<–2/”>a >A race is a grouping of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into categories generally viewed as inherently distinct by Society. India is a multicultural country. Anthropologists are committed to grasping the dynamics of communities and populations. As anthropology combines the premises of a biological as well as well as socio-cultural study, it looks at the diverse sections of human beings with dual perspective, one derived from its branch called biological anthropology, and the other from social/cultural anthropology.
Guha has classified the races in India as:-
1. The Negritos
Morphological Features: Skin Colour – Dark Brown to Dark Black; Hair – Woolly in form; Head Form – Small, Round, Medium or Long; Forehead is Bulbous; Supraorbital Ridges – Smooth; Eyes – Dark in Colour, Nose Form – Straight, Flat and Broad; Stature- Very Short height or Pygmy.
Represented by the Kadars, Pulayans (Cochin and Travancore, Irular and Primitive tribes of Wynad. They are considered to be autochthones of India.
2. The Proto-Australoids
Morphological Features: Skin Colour – Dark Brown; Hair – Dark in Colour; Wavy and Curly Hair form; Head – Long (Dolichocephalic); Forehead – Less Developed and Slightly retreating; Supraorbital Ridges – Prominent; Eyes – Dark in Colour; Nose – Broad, Depressed at the Root; Stature – Short, Limbs are delicate.
This type is represented by Urali (Travancore), Baiga (Rewa), the tribal groups – Chenchu, Kannikar, Kondh, Bhil, Santal, Oron belong to this group. Their morphological features wavy hair is different form the Negritos who are having frizzly or woolly hair.
3. The Mongoloids
This group is characterised by straight hair, obliquely set eyes showing Epicanthic fold; scanty hair on body and face, flat face with prominent cheek bones.
They are represented by two groups – (i) Palaeo – Mongoloids who are categorized into
(a) Long – headed and (b) Broad – headed and (ii) Tibeto – Mongoloids
4. Mediterranean (Dravidian):
They comprise three distinct racial types base on their stature, head, complexion etc.
(a) Palaeo-Mediterranean: They have medium stature, dark skin with slight built. The head is long narrow and vault high with bulbous forehead and slightly projecting occiput. Face is usually narrow, prominent, moderately broad and fleshy. Facial and body hair are scanty. The representatives of this type are the Tamil, Telugu Brahmins and Nayars.
(b) Mediterranean proper: They are characterized by long head with arched forehead, long face, narrow and prominent nose, tall to medium stature, Light skin color. They have plentiful body and facial hair, dark hair and eyes brownish to dark brown, chin is well developed. The true representatives are the Numbudiri Brahmins of Cochin, Brahmins of Allahabad, and Maratha Women of Indore. The Bengali Brahmins also show this type of characteristics. Probably this type was responsible for the building up of Indus Valley Civilization.
(c) Oriental: This is the latest of the Mediterranean to enter India. It is very similar to the Mediterranean type but differs in the nose which is long and convex. Skin color is of light. They have always been concentrated in Asia Minor and Arabia from where they must have come to India. Their typical representatives are in Punjab, Rajputana and Western Uttar Pradesh.
5. Western Brachycephals:
it is believed that more than one type of broad headed ethnic type entered into the compositions of Indian people. They can be distinguished into three types:
(a) Alpinoid: Characteristics of this type include brad head with rounded occiput, prominent nose and round face. Their complexion is lighter than that found among Mediterranean. Body and facial hair are plentiful. Body is strongly built. They are represented by Bania of Gujarat, the Kathi of Kathiwar and the Kayasthas of Bengal etc.
(b) Dinaric: They are taller in stature with dark skin, hair and eye color. They are characterized by broad head, with rounded occiput and high vault. Nose is very long and often convex. Face is long with forehead receding. This type is well represented in Bengal, Orissa and Coorg. These typical representatives include Bengali Brahmins and Kanarese Brahmins of Mysore.
(c) Armenoid: They show strong similarity with Dinaric. They, however, are characterized by broad head, narrow nose with depressed tip. Their occiput is more marked and nose more prominent than the Dinarics. Tawny white skin color and they are short to medium stature. Parsis of Bombay are typical representatives. Besides Bengali Baidyas and Kayasthas exhibit features.
6. Nordic:
They are believed to have come from Central Asia, Turkistan or a little west of the region. They entered India through North-west and settled in Punjab (2000 B.C). They are characterized by long head with arched forehead and protruding occiput. Their face is long with strong jaw; nose is fine, straight and narrow. Moderate to tall stature with robust body built and fair complexion. Their eyes have bluish or greyish tinge.,
The people of India are a diverse group, with a wide range of physical features and cultural traditions. The majority of Indians are Indo-Aryan, but there are also significant populations of Dravidian, Mongoloid, Negrito, Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman, and other peoples.
Indo-Aryan peoples are the descendants of the Indo-Aryans, who migrated to India from Central Asia in the 2nd millennium BC. They are characterized by light skin, straight hair, and narrow noses. Indo-Aryan languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali, are spoken by the majority of Indians.
Dravidian peoples are the indigenous peoples of South India. They are characterized by dark skin, curly hair, and broad noses. Dravidian languages, such as Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, are spoken by the majority of people in South India.
Mongoloid peoples are the indigenous peoples of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and North America. They are characterized by yellow skin, straight hair, and epicanthic folds. Mongoloid languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, are spoken by the majority of people in East Asia.
Negrito peoples are the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by dark skin, curly hair, and small stature. Negrito languages are spoken by small populations in Southeast Asia and Melanesia.
Austroasiatic peoples are the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. They are characterized by dark skin, straight hair, and broad noses. Austroasiatic languages are spoken by small populations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia.
Tibeto-Burman peoples are the indigenous peoples of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. They are characterized by light skin, straight hair, and narrow noses. Tibeto-Burman languages are spoken by small populations in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China.
Other peoples of India include the Jews, the Parsis, and the Anglo-Indians. The Jews are a small minority group who have lived in India for centuries. The Parsis are a Zoroastrian community who migrated to India from Persia in the 8th century AD. The Anglo-Indians are a mixed-race community who are descended from British colonists and Indian people.
The people of India are a diverse and fascinating group. Their physical features and cultural traditions reflect the country’s rich history and geography.
Here are some frequently asked questions about India:
-
What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi. -
What is the Population of India?
The population of India is over 1.3 billion people. -
What is the Official Language of India?
The official language of India is Hindi. -
What is the currency of India?
The currency of India is the Indian rupee. -
What is the religion of India?
The majority Religion in India is Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism. -
What is the Climate-of-india/”>Climate of India?
The climate of India varies depending on the region, but it is generally hot and humid. -
What are some of the major tourist attractions in India?
Some of the major tourist attractions in India include the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Gateway of India. -
What are some of the major festivals in India?
Some of the major festivals in India include Diwali, Holi, and Durga puja. -
What are some of the major foods in India?
Some of the major foods in India include curry, naan, and tandoori chicken. -
What are some of the major Sports in India?
Some of the major sports in India include cricket, hockey, and football. -
What are some of the major exports from India?
Some of the major exports from India include textiles, gems and jewelry, and Software. -
What are some of the major imports to India?
Some of the major imports to India include crude oil, gold, and machinery. -
What are some of the major challenges facing India?
Some of the major challenges facing India include POVERTY, illiteracy, and Corruption. -
What are some of the major achievements of India?
Some of the major achievements of India include its economic Growth, its nuclear program, and its space program. -
What are some of the major goals of India?
Some of the major goals of India include Poverty Alleviation, Education for all, and healthcare for all. -
What is the future of India?
The future of India is bright. The country is expected to continue to grow economically and become a major player on the world stage.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic “Races of India”:
-
Which of the following is not a major language spoken in India?
(A) Hindi
(B) English
(C) Tamil
(D) Chinese -
Which of the following is not a major religion practiced in India?
(A) Hinduism
(B) Islam
(C) Christianity
(D) Judaism -
Which of the following is not a major mountain range in India?
(A) Himalayas
(B) Alps
(C) Andes
(D) Rockies -
Which of the following is not a major river in India?
(A) Ganges
(B) Indus
(C) Brahmaputra
(D) Nile -
Which of the following is not a major city in India?
(A) New Delhi
(B) Mumbai
(C) Chennai
(D) Beijing -
Which of the following is not a major food item in India?
(A) Curry
(B) Rice
(C) Chapati
(D) Pizza -
Which of the following is not a major dance form in India?
(A) Bharatanatyam
(B) Kathak
(C) Kuchipudi
(D) Tango -
Which of the following is not a major musical instrument in India?
(A) Sitar
(B) Tabla
(C) Sarod
(D) Piano -
Which of the following is not a major festival in India?
(A) Diwali
(B) Holi
(C) Eid
(D) Christmas -
Which of the following is not a major sport in India?
(A) Cricket
(B) Hockey
(C) Football
(D) Baseball
I hope these MCQs are helpful!