Question

“The argument for a tribe-caste distinction was founded on an assumed cultural difference between Hindu castes, with their beliefs in purity and pollution and hierarchical integration, and ‘animist’ tribals with their more egalitarian and kinship-based modes of social organisation.”

Is this distinction between tribes and caste viable? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer 1

1. It was pointed out that the tribe-peasantry distinction did not hold in terms of any of the commonly advanced criteria: size, isolation, religion, and means of livelihood.
2. Some Indian “tribes” like Santhal, Gonds, and Bhils are very large and spread over extensive territory.
3. Certain tribes like Munda, Hos and others have long since turned to settled agriculture.
4. Even hunting gathering tribes, like the Birhors of Bihar employ specialised households to make baskets, press oil etc.
5. It has also been pointed out in a number of cases, that in the absence of other alternatives, “castes” (or non-tribals) have turned to hunting and gathering.