ABSTRACT
The Adivasis consider their land as “Des”, which translates into homeland. The author has tried to explore the interrelationship between the development of Adivasis and the access to land, which came to them through continuous struggle throughout history. Adivasis’ resistance and struggle against colonizers and repressive elites of the Indian society across states of central India has been documented in the chapter. Contemporary times have witnessed a state where 45% of Adivasis are landless whereas almost all Adivasis had access to lands in pre-colonial times. This change in their condition owes to lack of political will, debilitated governance, systematic capture of political power by the elite and overall failure to uphold the Constitution.
