Colonial rule and the religious identity of tribals in bastar region, Chhattisgarh, India.

Abstract

The Belief and rituals are invariant factors in all religions. Rituals are rationalized and made effective by beliefs. It is only by considering religion as a mode of action as well as a system of beliefs that the living meaning of both rituals and beliefs becomes evident. The tribal beliefs, rituals and practices are very much associated with their life, and it is difficult even to isolate or separate those from the people. For the sake of continued existence in hilly and forest environment, even today they have not forgotten to practice their indigenous knowledge, where natural resources have significant role. The deep-rooted belief on the survival of supernatural power also exists to influence each and every step of their life and this belief system gives them power for their existence. There is strong influence of Hinduism on the tribal culture. The religion, like culture, has everywhere been undergoing a certain degree of change through a process of acculturation. One can distinguish two major type of acculturation: (i) incorporation (ii) directed change. On the other hand, the Christian missionaries have established their churches in the dense forests and are trying to modernize them only to convert them subsequently from colonial period onwards. These changes are demonstrating the change of human psychology and thought prowny through the phase of history. More or less they continue to practice the aboriginal knowledge and belief towards the superstitions, which are heady constructive to presume the sense of self or soul in tribal community.