Adivasi – Indigenous Tribal Groups of India Adivasis, meaning “original inhabitants” in Sanskrit, are the indigenous tribal communities of the Indian subcontinent. The term is used as a socio-political identity for various groups officially classified as Scheduled Tribes (STs) under the Indian Constitution. Although Adivasis are diverse in language, culture, and ancestry, they share a long-standing relationship with the forests, hills, and natural landscapes of India. As of the 2011 census, over 104 million Adivasis live in India, making up about 8.6% of the population. The word “Adivasi” was first used in the 1930s by tribal activists seeking to unify distinct tribal groups under a shared identity that emphasized their…