Encyclopedia of Tribes in Odisha Vol -4

Abstract

The motley crowd of tribal communities living in the hills and plains of Odisha has enriched the cultural heritage of the state by their ethnocultural diversities. Officially they have been enlisted as Scheduled Tribes (STs) numbering 62 including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). As per the 2011 census, the number 95,90,756 persons accounts for 22.85 percent of the total population of the State. In terms of both Scheduled Tribe communities and PVTGs, Odisha has the highest number amongst all the States, in the entire Country. Each tribe possesses its distinct identity in terms of social organization, culture, and language. They pursue their own distinctive lifestyles different from each other which helps them to preserve their cultural identity that is defined and redefined from time to time. They represent a type of society in the scheme of social evolution. As a structural as well as a cultural concept, tribe encompasses features of simple societies. The major and smaller tribal groups have separate ethnic identities including historical and cultural heritage. Considering the rapidly changing scenario of the present times in which many ethnic groups are undergoing a transformation towards modernity the institute felt it necessary to compile, re-edit and republish the articles on the 62 Tribes of Odisha published in its Adivasi journal and some more brought from it's other published and unpublished documents to bring out their past and present into the limelight in order to show their "then" and "now". This compilation containing 418 articles is organized into five edited volumes. It is a huge task deserving commendation.