This is the Untold Story of tribes who were declared Criminal Tribes (आपराधिक जनजातियों) by the British Raj. In 1871, they brought a law that criminalised entire tribes or castes. There were restrictions placed on these tribes. They were managed and controlled systematically. It was not a simple piece of legislation. It changed the history and future of these tribes forever. These tribes were stigmatised and later their status in society would change forever. The two communities who were affected most by this legislation was nomad tribes and eunuchs living in Hindustan. They were also included in the list of these criminal tribes. This video details the nature of these criminal tribes, why they were tagged as criminals and what effects such classification had on the status and culture of these tribes.
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The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 became one of the most controversial colonial laws in British India, forcibly labelling entire communities as “born criminals.” Through a network of surveillance, forced registration, movement restrictions, and police harassment, the British systematically criminalized tribes, castes, and nomadic groups such as Ahir, Gujjar, Lodhi, Chamar, Bawariya, Bedia, Dom, Rabari, Pasi, and many others. This law reshaped India’s social structure by stigmatizing millions of innocent people and embedding discrimination into colonial governance. The British used racial theories, caste-based profiling, and the politics of control to justify why whole communities were tracked, fingerprinted, and punished for crimes they did not commit. Their objective was not merely law enforcement; it was political suppression, social engineering, and the consolidation of power across Bengal, Punjab, Madras, and Bombay presidencies.
The impact of the Criminal Tribes Act was long-lasting: families were branded as criminals generation after generation, nomadic tribes lost their freedom of movement, and marginalised castes were pushed deeper into poverty. Even groups such as eunuchs (Hijras, Khwajasaras) were placed under the same “criminal tribe” label, facing extreme stigma and police persecution. The British exploited social divisions, caste hierarchies, and post-1857 political tensions to punish tribes who resisted colonial rule. The legacy of this law continues to haunt many communities whose social identity, economic opportunities, and historical narratives were permanently damaged. Understanding the history of Criminal Tribes is essential to uncovering how colonial systems weaponised identity, reshaped demographics, and created long-term social inequality in the Indian subcontinent.
Key moments:
0:00 Intro
0:45 Who were Criminal Tribes of Hindustan?
1:35 History of Criminal Tribes Act 1871
3:04 Criminal Tribes under British Rule
3:26 Restrictions and Surveillance of Criminal Tribes Act
5:31 List of Criminal Tribes
7:21 Caste system in sub continent
8:20 Law & Order Problems in 18th century
9:11 Thugs of Hindustan
10:38 1857 and Criminal tribes
11:17 Nomads as Criminal Tribes in India
12:59 Affects of Criminal Tribes Act 1871
14:50 Hijras under Criminal Tribes Act
15:41 End of Criminal Tribes Act
16:53 De-notified Tribes DNT
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