Globalisation And Status Of Tribe In Post Independent India: A Case Study Of Dhankut Living In District Bahraich Of Uttar Pradesh

Globalisation And Status Of Tribe In Post Independent India: A Case Study Of Dhankut Living In District Bahraich Of Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Alok Chantia* & Dr. Preeti Misra**

*Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology, Sri J.N.P.G. College, Lucknow; alokchantia@rediffmail.com
** Lecturer, Dept of Human Rights, School for Legal Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow; E-Mail misra9us@gmail.com

Keywords: Globalisation, Culture, Tribe, Society, Constitution, Rights
Abstract:
In spite of listing of tribal groups in pre and post independent India, it is very difficult to sketch the real tribal groups in present India. Under the Constitutional guidelines government declares some specific groups as tribal groups on the fulfillment of certain conditions, which may be termed as observed tribal groups. Due to increase in these tribal groups fruits of privileges given to actual tribal groups are decreasing. The number of observed tribal groups have increased leaps and bound in post Constitution India. Actual tribal groups are still far away from being listed as tribal groups. Anthropologically actual tribal groups are still behind the curtain and devoid of all basic facilities of life. The case of a group Dhankut living in District Bahraich of Uttar Pradesh is no different and is glaring example of violation of human rights of actual tribal people. Dhankut are living in small pocket of Dhankuttypura of District Bahraich. Dhankut’s total population is 2687(2001 census) and their dialect is dhankutty in a rhythmic form. They practice cross cousin and parallel cousin marriage which is a taboo in north India and legally prohibited too under Hindu Marriage Act 1955. Even after having these tribal characteristics they are not included in the category of scheduled tribe. Neither have they been recognized as scheduled caste or other backward class. Though they are not agricultural people, cereal selling is still their main occupation. They are poor and illiterate. With 5% literacy rate only three of them are in fourth class government job. No literature is available about them neither in government records nor in district gazetteer. They have full faith in their traditional panchayat and traditional God “Gullabeer.” They are struggling for their tribal status since 1973 but have not succeeded so far. Dhankut want tribal status for themselves to enjoy the benefits provided by the government, but it is a matter of conflict between observed (constitutionally declared tribes) and actual tribes (anthropologically identified tribe).All this has created a problem in tribal India too, the latest example of which is problem of Gujjars in Rajasthan. What are the problems of tribal groups, how observed and actual tribal groups are struggling and striving for benefits will be discussed in my proposed paper with the help of socio-cultural life of Dhankut.
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