The descendants of peoples who lived on the
Indian subcontinent long before the arrival of Indo-Europeans, who
now dominate the population, number over 50 million and are
concentrated in the central, eastern and northeastern parts of
modern India. Known to others as adivasi (original peoples), they
refer to themselves by hundreds of tribal names in a wide variety of
languages. Thousands of years of relations with larger groups have
made the boundaries of tribal groups difficult to define, but from
the hills, forests and deserts where they live, the creative
traditions of tribal peoples have inspired all of Indian society.
© Photo : Walter Huber
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