Tribes
Note : With
effect from 15th November 2000 after the new state Jharkand was formed, most of
the tribal areas mainly in the forest tracks of Chhotanagpur plateau and Santhal
paragana have been separated from the former state of Bihar to Jharkand. The
information given below is about these tribals who mostly now belong to the
state of Jharkand.
The Tribal population is divided into 30 different tribal
groups. Representatives of Negrito, Proto-Australoid, Mongoloid, Mediterranean
and Nordic races are found in the population of Bihar. Certain Negrito features
were noticed by anthropologists among the aborigines of the Rajmahal hills. The
Proto-Australoid features are found in the Kharwar Munda, Bhumij and Mal
Pahariyas. Some admixture of Mongoloid blood may be found among the Tharus of
Champaran. No clear picture of the origin and composition of these tribals
of Bihar has emerged.
Austric speaking groups include
Munda, Santhal, Ho, Birhor,
Kharia and others. There is a considerable difference between the Mundas and
Oraons. The differences between the Santhals and the Sauria Pahariyas are
significant as they are indicative of the differences between the Austric-speaking
and the Dravidian-speaking people.
The chief representatives of the Dravidian races inhabiting the
tribal region are the Hos, the Santhals, the Oraons and the Mundas and
they together constitute almost four-fifths of the total tribal population of
the state. More than one half of the Santhals are found in Santhal Parganas
division and about a quarter in Hazaribagh and Singhbhum districts. They are not
negligible in Dhanbad, Purnia, Munger and Bhagalpur. Over three-fourths of the
Oraons are confined to Ranchi and Palamu. The Oraons are also found in a few
blocks in Rohtas and Champaran districts. Nearly three fourths of the Mundas are
found in Ranchi district and the bulk of the balance in Singhbhum district. The
Hos are virtually confined to Singbhum. These four
tribes have taken to settled cultivation as their mode of life and are gradually
getting the benefits of the employment available in the mineral and industrial
undertaking scattered over the plateau region. A few tribals have yet to
take to settled cultivation or are still dependent largely on food gathered from
the forest to sustain themselves. Asur and Korwa communities are still very
backward and deserve assistance through special programmes. Birjhia is a
community akin to Asur. The Chick Baraik community engages itself in weaving
cloth, the Lohara and Karmali are both blacksmiths who make agricultural
implements, the Mahlis are mostly bamboo workers and blacksmiths, the Kisans are
settled cultivators noted for their industrious agricultural activities and the
Birjhias are settled cultivators and keep cattle. The largest chunk of the
tribal population still lives in the rural areas.
The Santhals
The Santhals still preserve two features inherited from an
earlier stage of civilization. They excel in clearing forests and show
considerable skill in converting jungle and waste lands into fertile rice
fields. Their harmonious flutes sound sweeter, their drums find deeper echoes
and their bows and arrows utilized effectively. They are excellent hunters. Their happiest day in the year is the one, on which they
have a common hunt, when armed with spears, axes, bows and arrows, clubs, sticks
and stones, they beat through the jungle in thousands, killing every beast and birds
they come across. There was a time when in their ordinary dealings they
displayed a cheerful straight forwardness, open bluntness and simple honesty
which were refreshing to those accustomed to the gloomy and secretive
inhabitants of the plains.
The Hos
The Hos
have a lot of good qualities and are firm with
their manly independent bearing. They are physically and morally superior to the
Mundas, Bhumij and Santhals. The Hos waste their stores of rice in making
rice-beer for their various festivals and parts with their land for most
inadequate price. The Hos are remarkable for their exclusiveness and
insensitiveness to outside influence.
The Mundas
The Mundas, found in the south of Ranchi district and the Khunti
sub division, are divided into a number of exogamous clans known as
Kilis.
Though they were gleaners and hunters not long ago, they have entered the
maze of industrial economy now. They live in urban surroundings, eat food available
from the markets, spend money on jewellery and trinkets, join in demonstrations,
shout slogans, strike work and have produced leaders from among themselves. The
Mundas worship 'Sing Bonga' - the sun god and also their ancestors, whose spirits
are known as the Ora-bongako or the house hold gods.
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