Understanding Marginalisation
Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this lesson, we explore Chapter 7 — Understanding Marginalisation from the ASSEB Class 8 Social Science (Political Science) textbook. This chapter helps us understand how some communities in India have been pushed to the edges of social, economic, cultural and political life. We will study who marginalised groups are, why they remain marginalised, and how the Constitution of India tries to protect their rights and dignity. The chapter focuses especially on Adivasis (tribal communities) and Muslims, two important examples of marginalised groups.
Summary
Meaning of Marginalisation: The word “marginalisation” means being forced to live on the edges or margins of society. Marginalised groups are those communities that experience discrimination, exclusion, lack of resources, and powerlessness. They have very little control over their lives and resources because of their language, customs, religion, low economic status, or because mainstream society does not value their culture. Marginalisation results in low social status, less access to education and employment, and a weak political voice. It is not simply about being poor — it is about being treated as less important by the dominant groups in society.
Marginalised Groups in India — Adivasis: Adivasis, literally meaning “original inhabitants”, are communities that lived and often continue to live in close association with forests. They make up about 8 per cent of India’s population. India has more than 500 different Adivasi groups, each with its own language, religion, traditions and customs. Adivasi societies are usually less hierarchical than caste-based Hindu society. Their religious worldview is connected to nature — forests, mountains, rivers and ancestors. Many Adivasis traditionally practised jhum (shifting cultivation), hunting and gathering. Today, Adivasis have been displaced from forests and lands due to mining, dams, industries and conservation projects. Around 50 per cent of those displaced by big development projects in India are Adivasis, even though they are only 8 per cent of the population.
Marginalised Groups in India — Muslims: Muslims are the largest religious minority in India, making up about 13.4 per cent of the population (according to the 2001 Census). Many Muslims face economic and educational backwardness as well as discrimination based on customs, dress, language and religious practices. The Sachar Committee Report (2006), appointed by the Prime Minister, examined the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India. It found that Muslims as a community were lagging behind in various development indicators — including literacy, employment in government jobs, and access to basic facilities — and showed that they share many features of marginalised groups.
Reasons and Constitutional Protections: Communities become marginalised because of differences in language, customs and religion, low economic and political clout, and active discrimination. The Indian Constitution provides several safeguards against marginalisation. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. Article 29 protects the right of minorities to conserve their language, script and culture. Article 30 grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Adivasis continue to struggle for forest rights — laws like the Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognise the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and resources. Marginalisation is therefore not only a social issue but also a question of justice, equality and democracy.
Textbook Question and Answer
1 Mark Questions
Q1. What does the word “marginalisation” mean?
Answer: Marginalisation means being forced to occupy the margins or edges of society, with limited access to resources, opportunities and power.
Q2. Who are Adivasis?
Answer: Adivasis, meaning “original inhabitants”, are tribal communities who have lived and often still live in close association with forests.
Q3. What percentage of India’s population is Adivasi?
Answer: Adivasis make up about 8 per cent of India’s total population.
Q4. Which is the largest religious minority in India?
Answer: Muslims form the largest religious minority in India, about 13.4 per cent of the population.
Q5. What is jhum cultivation?
Answer: Jhum is a form of shifting cultivation traditionally practised by many Adivasi communities, in which a patch of forest land is cleared, cultivated and then left fallow.
Q6. When was the Sachar Committee Report submitted?
Answer: The Sachar Committee Report was submitted in the year 2006.
Q7. Which Article of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth?
Answer: Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits such discrimination.
Q8. Which Article gives minorities the right to set up their own educational institutions?
Answer: Article 30 of the Constitution gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Q9. Name one major cause of Adivasi displacement.
Answer: Construction of large dams, mining and industrial projects in forest areas have caused widespread displacement of Adivasis.
Q10. What does the Constitution mean by a “minority”?
Answer: A minority is a community that is numerically smaller than the majority population, often needing special protection to preserve its identity.
2-3 Marks Questions
Q1. List two reasons why some groups become marginalised.
Answer: (i) Differences in language, customs and religion that are not valued by the dominant community. (ii) Low economic and political clout, which means such groups have little power to influence decisions or claim resources. Active discrimination by mainstream society further deepens their marginalisation.
Q2. Mention any three features of Adivasi cultures.
Answer: (i) Adivasi societies are generally less hierarchical and do not have the rigid caste system of mainstream Hindu society. (ii) Their religion and worldview revolve around nature — forests, rivers, hills and ancestral spirits. (iii) They have their own languages, music, dance and art forms, and many have traditionally practised jhum cultivation, hunting and gathering.
Q3. What were the main findings of the Sachar Committee Report (2006)?
Answer: The Sachar Committee Report (2006) found that Muslims in India were lagging behind in education, employment in government jobs, and access to basic services like banking, electricity and clean drinking water. The literacy rate among Muslims was lower than the national average. The report concluded that Muslims showed many features of a marginalised community and recommended steps for their inclusion in mainstream development.
Q4. Explain the importance of Article 15 and Article 16.
Answer: Article 15 prohibits the State from discriminating against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment, ensuring that no citizen is denied a government job because of these factors. Together, these Articles uphold the principle of equality and protect marginalised groups from discrimination.
Q5. Why are Adivasis losing their land and forests?
Answer: Adivasis are losing their land and forests because of large-scale development projects such as mining, dams, factories and roads, and also because of conservation projects that turn forests into reserves and parks. Many Adivasis do not have written ownership documents for their lands, which makes it easy for outsiders to take their land. As a result, around half of those displaced by big projects in India are Adivasis.
Q6. Why is being a minority more than just a matter of numbers?
Answer: Being a minority is not only about being smaller in number, but also about being weaker in social, economic and political power. Minorities often have a different culture, language or religion that may not be valued by the majority. Therefore, the Constitution provides them special safeguards under Articles 29 and 30 to protect their identity and rights.
5-6 Marks Questions
Q1. Define marginalisation. Explain the major reasons why certain groups are marginalised in Indian society.
Answer: Marginalisation refers to a process in which certain communities are forced to live on the edges of society, away from the centres of power and resources. Marginalised groups face exclusion in economic, social, cultural and political life. The major reasons for marginalisation are as follows:
- Cultural differences: Communities that speak different languages, follow distinct customs or practise different religions are often seen as “different” and are looked down upon by the dominant community.
- Low economic status: Marginalised groups usually own very little land or other productive resources. They depend on irregular labour, which keeps them poor.
- Low political clout: Such groups are not well represented in government bodies and decision-making, so their concerns are ignored.
- Discrimination: They face active prejudice in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
- Displacement: Many groups, especially Adivasis, lose their lands and traditional livelihoods due to development projects.
All these factors together push them to the margins and reduce their life chances.
Q2. Describe the cultural worldview and traditional way of life of Adivasi communities.
Answer: Adivasi communities have a unique cultural worldview that is closely connected to nature. Some important features are:
- Relationship with nature: Forests, rivers, hills and animals are considered sacred. Many Adivasi gods and goddesses are linked to natural elements and ancestors.
- Equality: Adivasi societies are usually less hierarchical and do not follow the rigid caste system of mainstream Hindu society. Women generally enjoy a relatively better social position.
- Languages and traditions: India has more than 500 Adivasi groups, each with its own language, festivals, music, dance and art forms.
- Livelihood: Traditional occupations include jhum (shifting) cultivation, hunting, gathering forest produce, fishing and rearing animals.
- Community ownership: Many Adivasi communities traditionally treat land and forest as common property of the community rather than as private property.
However, with displacement and migration to towns, many of these cultural traditions are now under threat.
Q3. Why are Muslims considered a marginalised community in India? Discuss with reference to the Sachar Committee Report.
Answer: Muslims are the largest religious minority in India, forming about 13.4 per cent of the population. They are considered a marginalised community for the following reasons:
- Economic backwardness: A large section of Muslims live in poverty, doing low-paid jobs and small-scale work.
- Educational gap: Their literacy rate is lower than the national average, and fewer Muslim children complete higher education.
- Low representation: Muslims are under-represented in government jobs, the police and the armed forces.
- Discrimination: They sometimes face discrimination in housing, jobs and daily life because of their religion, language and customs.
The Sachar Committee Report of 2006, prepared by a high-level committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, examined the social, economic and educational status of Muslims. It confirmed that Muslims share many of the features of marginalised groups and recommended special measures for their development. This shows that being a minority can lead to marginalisation when the State and society do not actively protect their rights.
Q4. How does the Indian Constitution protect marginalised groups? Discuss with reference to Articles 15, 16, 29 and 30.
Answer: The Constitution of India contains several provisions to protect marginalised groups and uphold the values of equality, justice and dignity:
- Article 15: Prohibits the State from discriminating against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. It also allows special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Article 16: Guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. No citizen can be denied a government job because of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth or residence.
- Article 29: Protects the right of any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture of its own to conserve the same. This protects minority cultures from being absorbed forcibly into the dominant culture.
- Article 30: Gives all minorities, whether based on religion or language, the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Apart from these, laws like the Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognise the rights of Adivasis over forest lands. Together, these provisions try to ensure that no community is left behind.
Q5. Explain how marginalisation affects the life chances of a community. Use the example of Adivasis to support your answer.
Answer: Marginalisation has a deep impact on the life chances of a community — that is, their opportunities to live a healthy, educated and dignified life. The main effects are:
- Loss of livelihood: When Adivasis are displaced from their forests and lands due to dams, mines and industries, they lose their traditional sources of food and income.
- Poverty and migration: Many Adivasis are forced to migrate to towns and cities, where they work as cheap labourers in unsafe conditions.
- Poor health and education: Marginalised communities have less access to schools, hospitals and clean water. This leads to high rates of illiteracy, malnutrition and disease.
- Cultural loss: Displacement leads to the loss of language, festivals and traditional knowledge linked to forests.
- Powerlessness: Marginalisation reduces their political voice, so their problems are not heard or solved.
The Adivasi struggle for forest rights, recognised in the Forest Rights Act of 2006, is therefore a struggle to recover their land, livelihood, identity and dignity.
Additional Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. The word “Adivasi” literally means —
(a) Forest dweller
(b) Original inhabitant
(c) Hill people
(d) Migrant
Answer: (b) Original inhabitant
Q2. Adivasis form roughly what percentage of India’s population?
(a) 2%
(b) 5%
(c) 8%
(d) 15%
Answer: (c) 8%
Q3. The largest religious minority in India is —
(a) Christians
(b) Sikhs
(c) Muslims
(d) Buddhists
Answer: (c) Muslims
Q4. Jhum cultivation is a form of —
(a) Plantation farming
(b) Shifting cultivation
(c) Terrace farming
(d) Commercial farming
Answer: (b) Shifting cultivation
Q5. The Sachar Committee Report was submitted in —
(a) 2002
(b) 2004
(c) 2006
(d) 2010
Answer: (c) 2006
Q6. Which Article guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment?
(a) Article 14
(b) Article 15
(c) Article 16
(d) Article 17
Answer: (c) Article 16
Q7. The right of minorities to set up and administer educational institutions is given by —
(a) Article 21
(b) Article 25
(c) Article 29
(d) Article 30
Answer: (d) Article 30
Q8. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Adivasi society?
(a) Connection with nature
(b) Rigid caste hierarchy
(c) Many languages
(d) Community ownership of land
Answer: (b) Rigid caste hierarchy
Q9. The Forest Rights Act was passed in the year —
(a) 2002
(b) 2005
(c) 2006
(d) 2008
Answer: (c) 2006
Q10. Marginalisation mainly results in —
(a) High political power
(b) Equal opportunities
(c) Limited access to resources and rights
(d) Better life chances
Answer: (c) Limited access to resources and rights
Fill in the Blanks
Q1. The word “Adivasi” means ____________.
Answer: Original inhabitant
Q2. Muslims form about ____________ per cent of India’s population.
Answer: 13.4
Q3. Article ____________ of the Constitution protects the language, script and culture of minorities.
Answer: 29
Q4. The Sachar Committee Report was published in the year ____________.
Answer: 2006
Q5. About ____________ per cent of those displaced by big development projects in India are Adivasis.
Answer: 50
True or False
Q1. Marginalisation only means being economically poor.
Answer: False
Q2. Adivasis make up about 8 per cent of India’s population.
Answer: True
Q3. Article 16 protects the cultural rights of minorities.
Answer: False
Q4. The Sachar Committee studied the conditions of Muslims in India.
Answer: True
Q5. Adivasi society follows a strict caste system like mainstream Hindu society.
Answer: False
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Marginalisation | Process of being pushed to the edges of society with limited access to resources and rights. |
| Adivasi | Original inhabitant; tribal communities living mostly in or near forests. |
| Minority | A community smaller in number than the majority, often needing special protection. |
| Jhum | A form of shifting cultivation practised by many Adivasi communities. |
| Displacement | Forced movement of people from their land due to projects like dams, mines or industries. |
| Sachar Committee | A high-level committee (2006) that examined the status of Muslims in India. |
| Article 15 | Constitutional Article that prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. |
| Article 16 | Constitutional Article guaranteeing equality of opportunity in public employment. |
| Article 29 | Constitutional Article protecting the language, script and culture of minorities. |
| Article 30 | Constitutional Article giving minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions. |
| Forest Rights Act 2006 | Law recognising the rights of forest-dwelling communities, especially Adivasis, over forest land and resources. |
| Life Chances | The opportunities a person has for living a healthy, educated and dignified life. |