13. Underprivileged Minorities in India : Dalits and Tribals

Preamble Of the two largest groups of underprivileged minorities in India, the Dalits (ex-Untouchables, present Scheduled Castes) are well known, while tribals are almost unheard of outside the country. While Dalits form an inextricable element of Indian society and are both socially and geographically present everywhere, the tribals live on the margins of civilization. The two groups probably share a common origin, and both are branded by their low status relative to the dominant Hindu socie.