Criminalisation of Adivasis began with the forest laws enacted by British colonial regime that constructed a discourse that forest is a space inhabited by unruly savages who are, by nature, dangerous criminals. Thus, forests and Adivasis were both to be tamed and rescued by the colonial government from each other. Colonial domination was established through the Indian Forest Act, 1927, itself based on a 19th century Forest Act of 1865. This mainframe colonial legislation continues to be the parent statute that governs the forests and its resources even today.
Este resumen ofrece una visión general de los 11 capítulos, que desarrollan una narrativa sobre la construcción de los adivasis desde “pobladores originarios” hasta “ocupantes ilegales”. Son acusados y al mismo tiempo victimizados. Ya sea como demandantes o como acusados, se ven obligados a interactuar con un sistema jurídico que los trata de manera persistente con desprecio y prejuicio.
