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Tribal Societies : Features, Tribal People and Examples

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Tribal societies refer to those groups which shared certain kinship bonds. The tribal societies were mostly those societies that were involved in primary activities which include agriculture and animal husbandry. Some of the tribal societies were also involved in hunting and gathering. Certain tribal societies were also known as nomadic. Tribal societies were spread across the country and most lived in forest hill deserts and in certain far-fetched areas and tribes continued to keep their freedom as well as culture separate from mainland India.

Meaning of Tribal Society

The term “tribe” refers to a group of people, who live and work together in a shared geographical area and have a certain common language, culture, dialect as well as religion. The tribe is usually headed by a chief and is organized based on kinship. Tribal societies have mostly not kept written records and yet, rich rituals as well as oral traditions have been preserved and passed over generations. Tribal people are found in many regions of subcontinent and certain powerful clans and tribes control large territories.

Understanding Tribal Societies

Tribal societies were vastly different from those found in large cities. They did not follow the Brahmanas’ social rules and rituals because they divided societies into numerous unequal classes. These societies were referred to as tribes. Each tribe’s members shared a special bond of kinship.

Agriculture was their main source of income. However, there were also hunter-gatherers and herders present. Some tribes were nomadic, moving from one location to the next. Many large tribes lived in forests, hills, deserts, and inaccessible areas.

Tribal Societies

Tribal Societies

Types of Tribal Society in India

The types of tribal societies in India include:

  1. Khokhar tribe are situated in Punjab and were influential between 13th-14th centuries. The Gakkhars also became prominent over the years. Their chief was made mansabdar by Akbar.
  2. The Balochis dominated the northwest and shepherd tribe of gaddis lived in the Himalayas.
  3. Northeastern part of India were dominated by tribes which included Nagas, Ahoms, and many others.
  4. Chero kingdom had emerged in several areas of Bihar and Jharkhand.
  5. Highlands of Maharashtra and Karnataka also included tribes like Kolis, Beards and others.
  6. Banjaras were one of the most important nomadic traders and their carvans came to be known as tanda.

Modern Tribal Society

The modern tribal society was based on a constant interaction between varna based society and culture and these interactions have caused changes to the cultures and societies of both. Over the years, many were also merged to the caste based society and some others have rejected both caste and conservative hinduism.

Special Features of Tribal Societies

Tribes are moderately confined from bigger social impacts, have a rela­tive social homogeneity, and basic innovation. They have confidence in spirits, enchantment, and black magic. They have their own restrictions which deny specific activities that are deserving of the local area, by the supernatu­ral, or by enchanting outcomes. A huge number of the clans have confidence in animism, as per which all items — both vitalize and lifeless — are for all time or briefly occupied by spirits or spirits. Frequently, a movement is accepted to be brought about by these spirits. A few spirits are wor­shipped and treated with dread and regard. A few researchers have kept up that animism was the earliest type of religion of the clans. Numerous clans put stock in progenitor love as well.

Normal Territory

A clan is a regional local area. It implies that the clan has a clear region wherein its individuals dwell. For Example, the Naga, Rengma Naga, Sema Naga, and other tribals dwell in Nagaland; Garos, Khasis, and Khasas live in Assam; Bhils in Madhya Pradesh; Soligas in Mysore; Todas in Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, etc. Without a typical region or domain, a clan would lose its uniqueness.

Assortment of Families

As the meanings of clan referred to above explain, tribals comprise an assortment of families. These assortments may have different sizes. These families which regularly have blood connections among themselves could be matriarchal or male-centric in nature. 

Normal Name

Each clan has its own name. Every clan is known to different clans by its unmistakable name. Illustrations of some Indian clans: Garo, Khasi, Khasa, Naga, Rengma Naga, Sema Naga, Limbu, Santhal, Munda, Gond, Kota, Badaga, Urali, Todas, and so on. 

Normal Language

The individuals from a clan communicate in a specific language. Various clans communicate in various dialects. These dialects are not just unique in relation to the language of the socialized individuals, yet they, at the end of the day, vary from each other. Normal language contributes a lot to the improvement of the local area’s feeling. Since these dialects don’t have their very own content, schooling of the tribal has become dangerous. 

Normal Ancestor

The tribals guarantee that they have a typical predecessor. A significant reason for the feeling of mutual solidarity in the clan is ―the tie of blood relationship between its individuals emerging out of a normal family. The tribal are limited by connection bonds.

Normal Religion

Religion assumes a significant part in the ancestral association. The individuals from a clan generally love a normal progenitor. Additionally, ‗nature love’ is normal among them. Notwithstanding the Ancestral love and nature love the tribal practice different kinds of confidence, for example, – fetishism, animism, and totemism. Sorcery is additionally inescapable among them. The ancestral social and political associations depend on this religion. Support in like manner strict services capacities and celebrations add to the solidarity of the gathering. 

Normal Culture

Every clan has its very own lifestyle. Every clan has its own particular manner of acting, thinking, feeling, and acting. Each has its own traditions, customs, ethics, esteems, its own particular establishments to sum things up, and its own way of life. The actual characteristics of a clan uncover that it has its very own particular culture. 

Normal Political Organization

Every clan has its own political framework. The clan leader typically practices authority generally the other individuals. The chieftainship is ordinarily genetic. He possesses a significant situation in the ancestral society. The tribal doesn’t have an administration in the cutting-edge feeling of the term. In any case, they truly do have their own ancestral government, ancestral gathering, and ancestral court or legal framework. Santhai, for instance, a high-level clan, has a town gathering the individuals who are equitably chosen. Nagaland arose on the first of December 1963 as the sixteenth State of the Republic of India and Meghalaya in 1972. 

Sensation of Unity

The individuals from a clan generally feel that they are joined together. This feeling of solidarity is fundamental for them to hold their personality. Tribals are ordinarily durable and they battle against shared adversaries as one man. They are at any point prepared to retaliate for the shamefulness done to the gathering of the people.

Association of Clans

The family or sib is a significant piece of ancestral association. The group incorporates every one of the family members of moms or fathers and the offspring of one precursor. Individuals having a place with a faction follow their starting point to one precursor. The relatives of a tribe are of either matrilineal or patrilineal heredity. The ancestral society might remember for itself, numerous groups. There exists shared support among individuals from various tribes.

Pervasiveness of Dormitories

Ancestral people group has a particular component that is obvious as normal resting chambers or quarters. Such associations train adolescents in tribal lifestyles. These are the focuses that safeguard ancestral legends, music, dance, compositions, and so on Young men and young ladies invest a lot of their energy in the
night in these residences and frequently they are vested with the obligation of giving security to the local area individuals. 

Straightforwardness and Self-Sufficiency

An ancestral society isn’t mind-boggling however basic in character. Hunting, fishing, and an assortment of roots, organic products, nuts, berries, honey, and woodland items are their primary method for means. Some have taken to development moreover. They don’t have groups, nor do they partake in the offices of enlightened individuals. Some time ago the tribes were independent. Because of the expansion in their populace and changed monetary circumstances, their independence has gone. They are turning out to be increasingly more subject to the cultivated local area and furthermore the government help. They are basic, fair, and parsimonious and some of them are truly accommodating moreover. They are not taught nor are they keen on it.

The Need for Protection

The tribal consistently experiences the requirement for assurance. Consequently, they are a strong gathering. The clan is a homogeneous gathering moreover. There is not so much variety but rather more solidarity and consistency. Ethnic, political, strict furthermore, and different sorts of biases and shared doubt between the edified and the ancestral individuals have made the tribal feel unreliable. Subsequently, they experience the requirement for insurance. Their political association is laid out mostly to safeguard themselves. 

Endogamous Group

However, not dependably, the individuals from a clan for the most part wed among themselves. A wedding inside one’s own bunch is called endogamy. Every clan encapsulates numerous families and these are exogamous in nature. The tribal practice endogamy is likely to keep up with the immaculateness of blood and social eccentricities and to save the property inside the gathering. Yet, today, because of the impact of socialized individuals and expanded contacts, exogamy is additionally polished. 

Related Links

  1. Tribes of India
  2. Who were Tribal People?
  3. How did Colonial Rule affect Tribal Lives?
  4. Important Tribal Movements of Modern India
  5. Tribes Of The World
  6. Gond Tribe of India

FAQs on Tribal Societies

What are the features of tribal societies?

Here are a few unique features of tribal societies.

1. These societies did not adhere to the Brahmanas’ established social customs and rituals.
2. They weren’t separated into a variety of unequal classes.
3. Kinship ties held society members together.

Why are tribal societies known as simple societies?

Tribal societies are referred to as simple societies because the foundation of their social relationships is primarily comprised of ties to family and kin.

What are tribal societies?

Tribal societies are independent of the Brahmins and had their own set of customs and rituals and stay far away from the cities. Furthermore, unlike other religions, they were not divided into subclasses or castes.

These tribal societies were typically made up of kinship groups. These tribes were primarily engaged in agricultural or animal husbandry activities. Some are also hunters and gatherers. Few of these tribal societies were also nomadic. 

What are the two features of the tribal family?

  1. Kinship bonds bind tribal societies together completely. 
  2. Tribal societies have a communal landholding system.

How many tribes are in India?

India has approximately 645 distinct tribes.

What is the significance of ancestral society?

A clan harbors a climate for creating novel thoughts for work and life while likewise encouraging a feeling of the local area which is essential for a solid useful life. These gatherings can give a feeling of motivation, motivation to collaborate with others, and even give well-being and prosperity benefits.

What are the primary elements of the ancestral society?

These ancestral social orders didn’t adhere to any of the social guidelines and customs that the Brahmanas had endorsed. In any case, they had exceptionally rich oral customs. There was no partitioning based on classes or castes. 

What is an ancestral society?

Meanings of ancestral society a general public with the social association of a clan. types: hunting and assembling society, hunting and assembling clan. A bunch that upholds itself by hunting and fishing and by social occasion wild leafy foods; typically migrant.



Last Updated : 21 Jan, 2024
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