The People of India Project, a massive exercise carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India, has generated a wealth of information on the hundreds of communities which exist in this country. These communities are presented in an alphabetical order for easy reference, and the subjects covered in each case include culture, location, language, script, biological variation, food habits, rituals, work practices, educational level and impact of development.

What emerges is at first glance an overwhelming number of disparate communities (2795) and segments (65,000). But at another level they seem to fall into a pattern suggesting different levels of perception of identity and status. The commonalities of nomenclature suggest a wide range of interaction and sharing among communities in the linguistic-regional context. This volume is an essential work of reference for anthropologists, sociologists, social historians, legislators and development agencies.