This book is a critical study of the explorations of indigenous identity by the largest tribal group of eastern India—the Santals. It traces the shifting pattern of territorial identity of this predominantly agrarian tribe. The central argument of this monograph revolves round the question of sustainability of indigenous identity in an age of imposed assimilation policy, mostly favoured by the majoritarian political ideologies. Holding a series of interviews with Santal intellectuals in the academia, the authors have identified a strong urge, on their part, to resist the assimilationist strategies of the non-Santal policy making. Notwithstanding the integrationist drives of a section of Santal society to embrace the beneficial aspects of globalization, there is a perpetual return to their indigenous roots through various cultural routes. Belief in witchcraft, magic,wonder drugs—often defines this core identity of Santal society in defiance of the ‘retrogressive’ tag appended by the mainstream cultural mandarins. The book explores this romantic sensibility of the Santal psyche with the help of textual analysis as a significant research method. Folktales and folk identity are studied against the backdrop of a fiercely sceptical postmodern milieu.