The Adivasis 

Primary Sources for Studies of Tribal Life in India

Page Last Updated: February 17, 2024


The Adivasis (literally meaning original dwellers) are the indigenous people of India who maintained the early lifestyles of mankind till the 19th century. They are also referred to as "Vanavasis" (meaning forest dwellers), "Girijans" (meaning people of the mountain), and "Mulavasis".

Many of the photographs were taken just before the modernization was to hit the native lifestyles (hunting, free-sex, and blending with nature) of Adivasis, and much of the Adivasi culture is lost today due to reform, modernization, education, rehabilitation, religious conversions, and exploitation. 

We hope that this archive of primary resources collected by anthropologists through extensive field-study and interviews will be an asset to students of Tribal life in India.



Adivasi Dancer Stops for a Smoke
Narayanapur Mela, Madhya Pradesh
Adivasis of Madhya Pradesh
Indigenous Habitat
Adivasi Habitat, Madhya Pradesh
Known as Manchal, this is the typical habitat of the tribals of Madhya Pradesh.

Ancient Means and Ways
A tribal man aims his catapult on a bird. The village of Chetedongar, Madhya Pradesh
Tribals of India
Tribals of India
Bastar Tribals, 1962-63
Tribals eating by the wayside on way to Jatra

Dancer at the Narayanpur Mela
Madhya Pradesh, circa 1977
Tribal Dancer
The Adivasis
Daughter of the Forest God

Decorated Tribal Boy
Photographically improved picture of tribal boy
Advivasis of India
Advivasis of India
Feather Decorations of a Tribal Dancer
The Khajuraho Folk Festival, 1977

A Female Dancer Belongnging to Muria Tribe
Muria Dancer
Korku  Tribals
Five Men of Korku Tribe
Notice the their attire

Flowers & Feathers Worn by a Muria Adivasi
Tribals of Bastar
The Gond Tribe
Gonda Youngster
The Village of Jamunjari, July 1976

A Gondati's Tattoo
The village of Bhimbetaka, Madhya Pradesh
Tribal Tattoos
Tribals of Madhya Pradesh
Homeward Bound
A coal miner returns to village from work

A Man belonging to Native Maratha (kad-maratha) Community
Indigenous People of India
Tribals of India
Mascular Tribal Youngster
Jagadalpur, 1976

Picture of a Kudubi Tribal Woman
The Village of Uluvi, Uttara Kannada District
Tribal Communities of India
Tribal Dancer`s Headgear
Posterior of a Tribal Dancer
Forests of Central India, circa 1976

Santali Tribal Woman and her Three Children
The Santali Tribe
The Adivasis
Santhal Tribal Habitat, Bengal
Town of Plassey, Year 1970

Small Capital, Small Profits
A tribal man selling his produce on highway
Tribal People of India
Tribal Life in India
Social Drinking among Tribals of India
While social drinking is frowned upon among the civilized in India, among the natives, it is very common.

A Toda Tribal Leader
Advivasis of India
Tribal Life of India
A tribal hut constructed without bricks, steel or mortar
Central India, circa 1976

Tribal Women on Errands
Tribals of Madhya Pradesh
The Gramokkal Tribe
Tribal Woman of Gramokkal Community in Traditional Saree
The village of Kodkani, Uttara Kannada. Circa 1980

Tribal Woman with Piercings
Indigenous People of India
The Moolavasis of India
Tribal Women Dancers
Dancers at the Narayanpur Mela, Madhya Pradesh

Tribal Women, Bastar
Careful inspection of the photograph reveals tribal tattoos and tribal jewelry
Tribals of Central India
Tribal Women
Tribal Women, Central India

Tribal Women with Produce to be Sold on the Market-day
Village of Narayanpur, Central India
Tribal Women
Tribals of Madhya Pradesh
Tribal Youngster with Horn Decorartions

Tribal Youth with an Axe
Photograph colored by K.L.Kamat
Tribal Fashions
Tribals in Town
Two Adivasi Girls in town of Narayanpur
Notice their head décor. Bastar, circa 1976

Villagers at Jagadalpur Dasara
Tribals of India
Tribals of India
Waiting for the Man of the Household
A tribal family waits for the father to return from forest, village of Chote Dongar, 1976

Young and Innocent
Young girl at the tribal educational institute of Ghotul, 1977
Adivasi Girl
Tribals of Bastar
A Youngster Belonging to Muria Tribe
Photograph hand-colored by K.L. Kamat

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