India\u2019s socio-cultural landscape is vast, layered, and deeply diverse. Yet within this complexity, two contrasting realities demand national attention. On one side stand the 11 crore (110 million) Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (DNT\/NT\/SNT)\u2014a population still struggling for identity documents, stable housing, access to education, healthcare and basic human rights.<\/p>\n
On the other side is the LGBTQ+ community, whose estimated population in India is around 5\u20136 lakh (500,000\u2013600,000), yet whose presence in national and international discourse has grown disproportionately due to global funding networks and narrative amplification.<\/p>\n
This contrast raises a pressing question:-
\nAre global agendas overshadowing India\u2019s genuine social priorities?<\/p>\n
India\u2019s Tribal Communities:- Pride, Struggle and Systemic Neglect
\nIndia\u2019s tribal societies\u2014whether Scheduled Tribes or DNT\/NT\/SNT groups\u2014have always been an integral part of the Indian civilizational fabric. Their marriage traditions, forest knowledge, agricultural practices, music, dance, self-governance systems, and cultural autonomy all emerge from indigenous Indian cultural continuity.<\/p>\n
However, the colonial era deliberately distorted their identity. Thinkers such as Max M\u00fcller and Thomas Macaulay introduced misleading labels like \u201cIndigenous,\u201d \u201cAboriginal,\u201d and \u201cTribe,\u201d attempting to portray Indian tribal communities as somehow separate from the mainstream civilisation. This categorization helped the British justify their exploitation of forest wealth, mineral resources, and land.<\/p>\n
The Industrial Revolution intensified this exploitation. Colonial authorities declared forest communities \u201cuncivilized\u201d, restricting their traditional mobility and seizing their rights. The notorious Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 even branded entire communities as \u201cborn criminals,\u201d creating a stigma that still lingers in many regions.<\/p>\n
Even in independent India, this neglect did not fully end.
\nKey findings from the Renke Commission (2008) and the Idate Commission (2018) reveal:
\n\u2022 8\u201311 crore DNT\/NT\/SNT population
\n\u2022 No separate census category even after 77 years of independence
\n\u2022 70\u201380% lack identity documents\u2014address proof, ration card, Aadhaar, etc.
\n\u2022 Welfare schemes rarely reach them
\n\u2022 Severe deficiencies in education, nutrition, healthcare
\n\u2022 Very limited livelihood opportunities<\/p>\n
Which leads to an important question:-
\nWhy does a population of 110 million remain invisible in India\u2019s national discourse?<\/p>\n
The Rise of LGBTQ+ Discourse: A Global Narrative in Indian Public Space
\nEvery democratic society must ensure dignity, safety and constitutional rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. That is non-negotiable. But the issue here is not rights\u2014it is priority and proportionality.
\nCompare the scale:
\n\u2022 LGBTQ+ populace: 5\u20136 lakh
\n\u2022 DNT\/NT\/SNT communities: 8\u201311 crore
\n\u2022 Media visibility: LGBTQ+ discourse overwhelmingly dominant
\n\u2022 Policy attention: DNT communities largely ignored<\/p>\n
Why this imbalance?
\nThe answer lies in the global funding ecosystem. Over the past decade, several international institutions have channelled significant financial resources into LGBTQ+ and gender-fluidity programmes in India:-
\n\u2022 Ford Foundation
\n\u2022 Open Society Foundations
\n\u2022 Rockefeller Network
\n\u2022 Human Rights Fund
\n\u2022 UNDP Inclusion Fund
\n\u2022 Global CSR alliances<\/p>\n
These networks invest in universities, NGOs, media, digital campaigns, art festivals and cultural events\u2014primarily to expand LGBTQ+ narratives.<\/p>\n
Data suggests that in the last five years:
\n\u2022 LGBTQ+ events\u2014lit fests, film festivals, social media conclaves\u2014have grown by 200\u2013400%
\n\u2022 Yet not a single national-level event has been organised for Nomadic or Denotified Tribes
\nBranding vs Reality: Why the Priorities Don\u2019t Match
\nSocial scholars highlight a clear pattern:-<\/p>\n
The LGBTQ+ theme\u2014
\n\u2022 aligns with corporate branding
\n\u2022 fits urban-progressive narratives
\n\u2022 resonates with Western political agendas
\n\u2022 attracts media and elite support
\n\u2022 creates global visibility for institutions<\/p>\n
In contrast, DNT\/NT\/SNT communities\u2014
\n\u2022 are non-urban
\n\u2022 lack digital influence
\n\u2022 are economically marginalized
\n\u2022 don\u2019t fit the \u201cglobal modernity\u201d template
\n\u2022 do not generate \u201cbrand value\u201d<\/p>\n
Therefore, they remain outside public discourse.<\/p>\n
Academic Imbalance: Queer Theory Dominates, Nomadic History Absent
\nIn recent years, numerous leading universities have introduced:
\n\u2022 gender-fluidity courses
\n\u2022 queer studies programmes
\n\u2022 sexuality curriculum modules<\/p>\n
But almost none have introduced academic studies on:-
\n\u2022 nomadic tribes\u2019 history
\n\u2022 their traditions, art, language
\n\u2022 their cultural systems
\n\u2022 colonial-era exploitation
\n\u2022 continuing injustice against DNT\/NT\/SNT communities<\/p>\n
This reveals a troubling reality\u2014
\nIndia\u2019s academic ecosystem, too, is aligning more with global narratives than domestic priorities.<\/p>\n
Are We Being Distracted from Real Issues?
\nThe imbalance in public discourse is not accidental.
\nThree forces shape it:-
\n1) Corporate\u2013Global Agenda
\nCorporations prefer topics that strengthen their \u201cprogressive brand image,\u201d making LGBTQ+ themes their top priority.
\n2) Foreign NGOs
\nThey amplify issues that align with Western modernity narratives.
\n3) Media\u2013Elite Networks<\/p>\n
They promote themes that:
\n\u2022 are well-funded
\n\u2022 fit urban aesthetics
\n\u2022 carry global legitimacy
\n\u2022 offer personal visibility
\nAs a result\u2014
\n\u2022 110 million Indians remain unheard
\n\u2022 while a 5-lakh population dominates national conversation<\/p>\n
The Final Question: Will India Write Its Own Narrative?
\nIndia stands at a historical crossroads. It must begin a nation-scale mission to uplift its Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic, and Denotified Tribes by guaranteeing:
\n\u2022 identity
\n\u2022 land and forest rights
\n\u2022 education
\n\u2022 healthcare
\n\u2022 rehabilitation
\n\u2022 cultural autonomy
\n\u2022 dignity and representation<\/p>\n
Unless India shapes its own socio-cultural discourse, real India\u2014its real struggles\u2014will remain in the shadows.<\/p>\n
The Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas reminds us that the soul of India lives not only in its cities, but equally in its tribal and nomadic communities.
\nThe time has come to break free from colonial misconceptions and modern ideological distortions, and restore dignity to the 110 million invisible citizens who are an inseparable part of India\u2019s civilizational journey.<\/p>\n
-Kailash Chandra<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" India\u2019s socio-cultural landscape is vast, layered, and deeply diverse. Yet within this complexity, two contrasting realities demand national attention. On one side stand the 11 crore (110 million) Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (DNT\/NT\/SNT)\u2014a population still struggling for identity documents, stable housing, access to education, healthcare and basic human rights. On the other side is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":290148,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[353,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-290147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-353","category-3"],"yoast_head":"\n