Paper short abstract:

The paper discusses the situation in India, a country of many tribes. It will explore the pertinence of the ongoing political anthropological theories in explaining the scenario wherein the indigenous governance oscillates between 'deciding' and 'receiving'.

Paper long abstract:

Political anthropology emerged as comparatively a late development (after 1940) encapsulating the revolutionary and emerging global trends in the areas of authority, power, peace and development. At micro level, at community specific level the reality of ethnographic research raises questions that need to be adequately addressed. Terms like 'colonial' and 'post colonial' times and areas , 'developed', 'developing' and 'third world countries', all convey the need to take into account the political economy of different countries or cultures. The present paper endeavours to discuss the situation in India. India is a country of many tribes. These tribes have lived for ages in states of partial or full isolation - a reality rendered out of territorial and political reasons. After India gained independence from the colonial rule, it came up with one constitution ushering in fresh measures like the Panchayati Raj, the 'Sixth Schedule', the 'Fifth Schedule' - provisions which brought about alterations in the traditional political organization of the tribes. The paper shall attempt to explore the pertinence of the ongoing political anthropological theories in explaining the aforesaid scenario wherein the indigenous governance oscillates between 'deciding' and 'receiving', the actual picture being revealed through ethnographic research.