On the Future of Indigenous Traditions - Munin

3.5. The “Tribe” /Adivasi identity in conflict with the
State?
The issue of the Adivasis’ identity, earlier represented through their customary
institution as a political association in the more recent years in Jharkhand (referred to
as “tribe” by Weber as opposed to the “caste”). The Adivasis here more than one
ethnic group and a homogenous cultural group, who have been through a historical
process of defining their political identity now have to find a place in the discourse
of the modern nation-state. (This too has been the issue with Adivasis in other parts of
India) As in the previous chapters I have referred to Adivasis’ struggle as an ethnolingual-cultural
group against the colonial administration. In these context Adivasis’
customary systems have been a part of their culturally evolved political association,
and proven to be a source of their political strength. However, what failed the
Adivasis to maintain this identity of their in the post-colonial time? Most of the rules
and laws for this part of India (Jharkhand) as well as for the whole country were made
during the era of colonial rule; in many ways, they still are the backbones of the
present day Indian state. With these questions we can also point at the basis of why
and the Adivasis association is important as asked in the third point raised in the
beginning of this chapter. It is also the importance and the scope of Adivasis political
association in the present context and also within the Adivasis themselves. Has their
identity based on collective social system failed the Adivasis?
It is important to start with the theoretical interpretations of the concepts of Adivasis
identity, and see if it is the same as ethnic identity and its relation to Adivasis
political association. In this regard Amit Prakash taking the case of Jharkhand
explains how implementation of public policy influences the political identities
premised on ethnic, linguistic, and religious or other similar grounds. He observes that
the failure of development policies to intervene socio-economic conditions
encourages societal groups to organize themselves as political identities. He also
stresses that the issue of identity both in political and ethnic terms appears more
sharply. Prakash opens this discussion by saying that we can, “after locating [at] the
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