What Are PVTGs? Why This Category? “All STs are disadvantaged, but some among them are more vulnerable, more isolated, and less developed.”To address their special challenges, the Government of India created a sub-category — Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Earlier called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), they represent the most marginalised and least developed communities among…
Who are Scheduled Tribes (STs)? Let’s begin with a very basic but important question — Who are Scheduled Tribes? Scheduled Tribes (STs) are those tribal communities, or parts thereof, that are specified by the President of India under Article 342 of the Constitution and may be modified by Parliament. But what makes them distinct? According…
What is a Cultural Region? A Cultural Region refers to a geographical area where the majority of people share common cultural traits—language, religion, food, dress, lifestyle, art, values, customs, or beliefs.But important to remember—this “commonality” is not absolute; it’s dominant, not exclusive. Even within a cultural region, diversity exists. 🧠 Think of it like this:…
– Understanding the Layers of Diversity and Disparity India’s social reality is not a monolith — it is an intricate web of castes, religions, languages, and regions, each forming layers of identity. Over centuries, these have created a segmented but interconnected structure. This diversity gives Indian society its unique character, but also makes it prone…
India is often described as a “Tower of Babel” or a “Museum of Languages.”But this is not an exaggeration — it’s a linguistic reality. The Constitution of India officially recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule.Yet, the People’s Linguistic Survey of India estimates 122 major languages and more than 1,500 dialects spoken across the country….
– Understanding the Mosaic of Civilizational DNA Let’s begin with a simple yet powerful truth: India is not just culturally diverse. It is racially diverse too.From the curly-haired tribes of the Andamans to the sharp-featured Mongoloids of the North-East, from the Dravidian core in the South to the Nordic strains in the North-West — India…
Let’s begin with a very fundamental observation: India is not a melting pot.It is rather a salad bowl — where every ingredient (read: community, language, culture) retains its identity, yet contributes to the overall flavor of Indian civilization. But note:Though India has changed over time, it hasn’t become someone else.It’s a case of “change with…
