Writing Histories of Adivasis of Central India

This essay explores the development of 'trìbal' studies over time and identifies the broad trends in this genre. It traces the process of transition of the primitive and backward tribal of colonial literature to the creation of the notion of 'Adivasi' today, a political category indicating the Indigenous and Trìbal Peoples, rather than simply describing original inhabitants. Furtbermore, it seeks to demonstrate how narratives on marginalised communities finally recognise adivasis as active participants in the making of their own history. Although the focus is on the wrìtings on the divergent communities of the Chota Nagpur region, the discussion on the histories that have been wrìtten in recent years also includes those relating on adivasis of the Central Provinces, Orissa, and South India.