Indian tribes (India)

The tribal belt of north-west India includes the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The tribal people of this region have origins which precede the Vedic Aryan people of the north and the Dravidian people of the south. In fact, the origins of these people are thought to stem back to the Harappan civilisation of the Indus valley, the oldest traceable civilisation of the Indian sub-continent which flourished between 3500BC and 2500BC.

The tribes of north-west India were once strong matrilineal societies. The changing fates and fortunes of these people has caused a gradual evolution to a more patriarchal code of living. These days the tribal societies generally follow the rule of patriliny. There are still, however, many strong cases of organised matriarchy in existence today. It is the women who organise matter such as relationships and marriages, the inheritance of land, and the distribution of wealth.

Tribes

*The Meghwal
*The Bhils
*The Ahir
*The Rabari
*The Lambani
*The Warli

ee also

* Adivasi ("Scheduled tribes")
* List of Scheduled Tribes in India