India ranks seventh among the large countries of the world and it has the
second largest population next only to that of China. Apart from its vast size and huge
population what distinguishes India from other countries is it’s geographical
diversities and the multi ethnic, multi- religious and multi lingual character of the
Society. This striking feature has attracted the attention of travelers and scholars from
all over the world. While there have been thinkers who have scaled the pinnacle of
philosophy, there are still pockets where animism is prevalent.
The study of the vast diversities, customs and racial characteristics can be and
has been a subject of serious research for the anthropologists. It has a been a work of a
lifetime for many of the anthropologists .One important segment of the Indian
population is the tribal population of India living in different parts of the country.
Probably, they are the original inhabitants of India. Even now, tribal population
outnumbers the rest of the population, in certain parts of the country, and such areas,
have been accorded a special status under the constitution.