SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF NON-TRIBAL CONTACT ON TRIBES OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND TELANGANA, INDIA
SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF NON-TRIBAL CONTACT ON TRIBES OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND TELANGANA, INDIA

Summary/Abstract: During the colonial period, anthropologists described Indian tribal societies as having distinctive cultures. Tribal people have been studied as different from the rest of the Indian population based on racial, linguistic and cultural traits. This is true for the tribal communities of North-East India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a few other places. But, in many places there have been contacts between tribal and non-tribal communities leading to diffusion of caste and Hindu religious elements into the tribal communities. The socio-cultural impact of the non-tribal contact on tribes of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is evident in the presence of caste-like hierarchy, linkages with Hindu mythology and association with local rulers. The trend of tribal communities moving towards caste labels and caste status witnessed a decline in the postindependence period with increasing awareness of constitutional privileges and developmental benefits available to the scheduled tribes.

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