Indian Sociologists — Sociology STD 11 Humanities — Question

Ghurye emphasized that some anothropologists and the British administrators advocated a policy of isolation for the tribes.They mentioned many causes for it such as: First, the tribals were different from the non-tribals or Hindus:

1. Secondly, tribals were the original inhabitants of the country.
2. Thirdly, they are unlike the Hindus, animists.
3. Fourthly, the tribals are different from the Hindus on linguistic grounds also.
4. Fifthly, tribal's contact with the non-tribals had been harmful for the culture and economy of the tribals.

Ghurye referred to the long process of Hinduization of the tribes of India in different parts of the country. Some tribes had been integrated with the Hindu society. Some others remained loosely integrated. The tribes living in the hilly regions and the depths of forests were barely touched by the Hinduism. They were the imperfectly integrated classes of Hindus.The tribes embraced the Hindu social order mainly for following causes:

1. The first reason was the economic motivation. They adopted specialized types of occupation which were in demand in the society.
2. The second reason lies in the Catholicity of caste system to the tribal belief and rituals.

Ghurye emphasized that the policy of the British Government in relation to forests caused hardship for the tribals.