International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Tribal Society and Scientific Temper in Post-Independence India

Tribal society and the generation of scientific temper in post-independence India takes a decisive place in the overall discussion of social transformation, education and inclusive development. The available literature emphasises the fact that tribal communities, which were historically defined by cultural autonomy, ecological knowledge systems and marginalisation by colonial powers, were faced with a completely changed socio-political landscape following independence. The key issue emerged from the studied literature is unequal application of scientific temper, which is seen as rational inquiry, critical thinking, and potential opposition to superstition, to the tribal social organisation in cases of state-driven development and educational intervention. The literature reviewed is largely analytical and literature based and is based on sociological, anthropological, educational, and policy-based research. All these works indicate that as much as constitutional protection, education growth and developmental programmes were aimed at fostering modern scientific perspectives, they have been limited by structural inequalities, lack of proper implementation, cultural discontinuities, and entrenched social exclusion. Tribal knowledge systems were often positioned in opposition to scientific rationality rather than recognised as complementary, thereby restricting the organic development of scientific temper. Education has become a prevailing factor but inequity in access, quality and relevance still determines outcome. The review of literature indicates that scientific temper among tribal society needs culturally sensitive educational practises and developmental policies that do not ignore the indigenous epistemologies but allow rational and critical interaction with the modern science.