MEENA TRIBES , TONK DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN
PRASHANTA SEAL, MATI

The Meena Tribe is one of the oldest tribal communities in existence, and in current times mainly inhabit mainland Rajasthan. The history of this Adivasi tribal group dates back to the 6th century B.C, and the community claim to be descended from the Matsya avatar of Vishnu. The tribe ruled areas in Rajasthan until being overpowered by invading Rajputs, and during the British Raj were labeled as one of the ‘outlawed’ tribes. In present times, despite a history of subjugation, the visual art traditions are very much preserved within the Meena community, with skill and tradition being passed down to each generation. Prashanta Seal of the organization MATI India (Management of Art Treasures of India) has photographically documented the lifestyle and creative techniques of the Meena Tribal community in the Tonk District of Rajasthan.