This edition of Vichaar hosted Professor (Dr.) Saagar Tewari, Associate Professor of History at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities. Professor Tewari begins by pointing out the connotations of the terms ‘civilization’ and ‘tribe’, with the former being more relatable to river banks, and the latter, to the wilderness. He then talks about how these groups were eventually marginalized as cities, and a flourishing economy developed, and how colonization arrested the development of individual, autonomous tribal groups. We also discuss the role of left-wing politics in amplifying the voices of the tribal communities, and how, because the state did not deliver on its promises, has also led to the infiltration of Maoism and other left-wing extremist elements in the tribal areas. We also talk about how the thriving of tribal culture is important for sustainability, and this requires more research from different angles into tribal history, whose avenues are now open for the generations to come.
