Adivasi is a term used for the aboriginal people of India. The Adivasis are living in India for thousands of years and they consist of a significant minority group in Indian population. In fact, the sub groups from this minority live in many states of India. Like many of the indigenous people of the world, the Adivasi people have also suffered from many problems and the most prominent of these is their ecological destruction in the name of modernization. Geographically the Adivasi people live in the remote hilly and forest areas where they mostly depend upon the primitive agriculture where they are far from the modern technology. Although most of the Adivasi people have adopted Christianity and Hinduism, however they have many other religions. They are known for their distinctive languages, cultures and customs. The Adivasi people have rarely observed in contacting with other cultures and people. The Indian government has further classified the Adivasi people in the Scheduled Tribe Groups together with the Scheduled Castes groups. There are some fantastic photographs of some indigenous Indian”Adivasi” people who belong to some noteworthy Scheduled Tribes;

1- A woman from Kuki Tribe ( Nagaland )

A Sangtam woman ( Kuki Tribe ) Image: Linda De Volder

2- A woman from Apatani Tribe ( Arunachal Pradesh )

An Apatani Woman from Arunashal Pradesh,India ( Image: Miguel Angel )

3- A Gondi Man from Madhya Pradesh, India 

A Gondi Indian ready to perform Kaksar Dance ( Image: Aath )

4- A Bhil Tribe Woman of India 

A beautiful Bhil Tribe lady of India ( Image : Sanzen )

5- An experienced archer from Khasi Tribe of India

An experienced Khasi archer of India ( Image: Anoop Negi )

6- Boys from Nagaland, India ( Naga Tribe )

Naga youth in a traditional tribal attaire at a cultural gathering. Image: E R

7- A Saharia Woman Dancer of India

A Saharia Woman dancing the traditional Swang Dance ( Image: Ramesh Lalwani )

8- A Bonda woman from Orissa, India

A woman from Bonda tribe, Orissa, India ( Image: Ingetje Tadros )

9- A Maldhari woman of Gujarat, India

A typical Maldhari Woman of Gujarat, India ( Image: Abhishek Prabhu )

10- Mizo people of Mizoram, India

Beautiful Mizo people from Mizoram India, Image by Angela Coles