Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
Q2. How does the interaction between ecology and culture shape the social organisation of tribal communities in India? Analyse the role of indigenous knowledge in sustaining this relationship. Examine the challenges posed by changing environmental and developmental conditions. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question
The interrelationship between tribal society, ecology and indigenous knowledge, especially amid increasing environmental and developmental pressures.
Key Demand of the question
Explain how ecological settings and cultural practices together shape tribal social organisation. Analyse how indigenous knowledge sustains this relationship and identify the challenges arising from environmental and developmental changes.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Introduce the idea of cultural ecology, highlighting the close relationship between tribal social institutions, livelihoods and their natural surroundings.Body
- Ecology and social organisation: Explain how ecological conditions influence tribal livelihoods, settlements, customs, institutions and collective identity.
- Role of indigenous knowledge: Show how traditional knowledge enables ecological adaptation, sustainable resource use and intergenerational cultural continuity.
- Changing conditions and challenges: Highlight how climate variability, displacement, resource degradation, market integration and socio-economic transitions disrupt traditional socio-ecological relationships.
Conclusion
Emphasise a community-centred development approach that combines indigenous knowledge with contemporary practices while safeguarding tribal agency and cultural continuity.
