History and culture of Khond tribes.

This stimulating volume is an inter pretative, clearly organized and well. balanced survey of history and culture of the Khond tribes of India. Elaborating the geography and topography of the region and the consequent nature of the Khonds, this work provides a meticulous analysis of their political, juridical, economic, social and religious institu tions. It also explores the origin, mode and suppression of two horrid practices namely human sacrifice and infanticide. While the book reveals the causes and the nature of Khond resistance against the British rule, it extensively narrates. the progress and consequences of those uprisings of far-reaching importance, It also encompasses the cultural aspects such as art, artefacts, language, dance, sports and music of the Khonds. The process of their social change and their adoption of Hindu customs are also analytically discussed. Close attention has been paid to major problems and the geographical hazards which have made the Khonds conservative and backward. Side by side the pros and cons of other issues like shifting settlement and migra tion, nomadic system of cultivation, economic exploitation, extreme poverty, customary Lethargy and traditional reliance on primitive social rules, inter vention in their socio-religious beliefs, apathy and indifference to education and unsuitability of the British laws and regulations have been highlighted. The work based chiefly on primary sources Other pertinent studies of the best scho lars in the field have been consulted as well. This book will certainly elicit great interest among the scholars not only in history, anthropology and sociology but also among the general readers who are keenly interested in the study of and mysterious Life-styles. to struggles and fascinating achievements of the primitive tribes. This work is indeed an oribinal contribute to the study of tribal history and culture of India.