On the Future of Indigenous Traditions - Munin

Abstract:
This thesis, on the whole by making it a case study brings a focus on the Adivasis as
an indigenous peoples of India. It touches upon a few important historical facts of the
groups of Adivasis now located in the central-east part of country. Additionally it
goes on into the sources that determine their traditional institutions, which play an
important role in their social and cultural administration. These institutions also
manifest their social cultural identity that these groups of people are the historical
communities who need their due recognition to assert their collective rights within the
present nation-state. This focused case touches upon different perspectives on the
collective rights vis-à-vis state’s individual rights issue. This thesis brings forth the
conceptual and practical realities of Adivasis’ institution and its relevance today. The
customary social-cultural institution of the Adivasi peoples, symbiotically linked to
the cycles of nature reflected in their cultural practices, evolves a politics that needs to
be studied in the discourse of the modern nation-state.
This thesis gives an introduction to the issue of Adivasis’ identity as the research
problem within its own limitation and the use of methodologies. To start with, it deals
with different sets of sources, which determine that the Adivasi are the indigenous
peoples of the country. At the same time it explains how Adivasis distinctiveness is
signified and represented through their existing customary practices. However, their
customary practices have become less influential due to historical reasons in
contemporary period. Within this reality the role of modern nation-state and its impact
on the Adivasis is also discussed. It further discusses with the political association of
the Adivasis that is derived from their customary practices and the benchmarks in the
present national legislative system. This includes the conflict of their communitarian
identity with the society at large and the State. The main focus henceforth is on the
strengths of customary system in the reality of the legal system of the State. The
empirical data supplements the above positions taken with case illustration and
analysis. The study concludes with a discussion on broader issues, issues which has
affected the basis of the customary practices of the Adivasis and gives an analysis
with findings indicating certain area which the thesis identifies it to be considered for
further research in the academic discourse.
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