Deccan Education Society

FERGUSSON COLLEGE, PUNE

(AUTONOMOUS)

SYNOPSIS

OF

RESEARCH PROJECT

ON

The alienation of tribals in the State of India: An analysis between tribal

autonomy vis a vis state sovereignty.

By

Mohineesh Bhatjiwale

TYBA B

7268

Mentor

Ganesh Bharate
Introduction

The tribal movement in India has been seen through the myopic view of maoist or naxalite
movement, which consequently results in the insignificance of the demands of tribal
movement for democratic rights. This present paper tries to understand how the problem of
alienation of tribals prevail in the democratic state of India, however, theoretically it ensures
their social and political rights through the constitutional frameworks, but fails in practicality.

India is the largest democracy in the world in terms of population, but in this paper I’ve
argued in favour of the view that despite having the tag of the largest democracy, the Indian
State has failed to reconcile the people of Dandakaranya as their own even after the
independence of seven decades.
Further this paper intends to analyze the concept of tribal autonomy vis a vis state
sovereignty . It inquires how tribals have been alienated from their own land, democratic
rights and natural resources with the help of crony capitalism that resides within the structure
of policy making in India.

Problem Formulation

This present paper intends to answer these respective questions. How the problem of
alienation of tribals prevails in the democratic state of India and what is the nature of this
alienation? How the alienation of tribals reflects the idea of Marx’s alienation? Which of the
key forces affects the decision making in a democratic state? Does the principle of state
sovereignty justify the alienation of tribal autonomy?

Objective of this research paper

As mentioned earlier, the objective of this paper is to understand the problem of alienation of
tribals in the democratic state of india and its causes with the help of different case studies.
This paper also tries to give a solution to the problem that, how Indian state could try
different methods to restore faith and trust amongst the alienated tribals of various regions,
specifically of Dandakaranya.

Methodology

The methodology used for this paper is an interpretive approach because of the reason that it
enables us to understand the social reality more systematically. Other than that, the case study
approach has been used for descriptive explanations of various phenomenons. Conceptual
analysis also needs to be taken into account as it will determine how any idea or concept
could be related to our problem.

Literature Review

The two main references for the project are the books Tribal Land Question: Case of Andhra
Pradesh by Palla Trinadha Rao and Alienation: Marx's Conception of Man in a Capitalist
Society by Bertell Ollman. In the first book, the author highlights the relation between the
non-tribal entrants to tribal areas, political parties and the state which has been party to land
alienation among the tribals. This book provides a meaningful insight on the role of state who
is supposed to be the guardian of constitution and also the people living under the reign of
state but fails in fulfilling the aspiration of tribals in general.

In the second reference, the book contains detailed examination of Marx's philosophy of
internal relations of subject and object, who get separate from each other and create
psychological and social distress for an individual, group, or community at large. Ollmen
divides his book into three parts, first part ‘Philosophical Introduction” is an analysis of
Marx’s language and methods, second part ‘Marx’s conception of Human Nature’ gives a
basis for the third and last part ‘The theory of Alienation’.

Chapterisation

1. Introduction
2. Chapter One: The concept of alienation.
3. Chapter Two: Case Study of Dandakaranya
 4. Chapter Three: Analysis of state sovereignty and tribal autonomy.
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography

Bibliography

1. Rao, P (2017) Tribal Land Question: Case of Andhra Pradesh. Jaipur: Rawat Publishers.

2. Ollwel. B (Second edition 1977) Alienation: Marx's Conception of Man in a Capitalist

Society, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

3. Roy, A (First edition, 2011) Walking with the comrades. New Delhi: Penguin random
house.

4.https://www.firstpost.com/politics/naxalism-cannot-be-wiped-out-with-violence-developme
nt-alone-education-and-popularisation-of-constitution-is-key-6542571.html/amp

5.https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/why-minorities-feel-alienated-in-india/article274
07047.ece

6.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Land-alienation-still-haunts-tribes-study/ar
ticle16050773.ece