<–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.,
India is a country with a rich and diverse history and culture. This diversity is reflected in the country’s racial makeup, which includes a number of different groups. The most common racial groups in India are Indo-Aryans, Dravidians, Austroasiatic peoples, Mongoloid peoples, Negrito peoples, and other racial groups.
Indo-Aryans are the largest racial group in India, accounting for about 70% of the Population. They are descended from people who migrated to India from Central Asia around 1500 BC. Indo-Aryans are mostly found in the northern and western parts of India. They speak Indo-Aryan languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali.
Dravidians are the second largest racial group in India, accounting for about 25% of the population. They are descended from people who migrated to India from Southeast Asia around 3000 BC. Dravidians are mostly found in the southern and central parts of India. They speak Dravidian languages, such as Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Austroasiatic peoples are a small racial group in India, accounting for about 2% of the population. They are descended from people who migrated to India from Southeast Asia around 2000 BC. Austroasiatic peoples are mostly found in the northeastern parts of India. They speak Austroasiatic languages, such as Munda and Khasi.
Mongoloid peoples are a small racial group in India, accounting for about 1% of the population. They are descended from people who migrated to India from East Asia around 1000 BC. Mongoloid peoples are mostly found in the northeastern parts of India. They speak Mongoloid languages, such as Assamese and Manipuri.
Negrito peoples are a small racial group in India, accounting for less than 1% of the population. They are descended from people who migrated to India from Africa around 50,000 years ago. Negrito peoples are mostly found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They speak Negrito languages, such as Onge and Jarawa.
Other racial groups in India include people of mixed race, people from other parts of Asia, and people from Europe. These groups make up a small Percentage of the population.
The racial groups of India have a long and complex history. They have interacted with each other in a variety of ways, and their cultures have been influenced by each other. This interaction has resulted in a rich and diverse culture that is unique to India.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers 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 greatly depending on the region. The northern parts of India are cooler and drier, while the southern parts are warmer and more 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 exports of India?
Some of the major exports of India include textiles, gems and jewelry, and Software. -
What are some of the major imports of India?
Some of the major imports of 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 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 about India without mentioning the topic “Racial groups of India”:
-
Which of the following is the largest state in India by area?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Maharashtra -
Which of the following is the capital of India?
(A) New Delhi
(B) Mumbai
(C) Chennai
(D) Kolkata -
Which of the following is the official language of India?
(A) Hindi
(B) English
(C) Bengali
(D) Tamil -
Which of the following is the national animal of India?
(A) Tiger
(B) Lion
(C) Elephant
(D) Rhinoceros -
Which of the following is the national flower of India?
(A) Lotus
(B) Rose
(C) Jasmine
(D) Marigold -
Which of the following is the national bird of India?
(A) Peacock
(B) Eagle
(C) Swan
(D) Parrot -
Which of the following is the National Flag of India?
(A) A tricolor flag with saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom, with a blue wheel in the center of the white band.
(B) A tricolor flag with green at the top, white in the middle, and saffron at the bottom, with a red wheel in the center of the white band.
(C) A tricolor flag with white at the top, saffron in the middle, and green at the bottom, with a blue wheel in the center of the saffron band.
(D) A tricolor flag with saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom, with a white wheel in the center of the green band. -
Which of the following is the National Anthem of India?
(A) Jana Gana Mana
(B) Vande Mataram
(C) Saare Jahan Se Accha
(D) Hamdard -
Which of the following is the National Song of India?
(A) Jana Gana Mana
(B) Vande Mataram
(C) Saare Jahan Se Accha
(D) Hamdard -
Which of the following is the national motto of India?
(A) Satyameva Jayate
(B) Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
(C) Jai Hind
(D) Vande Mataram
I hope these MCQs are helpful!