Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction to Indian tribes
2. Andaman and the Nicobar Islanders and their Genetic Affiliations
3. Genetics and Archaeogenetics of Indian Tribes
4. A Traditional Social Structure of Indian Tribes
5. Indian Tribals Culture: Traditions and Customs
6. Native Indian Tribes: Mythology and Legends
Bibliography
Index

The Indian population originated from three separate waves of migration from Africa, Iran and Central Asia over a period of 50,000 years, scientists have found using genetic evidence from people alive in the subcontinent today. Considerable debate has accompanied efforts to define and characterize tribes. In the popular imagination, tribes reflect a primordial social structure from which all subsequent civilizations and states developed. Tribals, black aborigines similar to those found in New Guinea and Australia, are believed to be the original inhabitants of much of southern India. DNA evidence from the Negrito tribes of the Andaman Islands spans back 70,000 years and suggests they originated from people from Africa who migrated to India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. DNA evidence also indicates that they are direct descendants of the first modern humans to leave Africa but lack a distinctive feature of Australian aborigines, another early group to leave Africa. This comprehensive book is an effort to search the origin of history of Indian tribes. Students, social workers and researchers will find this book valuable in their study and work. ---provided by publisher