Kaanu

Title

Tribe-Caste Dynamics in South India

Creator

Hebbar, Ritambhara

Prakash, Soummya

Date

2024

Subject

Karnataka

Koraga

Kerala

Paniya

caste

othering

isolation

identity

Identifier

doi:10.1177/00380229241287351

issn:0038-0229

Source

Original source

Is Part Of

Sociological Bulletin

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Abstract

There are over 150 tribal communities in South India. Many of them live in remote and forested areas. However, historically, they have had a close relationship with caste society. The dominance of caste is evident in their everyday contexts, economic relations and social status within the local social hierarchy. The article reflects on how the situation of tribes in South India cannot be fully comprehended without acknowledging the overbearing influence of caste ideology and politics on their lives. It will focus on two Scheduled Tribes in South India, the Paniyan and the Koraga, to illustrate practices of untouchability and social deprivation among them. Despite their Scheduled Tribe status, the Paniyan and the Koraga continue to face caste-based discrimination and cannot access basic services provided by the state. There is a deep sense of dispiritedness among them and, increasingly, they are isolating themselves from ‘others’ in their vicinity. Isolation has become an active mode of distancing from caste and asserting their tribal identity. It expresses their rejection of tribal integration, and associated politics, responsible for their marginalisation.

Bibliographic Citation

Hebbar, Ritambhara; Prakash, Soummya. (2024). 'Tribe-Caste Dynamics in South India'. Sociological Bulletin, 73(4), pp. 420-430.

Extent

Vol. 73, Issue 4, pp. 420-430

Has Format

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Type

journal-article

Kaanu ID

kb000591