Bastar -- the forest clad districtin the Madhya Pradesh state of India, is the den of numerous tribal groups who are the descendents of the primitive immigrants of pre-Dravidian era. Inspite of various induced forces of change for development, these tribal populations have maintained their ethnic identity and the area as such provides a rich laboratory for anthropological research.

Based on published materials as well as field observations, the present work is an attempt to understand the district with its cultural plurality. It provides a background to the history of the district and discusses the geographical environment; the ethnography of chief tribal groups; the territorial distribution of tribes; land alienation problem; and the social customs, religious beliefs and practices, food habits, health and hygiene practices, and the art and craft of the tribals of the district. The volume also gives an idea of the social change and the developmental work at Bastar, besides providing glimpses of the tribal life through a few illustrations.

The authors are eminent anthropologists, working with the Anthropological Survey of India.