The People Of India

"The People of India" by Herbert Hope Risley and William Crooke is a foundational ethnographic work documenting the diverse tribes, castes, and communities of British India. Based on extensive fieldwork and anthropometric studies, the book classifies Indian populations by physical traits, social structures, and customs. While significant for its detail and scope, it reflects colonial ideologies and now-outdated racial theories. Despite criticisms, it remains a crucial historical source for understanding colonial perspectives on Indian society and early anthropological methods in South Asia.