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Gond
(From People of India/ National Series Volume VIII. Readers who wish to share additional information/ photographs may please send them as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name.)
Synonyms: Gonr [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Gondas, Majhi [Orissa] Groups/subgroups: Dhruwa Gond, Raj Gond [Orissa] Dev Gond, Dholi, Kaila Bhet, Kolam, Kolbhuta, Mudipal, Padol, Raj Gond [Uttar Pradesh]
- Sub-divisions: Bhuri [E. Thurston]
Agarias, Ahirs, Baigas, Barhasi, Basors, Bhatras, Bhunjias, Darwe orNaik, Durla or Durlasartam, Gaita, Gattu, Gowari, Jhadi, Khairwars, Khatolas, Koilabhutis, Kolams, Koya Gonds Lanjiha, Larhia, Lohars, Mandlaha, Mannewars, Maria, Muria, Ojhas, Pardhans, Raj Gonds, Solahas [Russell & Hiralal] Dadve, Gowari, Kolam, Pardhan, Raj Gond, Thori [S.S. Hassan] Oadave, Dhobi, Katulya, Koikopal, Koilabutal, Kolam, Madyal, Ojhyal, Padal, Paelal, Raghuwal, Raj Gond, Thotyal [W. Crooke]
- Sub-tribes: Dholcar Gond, Jhora, Raj Gond [H.H. Risley]
Besra, Manjhi [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Dehury, Majhi, Pradhan, Pujari [Orissa]
- Exogamous septs: Behainsa, Bhaiband or Dadabhai, Bura Deo, Chamchidai, Dhurwa, Eti, Garde, Irpachi, Karanga,
Karrami, Kawachi, Kunjami, Mamabhai or Akomama, Maravi, Nabalia, Nagvans or Cobra, Netam Netami, Nurethi, Potari, Sodi, Tekami, Tumrachi, Usendi, Vadde, Warkara [Russell & Hiralal] Exogamous units/clans: Markam, Mori, Nitam, Sori, Veti [Orissa] Chardeo, Pachdeo, Sahadeo, Satdeva [S.S. Hassan] Exogamous units/clans (gotar): , Besra (viltere), Chardia, Dhooleshwarigi, Fuleswari (buffalo), Gohi, Kanagonrh (fish), Morai (snake), Netigonrh (tiger), Pahelajagat (otter), Pradhan [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Clans: Chagaba, Dewar, Koram, Markam, Posam, Soham [W. Crooke]
- Septs/sections: Bhuri [E Thurston]
Bagh, Baghel (tiger), Besra (hawk), Bhainsa (buffalo), Bod (a big river fish), Gaek (a kind offish), Ganga (sea), Ghora (horse), Goh, Hansa (geese), Honti (a kind offish), Jagaha (buffalo), Jagat, Jaipuria (name of city), Kachhua (tonoise), Kana Machhari (fish), Karma (a tree), Koput, Kusro, Loha (iron), Mahanadia, Marai, Mori (a bead), Nag (snake), Naitam, Pachia, Phaguahi, Poia, Poiri, Porri (a kind of hawk), Sawani, Sribakaria [H.H. Risley]
The 21st century
Gonds get anti-clocks, other MP/ Gujarat tribals follow
Sachin Sharma, July 20, 2018: The Times of India
From: Sachin Sharma, July 20, 2018: The Times of India
At his house in Godhra, retired school teacher Mathur Bhedi proudly shows off a wall clock with a picture of tribal hero Birsa Munda on its dial. Look closely and you will see that its hands move anticlockwise.
Tribal homes in central and south Gujarat are fast picking up these timepieces with hands that move anticlockwise. Lalsing Gamit, a 40-year-old tribal activist from Valod village of Tapi district, makes these ‘adivasi ghadis’ that are fast gaining popularity among tribals.
Around 10,000-15,000 pieces have been sold in the past two years.
There are many reasons for tribals to support this non-conventional movement. “They worship nature and its elements. In rituals, like ‘pheras’ at weddings, they move in circles anticlockwise. They even till their lands in a similar fashion. The tribal clock represents this, and it is, in fact, the right direction,” says 70-year-old Bhedi, who was gifted the clock by a friend two months ago.
Many tribals believe that the Earth moves anti-clockwise. Some even claim that whirlwinds and whirlpools also move in an anti-clockwise direction.
“We first came to know of this clock when some people from the Gond tribe in Chhattisgarh started using them. The use was very limited and only a few clocks were made. We decided to make similar clocks and started working on them,” said Gamit. Gamit said that the mechanism of the clocks is the same as that used in conventional ones. “One only has to change the direction of a gear. The clocks cost only Rs 200. We have taken this up as a nonprofit activity since 2016.”
The popularity has picked up in the last few months after the clocks were promoted on social media. “People can now buy them online from our Facebook page,” he said. Gamit has sent the clocks to Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra too.
Vijay Machhar from Devgadh Baria in Dahod district, who has also been trying to popularise the clocks, said they are not sold through shops. “The demand far exceeds the numbers that can be manufactured. It is supplied to whoever wants them,” said Machhar.
For Gamit, the clock is also a way of sending a message that one should live by the norms of nature. “It is a known fact today that the tribal lifestyle is best suited for preservation of the environment,” he said.
Kawardha: changes in customs
Rashmi Drolia, March 10, 2021: The Times of India
In a revolutionary step towards environmental conservation, the Gond community in Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha district has broken from tradition and vowed to bury their dead instead of cremating them to save trees. Though liquor is part of tribal tradition, the community has decided to ban it during festivals and events and fine violators Rs 2,000-5,000.
Offering liquor to God is part of tribal culture, but Gond families will offer mahua flowers instead. The community took these decisions at a ‘mahasammelan’ (mega-gathering) in Kawardha and has prepared a 60-page “constitution” to implement progressive ideas — including a complete ban on dowry. The community also wants to avoid crowds at weddings and has limited the number of guests to 50 at weddings and 20 during the engagement ceremony.
“Mitti sanskar (burying) of the deceased was always part of our tribal culture, but people had switched to cremation in the past few years. So, we are resuming our tradition of burial. The whole idea is to save the environment as lakhs of trees are felled to prepare pyres. This will send out a strong message and might inspire others,” Siddhram Meravi, Kawardha district general secretary of Gond community, told TOI.
Hundreds of community representatives from five districts of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha participated in the two-day mahasammelan to discuss ways of unifying the community. “For now, the rules will be implemented in Kawardha district because it has been initiated by the local group. Then, it will be adopted in other parts of the state,” said Meravi.
“We have vowed not to allow consumption of liquor during festivals and family functions as it triggers chaos and unpleasant atmosphere. Also, the community won’t encourage acceptance of dowry and follow only the ‘Pachahar’ ritual wherein brides are given five kinds of utensils. No liquor will be offered to the groom’s party either, as it often leads to brawls,” Meravi added.
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