(This information was provided by Gemini, the Google AI assistant.)
The Adivasis are various ethnic groups considered to be the original
inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. The term "Adivasi" itself, meaning
"of earliest times" or "original inhabitants," was coined
in the 1930s as a political movement to foster a sense of identity among
India's diverse indigenous peoples. Officially, they are known as Scheduled
Tribes in the Indian Constitution, a legal and constitutional term that varies
across states and regions.
There are over 700 distinct Adivasi communities in India, speaking
more than 100 languages, and exhibiting a wide range of ethnicities and
cultures. Their population is over 104 million, constituting about 8.6% of
India's total population according to the 2011 census. They primarily reside in
the northeastern states, as well as the hills and forests of central and
southern India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Major groups include the
Bhil, Munda, and Santhal.
Regarding independence movements, it's more accurate to frame
Adivasi aspirations as seeking self-determination, autonomy, and the protection
of their land, identity, culture, and resources, rather than outright
independence as separate nation-states in the traditional sense. While some
groups in the Northeast have historically pursued secessionist movements, the
broader Adivasi struggle across India centers on:
* Self-rule and autonomy:
Adivasi communities have long traditions of self-governance, and they are
demanding greater control over their affairs and resources, often in line with
constitutional provisions like the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, which aim to
provide some measure of autonomy. The Pathalgadi movement in states like
Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh is a prominent recent
example of Adivasi communities asserting their customary rights and challenging
state authority through the erection of stone slabs proclaiming their
self-governance.
* Land and resource rights: A
significant aspect of their struggle involves reclaiming traditional ownership
rights over their lands, territories, and natural resources, which have been
historically threatened by development projects, industrialization, and
population growth.
* Cultural and religious
identity: Adivasis are also demanding recognition and protection of their
distinct languages, religions (like the Sarna religion), and cultural
practices.
While there isn't a single, unified movement for
"independence" across all Adivasi groups, numerous regional and
community-specific movements are actively demanding greater self-determination
and the protection of their rights within the Indian federal structure. The
Indian state has often responded to these movements with repression, sometimes
portraying them as "anti-national" or linking them to Naxalite
(Maoist) insurgencies.
