Authors: Manpreet Cour
Abstract: Tribal communities in India have historically shared a deep and symbiotic relationship with their natural environment, relying on forests, rivers, and land for sustenance, culture, and identity. This paper explores the participation of tribal groups in India’s environmental movements from the pre-colonial era to the present, highlighting their role as both ecological stewards and active resisters of environmental degradation. The study begins with an overview of traditional tribal ecological practices, including sacred groves, shifting cultivation, and community-based forest management, which reflect a sustainable ethos. The colonial period marked a turning point, as restrictive forest policies and commercial exploitation disrupted tribal life, leading to widespread displacement and uprisings such as the Santhal Rebellion and Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan, which combined ecological concerns with socio-political resistance. Post-independence, tribal communities remained at the forefront of major environmental struggles. Their participation in the Chipko Movement underscored the connection between forest protection and survival. Similarly, in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, tribal groups resisted displacement due to large dam projects, exposing the developmental dilemma of growth versus ecological justice. Movements in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and North-East India against mining and deforestation further illustrate tribal resistance to exploitative development. Recent struggles, such as the Dongria Kondh’s defense of Niyamgiri hills, demonstrate continuity in indigenous environmental ethics and resilience. The paper also examines the role of legislation such as the Forest Rights Act (2006) and PESA (1996), which aimed to restore tribal ecological rights, while analyzing persistent challenges. Through historical and contemporary case studies, the research argues that tribal participation in environmental movements is not merely defensive but represents an alternative vision of sustainable development rooted in harmony with nature. Recognizing tribal ecological knowledge is therefore crucial for shaping future environmental governance in India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17265330
