Madia

Abstract

Odisha is well known for its 62 categories of Scheduled Tribes including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Publication and preparation of the photo handbook is an honest attempt by SCSTRTI, Bhubaneswar to provide short photographic and ethnographic account of the tribes by opening the window to see their exotic and colourful life styles to the interested public. The present handbook is the photographic representation of the socio-cultural life of the tribal community known as Madia. This little known tribe is numerically very small i.e., only 2243 in 2011 Census and they are found in some small pockets of the hilly terrains of Balasore, Jharsuguda and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha. They call themselves as Madia and the area of their domicile as "MadiaDesh". The tribe is considered to be a section of the main tribe Koya with some distinct socio-cultural features. Typical palisade bamboo fencing all around is a distinguishing feature of their settlements. Very close to their settlements one notices stone pillars and wooden posts erected in memory of their dead ancestors. The Koya tribe exhibits the same features. They worship their deities, observe rituals and festivals round the year and enjoy these occasions with song, dance and music. Though in these days changes have taken place in their way of life, they have still preserved the core of their culture. The development interventions by the Government and the prolonged culture contact with the neighbouring castes have made certain impacts in their lifestyle and brought changes in their living pattern. This change has been reflected in their cultural, social and economic life.This book as a glimpse of lifestyle of the Madia tribe which will not only be useful to the academicians, researchers, tourists but will also be extremely helpful for the administrators, planners and development practitioners in effective planning for tribal development.