© Kamla-Raj 2007 Stud. Tribes Tribals, 5(2): 97-102 (2007) Stratification of Bastar Tribes

ABSTRACT Caste system, ethnic formation and other religion-based communities speak of plurality in India, depicts a variety of cultural variations. Concerning Indian society the saying of ‘unity in diversity’, it is revealed that the diversity is not only distinctive feature of caste but it goes beyond, providing a typical stratification in the social order; while the world of Indian tribes, is conspicuously different than the caste society, which is conceived as egalitarian society. Instances of widespread social equality are common. However, differentiation in terms of inequality at social, economic, as well as political arena could also be annunciated and some of such trends got impetus after the establishment of close culture contact with the non-tribal, more so with the social system of caste. This may have sprouted the rise of social stratification among Indian tribes. The present paper highlights about the features of stratification among the Bastar tribes. I The concept of stratification refers to unequal rewards that are attached to position. According to Parsons “social stratification is regarded here as the differential ranking of the human individuals who compose a given socia