The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume 2

An engaging look into the social fabric of early‑twentieth‑century central India, this volume offers a systematic, alphabetical survey of dozens of castes and tribal communities. Compiled by a civil‑service ethnographer and his local assistant, it blends meticulous field notes with maps and pronunciation guides, giving listeners a clear sense of each group’s names, origins and traditional roles.

From iron‑workers and cotton‑cleaners to forest‑dwelling hunters and itinerant musicians, the entries illuminate everyday occupations, religious practices and regional customs. Full‑color plates accompany many sections, showing everything from Aghori mendicants and Baiga villages to bustling Bania markets and intricate tilak designs, helping the ear‑reader picture the vivid diversity of the landscape.

The narration walks you through this living catalogue, making the complex tapestry of caste and tribe approachable for anyone curious about India’s cultural history, while preserving the scholarly tone of the original research.