Published Paper Details:

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the nature of tribal identity in 21st-century India, including contemporary challenges and struggles as well as resistance to maintaining this identity. The study is based on the distinct socio-cultural structure of the tribal community in the Indian context, which they maintain apart from the tenets of mainstream Indian society, such as the caste system and patriarchy. The research argues that modernization, development projects, globalization and the overextraction of resources have led to serious challenges, including displacement, economic exploitation, loss of resources (such as water, forests, and land) and cultural degradation faced by tribal communities. Despite these challenges, tribal communities are showing unprecedented resilience and resistance to preserve their community identity and distinctive way of life using their traditional knowledge systems and shared history.