Indian Environmentalism and Tribal Movements

Abstract

The history of Indian environmental movement is the study of the struggle for the rights over land, water and forests. Environmental movements in India emerged mainly as a reaction against the modern economic developmental process initiated by the government. Contextually, Indian environmental movements emanated through many diversified issues of social protests such as agrarian unrest, forest rights movement, anti-displacement movement, survival related movement and movement for proper rehabilitation and resettlement and these movements highlighted Indian tribes as victimized group. A considerable figure of tribals was participated in these movements for democratization of natural resources. Thus the broad base of Indian environmentalism has been constructed. But the role of middle class politics is very significant this context. The middle class activists developed tribalism within their organizational base and directed the movement from non-party line. Thus Indian environmentalism took a definite shape pertaining to tribalism. The paper is dealing with the intricate relationship between the tribes and nature; highlighting how the tribals have been affected by the developmental initiatives taken by the government; and depicting the nature of tribal movements for the democratization of natural resources from historical point of view.