Bastar (The Polity of Subalterns in State System)

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Bastar is the homeland of number of trihal groups and rexperienced number of historical waves which have routed into diverse cultural mosaic at this region. Each of sach trihal has his own enclave of habitation, in which they eke out their livelihood practices. From early days Bastar is known as princely state .

A king or a chief or a head of a state had to aque enough knowledge and power or strength to proses him or herself as bead of politics, society, religion and culture by adopting some more attributes which easily could percolate and be trusted by his or her subjects Hore, religious belief system was a favourable trait. The king or chief had to combine economic role of surplus extraction and exploitation and redistribution of wealth for the benefit of public life. Danteshwari Ma-the royal cult had to combine exogenous Brahmanic attributes with varieties of endogenous ethnic cultures.

Rastar once a dominant tribal state was one of such example where with the help and belief of Danteshwari mata- the tutelary deity of royal al family established a long span of regime of Kakatiya king of Chalukya dynasty. The special relationship of the tribes with the raja of Bastar, who also served as the chief priest to the presiding deity Danteshwari, of the tribal pantheon. Duschra festival of Bastar which is unique in the country and evolved as a way of consolidating political power (through Manjhi, Chalki, Gaita etc.) using cultural and religious symbols through Danteshwari Mata were documented. In each and every villages of Bastar there are a number of matas(or a kind of Mother goddess cult) who are appeased from time to time for welfare and blessings, their wrath may lead a troublesome life. The whole concept of various matas or mother cults as found in different villages of Bastar, centers around the principal mother cult, Danteshwari, which acts as a centripetal emotional force.

The weekly market is considered as the nerve centre of the exchange system at this tribal region and also acts as a tool of social-cultural changes and consolidating power among the subalterns in the area. Royal strength showing the force of power emanates from trading ultimately and it is perceivable in the markets and fairs through the decades, as apparent during British Rule. Due to vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes in Bastar and with the help of travel and tourism which posit human freedom and witness the great cultural heritage of Bastar in the form of monuments of Nal and Chola dynasty, the local youth may be involved in this economic development process and attributes on agony and unrest will be seized towards peaceful and harmonious life among the diverse population of Bastar.

The present treatise highlights what happened when and how a tribal state functions and after disintegrates and how a new set up of political control replaces a traditional order. Here, it is an illustration of maintaining solidarity among various subalterns groups by the Royal family of Bastar is an unique example of the country which are narrated by empirical study and becomes an ideal for the scholars of current generation and the faculty members of various academic institutions.

De. (Mrs.) Samira Dasgupta (Born: 1953) is a M.Sc, PhD (Science) in Andropology from the University of Calcutta She has specialized in Cultural Antherpology and has noteworthy corbutionsantot niet ecology, role and status of tribal wones in unanied wote, al tempsey, to kient, niin belefesten dional wedge system among the trials and cultural tourism etc. deserve for praise in academic arma being a perceptive researcher. She has published 20 (wenty) books and more than 167 research papers in various paed joumals, including contribution in People of India Bhur Volume and number of edited books of the country She posessen 35 yours research experience and carried out intensive Beld work among various tribal and weder stion of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Chhatisgarh, Odisha and Parkhand. She is a life member of INCAA, South India Medical Anthropology (SIMA), Indian Science Compress Aueciation and Indian Anthropological Society. She was associated with Anthropological Survey of India bom 1977 to 2011 and carried out several research projects for Anthropological Survey of India. She is also nvolved as consultant researcher and devoted in generating empirical data from nihal areas of Odisha.

Dr. Amitabha Sarkar (Bom: 1952) is a M.Sc., Ph.D (Science) in Anthropology from the University of Calcutta and Specialized in advanced Social- Cultural Anthropology. His remarkable empirical contribution in anthropological research arena is on impact of industrialization, tribal ethnography, culture ecology, ethno-science, religious belief system being integrative process and culture change, management of environment with traditional knowledge. He has published about 22(twenty two) books and more than 200 research papers in reputed journals and edited books. He possesses 35 years research experience and carried out empirical study among tribal and weaker section of western India, eastern India and Chhattisgarh. He is the life member of INCAA, South India Medical Anthropology (SIMA), Indian Science Congress Association and Indian Anthropological Society. He was associated with Anthropological Survey of India from 1977 to 2012. He is also consultant researcher and involve in generating empirical data from tribal areas of Odisha.

It is obvious that only economic and political dominance are not sufficient to establish a kingdom or state adequately. A king or a chief or a head of a state had to acquire enough knowledge and power or strength to present him or herself as head of politics, society, religion and culture by adopting some more attributes which easily could percolate and be trusted by his or her subjects. Here, religious belief system was a favourable trait as soft corner and weakness on celestial belief system in order to avoid any curse and fear. The king or chief had to combine economic role of surplus extraction and exploitation and redistribution of wealth for the benefit of public life. Danteshwari Ma - the royal cult had to combine exogenous Brahmanic attributes with varieties of endogenous ethnic cultures (Sinha, 1987).