“Tribe is a social group, usually with a definite are, dialect, cultural homogeneity, and unifying social organization”. It may include several subs – groups, such as sibs or villages. It may and may have common ancestor as well as presiding deities. The families or small communities making up a tribe, are linked through economic, social, religious, or blood ties i.e. kingship bondage. India is home to one of the largest number of tribes in the world. Although there are 537 tribal communities in India, only 258 communities have been notified as tribes. The Tribal culture blooms in the isolated highlands and forests of India. The tribal culture of India has always been interpreted as something alien from the main stream of Indian Culture and thought, whereas the historical truth is otherwise. These and other allied problems have been raised in the present study in an effort to remove prevailing misconceptions about the culture of tribal communities of India. This new book is an attempt to provide a historical background to trace cultural roots of the nation in a truly scientific spirit. The work thus fulfils a long-felt need of the scholars interested in getting a first hand, authoritative and up-to-date account of the tribal heritage of India.

Vasudeva Iyer is a respected sociologist and anthropologist focusing on tribal culture and indigenous studies. His publications on tribal identities and cultural heritage have been published in anthropology journals, advocating for indigenous rights and community development through anthropological research.