Part A (Q2): Discuss Characteristics of Tribal Society.

A tribal society (often referred to as Adivasis in India) is a group of people united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, living in a specific geographic area, and sharing a distinct culture. The key characteristics include:

1. Definite Topography: Tribal societies generally inhabit specific, often isolated, geographical areas such as forests, hills, or mountains, which shapes their lifestyle and economy.
2. Sense of Unity and Kinship: Kinship is the primary basis of social organization. There is a strong sense of internal unity, mutual obligation, and collective identity (often referred to as 'we-feeling').
3. Common Language and Culture: A tribe typically possesses its own distinct dialect/language, folklore, customs, rituals, and belief systems (often animistic or totemic).
4. Egalitarian Structure: Compared to the rigid hierarchy of caste societies, tribal societies tend to be more egalitarian. There are fewer distinctions based on wealth or status, though elders and chiefs hold authority.
5. Simple Economy: Their economy is usually subsistence-based, relying on hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation, or basic agriculture, with little emphasis on surplus production or capital accumulation.
6. Endogamy: Members generally marry within their own tribe to preserve their distinct cultural identity and social cohesion.