This book is about the changing character of forests and of livelihood of the forest-dwelling tribal people in India since Independence, It analyses the impact of a number of interventions by the Central and the State Government, such as construction of dams, setting up of industries, and other developmental activities in these areas. It reviews, in particular, various laws adopted by the British colonial Government as well as the government of Independent India regarding forests and the tribals, and how the tribal customary laws conflict with the laws of the modern state.