Page 38 - Journeys Through Society-7

the area under forests consequently kept reducing. tribal nomadic community which we know of in
This also led to interaction between the tribes and the medieval times.
villagers. Sometimes, these interactions led to
conflict, but most of the time it led to cooperation. The Tribals in Medieval India
forest-dwellers often exchanged their ghee, honey, The medieval Indian tribes generally practised
wool, medicinal herbs, etc., for grain, cotton, utensils, primitive cultivation, herding and hunting-gathering.
jewellery and furniture owned by the villagers. This While some tribes were nomads. In medieval period,
economic interdependence also led to the with the expansion of trade and war, the Mughal
assimilation of cultures, customs and religious armies often came in contact with the tribals. Some of
ceremonies of the tribals into the main society. the tribes rose to prominence and they paid tribute to
the Mughal emperors.
Main Characteristics of Tribal Societies
Tribal communities have certain distinct characteris-
tics. Some of these are as follows:
1. There is a lack of distinction between form and
substance of religion.
2. They have a very basic sense of economics.

3. Relationship binds the members of the
community.
4. Land belongs to the entire community.
5. Unlike the varna and jati based system, there does
not exist a hierarchy among tribals.

6. There is an absence of strong, complex, formal
government or state system.

How Tribal Societies are Organised?
The tribal society was organised on democratic and
cooperative lines. Kinship bonds were very important
Map of the tribal areas mentioned
within each tribe. Tribes were composed of clans who in the source of medieval India
traced descent from a common ancestor. All land was
Raja Man Singh, chief commander of Akbar’s army,
jointly controlled by the members of the tribe.
defeated the Chero tribe of Jharkhand in 1591. They
Wow Fact were forced to pay a large tribute but their territory
was not annexed. Under Aurangzeb, many Chero
Tribal societies have developed extra- fortresses were captured. In Sindh, we hear of the
ordinary expertise and unique technologies Langahs and Arghuns who were prominent tribes.
to live sustainably in some of the most
challenging environments on the planet. They were subdued by the Mughals.
In the north-west, Balochis were a prominent tribe. In
the western Himalayas, we come across a shepherd
The tribals thrived on the resources that they
tribe called the Gaddis. In the north-east, we hear of
obtained from forests and thus their occupations
the Nagas, Ahoms, Kacharis and Khasis. The
included hunting, gathering, pastoralism and
peninsular region of the country was dominated by
agriculture. Some tribals were nomads and practised
tribes such as the Bhils, Kolis, Gonds and Khonds.
shifting agriculture and were primarily pastoralists
Some of the dominant tribes of the south were the
moving from place to place for fodder and water for
their animals. The Banjaras were the most important Todas, Koragar, Badagas and Vetars.

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