Includes bibliographical references and index.

This book lays bare the reality of being an adivasi in India today and, beyond that, a woman in a globalising world, building commonalities with the author's own personal experiences and life trajectory. The lived experiences of Santal women and men are unfolded here along with the political and economic changes that took place after the creation of the Jharkhand state. Using ethnographic methods, the book weaves a multidimensional and multi-relational mosaic of lives and livelihoods, struggles for resources, gender identities and new narratives of citizenship. Ordinary peoples' everyday struggles for survival with dignity and respect form the core of the analyses. Rich in field insights, the gender lens adopted gives a fresh perspective to understanding issues of land and labour, indigenous identity, political aspirations and state relations. It contributes significantly to the slim literature on adivasi development in Jharkhand and fills a gap in knowledge on gender relations