The book is a product of life long research in Anthropology by its author. It provides a critique of the concept of tribe and shows that there was never a distinct category of tribe in India. The people now known as tribe have always been, like others, part of the regional set up, of which forest have been an integral part. In India forests were not simply vast stretches of wilderness but also places for retreat, introspection, learning and storehouse of resources. People who lived close to nature, supplied goods and services and were building blocks of the great cultural community of India. Tribes have values that are not only profound but also ultimate in sustainable development. They maintained their identity and thus contributed to the diversity of India, a key feature of its sustainability.