Tribal Development and Adivasi Resistance in Post Colonial Orissa 1947 2010

Abstract

The Scheduled Tribes communities in India as well as in Orissa are characterized by economic and social marginalization, primitive existence, geographical isolation and educational backwardness. Tribal population is the aboriginal inhabitants of India who have been living a life based on the natural environment and have cultural patterns congenial to their physical and social environment. They have been neglected in different sectors of the society and to protect that they started resistance movement over the years. The major tribes of Orissa, in terms of their numerical strength, are the Kondh, Gond, Santhal, Saora, Bhuiyan, Paraja, Koya, Oraon, Gadaba, Juanga and Munda. There are also several smaller tribal communities living in the state. They are the Chenchus, Mankiridia Kharia, Baiga, Birhor and Ghara. Tribal communities such as the Santhal, Gond, Munda, Ho, Birhor, Koya, Lodha, Kondha, Bhumija, Kharia and Oraons cut across state boundaries and are found in the neighbouring states of Jharkhand newlineTribal resistance in the anti colonial movement is accentuated as offensive by the Britishers, it is perhaps shocking as that label still perpetuates in the postcolonial India. This is intended to examine the history of Tribal resistance in Britishers reign, and shifts to focusing on their resistance in the contemporary India in relation to globalization, also concerning questions of identity and nation, power politics in criminalizing them, narratives of forgotten history of past and present.1 Tribals have resisted the Britisher s authority and local power confiscators like the Zamindars, Thakhedars, Christian missionaries, and other exploiters.2 newlineTribals have resisted the Britisher s authority and local power confiscators like the Zamindars, Thakhedars, Christian missionaries, and other exploiters.3 For many centuries, tribals were isolated, scattered in forests. Each tribe has established its own socio cultural diversity. They were distinguished from this nation.