Preface Acknowledgement List of Tables Prologue Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage vis-a-vis Culture Conforming Attitude Depredation of Physical and Cultural Heritage in Hills and Foot hills of the Himalayas Need for Protection and Preservation for Cultural Heritage in Hill Area of North-eastern India Impact of Palamau National Park on Life of Local People Law of the Land and the People Cremation Practices of Meiteis in Manipur Indian Costume- An Analysis of Cultural Heritage On Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Border Bengal Karwalnat- A Little Known Dinishing Community of West Bengal Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage-Some Social Problems methodlogy of Social Scientists List of Contributors

Next to Africa, India has the largest tribal population (67.7 million) in the world. Indian tribes, spread over the length and breadth of the country, are concentrated in hilly and forest regions. The tribes of India differ considerably from one another in race, language culture and beliefs, and present a spectacle of striking diversity. It is this diversity marked by varied social characteristics and diverse cultural traditions and linguistic traits that lends lustre to the cultural mosaic of India. Encyclopaedia Profile of Indian Tribes, first of its kind, seeks to present a concise by comprehensive account of the socio-cultural profile of all the tribal communities who have been declared as Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India. The tribes are arranged alphabetically in order to facilitate easy reference. Each profile deals with the geographical distribution of the tribal population, the social structure, the means of subsistence and economic organisation, religious beliefs and practice, the political institutions, and modern social changes sweeping the community. At the end of each profile, there is a short bibliography for the more inquisitive reader. Each entry in this four volume set has been contributed by a scholar who has deep personal knowledge and contact with the community. This classic multi-volume set will be extremely useful to scholars studying tribals in India and abroad and to all those interested in a standard reference work on the Indian tribes.

The decade of 1990s saw the debate surrounding the contraction of public distribution system (PDS) in India where economists and social scientists of various camps (in relation to their stands vis-à-vis the International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies) expressed their viewpoints in various journals, seminars and public meetings. It must be pointed out that political ideologies played a crucial role in determining the fate of Indian agriculture. The important areas which were touched during these discourses were: what one means by food adequate, level of malnutrition, role of State and market in food allocation and distribution, impact of trade liberalization on the Indian food market (including producers, sellers and consumers) etc. To summarize such a rich and enlightening discussion in a few words would be both difficult and impossible. However, certain elements could be pulled out and pondered upon to understand the politics of rights-based approach to food security.

Social life and customs of Kolami, Indic people, residing in various states of India.