Bodhi, S. R. and Jojo, B., eds., The problematics of tribal integration : voices from India's alternative centers [book review]

Abstract

The current nation-state of India came into formation on the lands, forests, mountains, waterways, and islands of approximately 700 Indigenous communities spread across all 28 states and 8 union territories. These communities have historically been studied through an outsider's lens, rendering them objects of study within a framework rooted in colonial epistemology and led to their invisibility. However, there exists a growing assertion of Indigenous voices advocating for their own epistemology. The aim of this movement is to deconstruct the dominance of colonial epistemology and advocate for approaches rooted in perspectives that acknowledge the world's richness in diverse contexts rather than imposing a singular universal viewpoint. An example of such an attempt is The Tribal Intellectual Collective India (TICI), an academic community engaging with multiple intersecting realities and focusing definitively on Tribal epistemology, which differs from the mainstream. These inclusive approaches pave the way for embracing diversity and recognizing the significance of Indigenous epistemologies. TICI was formed in 2012 and nurtures scholarship for decolonisation in multiple ways, including through annual workshops, seminars, and the publication of three journals: Journal of Tribal Intellectual Collective India, Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Studies and Action, and Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Social Work. [excerpt]