The Mass displacement of people either forcibly or involuntarily refers its starting from the colonial rule developmental programmes. Unbridled greed for development resulted in massive destruction of trees to build ships and also to lay railway track which eventually led to displacement of the people from their original habitation where they lived since time immemorial. It further debased them by ruining their livelihood, degrading their environment, disarticulating and disturbing their socio

more »

... urbing their socio cultural institutions. This trauma of displacement coupled and cuddled even after the independence by constructing large irrigation dams, coal mining, and industrialization. Although, development programmes aim at developing and providing better life, displacement of people became inevitable either involuntarily or forcibly. However, when it comes to the displacement or resettlement it is lower stratum of people mostly tribals and scheduled caste people who are badly affected while others enjoy the fruits of the national development of this kind. They are forced to offer their socio-cultural and economic sacrifices at the altar of national interest. With reference to the above background, this paper being empirical in nature deals with three anthropological theoretical models proposed by anthropologists and reflects on them. Based on the empirical field experience with the displaced Banjara tribals due to Nagarjuna Sagar Dam which is located in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It suggests some modifications to the existing theoretical models. This paper concludes that the anthropological models are most suitable to understand the social realities when the society is in a state of flux.