems of various communities

and also S.C. Dube has dealt with general

problems of tribes and their development

approach. There are a few papers dealing with

forest, craft and development programmes in

tribal areas published by Roy Burman (1964).

Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal

has also done some work on forest based

economy and tribal development potential. A few

forest officials belonging to the government

Department made efforts in improving the forest

village inhabited by the tribals. Those officials

were having anthropological orientation. Inspite

of all these efforts there exist a lack of base line

socio-economic and cultural data on most of the

tribal groups of Madhya Pradesh. We find barely

a dozen of ethnographic monographs on tribal

communities of Madhya Pradesh and two or three

ethnographic films. These books have little

relevance at present as most of the tribal society

and culture have undergone significant changes.

Hence, very few scientific studies have been

conducted. Three anthropology departments in

the Universities of this State are having far less

number of faculties required to run a department.

It is unfortunate that academic departments of

anthropology are being continuously neglected

both by the State Government and the University

Grants Commission, New Delhi. Most of the time

vacant faculty positions and filled up by adhoc

recruitment of persons not having adequate

qualifications and experience. In the Universities

there is rat race for producing so-called higher

educated persons and opening of catchy titled

subjects. Higher education is being treated as a

commodity and mushrooming like industry not

to talk of its quality. Under this competitive

situation, anthropology is receding to the

background. Sociologists in this region are trying

to replace anthroplogy by producing sketchy and

brief articles on tribal problems and development.

In the research institutes and other organizations

there is a scarcity of trained anthropologists. No

efforts are being made by the concerned

departments of Anthropology to search for

competent persons. The University Departments

of Anthropology have been maintaing a poor

show as the number of teachers are much below

the minimum requirement. The adhoc teacherís

remuneration is at par with unskilled workers

which deters competent anthropologists from

CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANTHROPOLOGY IN CENTRAL INDIA 17

joining the Universities. Applied researches in

the tribal belts are sometimes carried out. But

owing to the lack of theoretical base some of the

institutes, N.G.Os and Government departments

are unable to achieve desired results. The outlook

of the Government, administrators and the social

workers is required to be changed. They think

that theoretical and applied studies can be put

into mutually exclusive categories. At the

analytical stage theoretical and applied aspects

of anthropology will strengthen each other. My

own work on displacement and rehabilitation

during the last five years indicated that

rehabilitation either in agricultural land or in selfemployment

schemes must relate to the facts of

habitate and culture of tribals. The outcome of

such programmes will take a very long time and

therefore alternative livelihood avenues must

also be made available to them. Some sociologists

and social workers have also attempted to

conduct applied research on the so-called

messianic movement of Bastar (M.P.) But results

are of no use as they lack theoretical back up of

various political systems and economy. A

doctoral dissertation of my scholar (1998: F

Mollick) has brought out the following findings:

1. With open and hidden opposition, the

members of the non-tribal society are living

with the tribal communities in close symbiosis.

The later are being exploited and dominated

over the years by the former. Those nontribals

settled long back as large landholders,

traders, business people, money-lenders and

are enjoying political patronage. Even the

officials posted in tribal areas, take undue

advantage.

2. Such people have formed a class in

opposition to the small-scale society.

3. They have a strong political network to

maintain their traditional priviledged status

and dominate over the under-priviledged, i.e.

tribals both socially and economically.

4. They have command to control to a great

extent local, state and national politics as

observed by Fuchs (1969).

5. That is, more or less, the condition prevailing

throughout the entire state.

6. Democratic means to improve their social and

economic condition has failed.

7. No anthropological studies on political

systems of the tribals have been conducted.

Hence with the sudden change from

traditional political autonomy to state

organisation, the relations have deteriorated.

8. There is clash between premitive and wider

superior cultures.

9. External provocations for sparking an

explosion are very frequent.

10. The tribals have indulged in killing of

exploiters and authorities, which has led to

destruction.

11. There is an urgent need of ìtheoretical study

of the tribes so far ignored by anthropological

enquiryî (Fuchs: 1969).

12. A study will be necessary about the origin of

the main tribes, such as Oraon, Munda, Gond

and Bhil which might have political

significance.

In the State of Madhya Pradesh the

beaurocratic structure is so strong that there is

hardly any scope for human consideration.

Politicians and administrators in most cases,

cannot be expected to have patience for

experiments or time for research. Two years back

an UNESCO Sponsored Programme ìEducation

For Allî started at Bhopal and suddenly

collapsed. The reason is not known to me.

Another reason for the present status of applied

anthropology in central India is that the

publications of this region remain unknown and

unobtainable. Partly responsible is the paucity

of anthropological literature/text book due to the

lack of library facilities and lack of knowledge in

English language. This gives me an impression

that the region has not been able to establish the

discipline of applied anthropology inspite of the

fact that Madhya Pradesh by virtue of its tribal

concentration and problems deserves immediate

attention of applied anthropologists.

REFERENCES

Dube, Leela. 1957. The Gond Woman. Nagpur: University

of Nagpur.

Elwin, V. 1951. The Bodo Higlanders. Geoffery,

Cumberlege, O.U.P.

Elwin, Verier. 1939. The Baiga. London: John Murry.

Elwin, Verier. 1942. The Agaria. Oxford: Oxford University

Press.

Elwin, Verier. 1947. The Muria and Their Ghotul.

Geoffery Cumberlege, O.U.P.

Elwin, Verier. 1943. Maria Murder and Suicide. O.U.P.

Fuchs, S. 1960. The Gond and Bhumia of Eastern

Mandla. Bombay: Asia Publishing House.

Griffiths, W.G. 1946. The Kol Tribe of Central India,

Calcutta: Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Majumdar, D.N. 1937. A Tribe in Transition: A Study in

Culture Patterns. London: Longmans, Green & Co.

Mathur, K.C. 1964. Caste and Ritual in Malwa Village.

Bombay: Asia Publishing House.

18 B.M. MUKHERJEE

Mayer, A.C. 1960. Caste and Kinship in Central India,

London: International Library of Sociology.

Nag, D.S. 1958. Tribal Economy: An Economic Study of

the Baiga. Delhi: Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh.

Naik, T.B. 1963. The Abujhmarias. Chhindwara: Tribal

Research Institues.

Naik, T.B. 1957. The Bhil, A Study. Delhi: Bhartiya

Adimjati Sevak Sangh.

Nath, Y.V.s. 1960. Bhils of Ratannal. Baroda: M.S.

University of Baroda.

Pfeffer, G. 1983. Status and Affimity in Middle India.

Wiesbaden: Steiner.

Robertson, A. 1938. The Mahar Folk. Calcutta: Y.M.C.A.

Publishing House.

Roy, S.C. 1912. Munda and Their Country. Calcutta:

City Book Society.

Roy, S.C. 1915. The Oraon of Chotanagpur. Ranchi:

Author Bar Library.