Gond (Home Page)

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=The Gonds of the Bengal province of 1891=
 
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This section has been extracted from<br/>
 
  
'''THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL.''' <br/>
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[[Category:Communities|GGONDGOND (HOME PAGE)
By H.H. RISLEY,<br/>
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GOND (HOME PAGE)]]
INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. <br/>
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[[Category:India|GGONDGOND (HOME PAGE)
 
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GOND (HOME PAGE)]]
Ethnographic Glossary. <br/>
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[[Category:Name|ALPHABETGONDGOND (HOME PAGE)
 
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CALCUTTA: <br/> ''Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press.''<br/> 1891. .</div>
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GOND (HOME PAGE)]]
NOTE 1: Indpaedia neither agrees nor disagrees with the contents of this article. Readers who wish to add fresh information can create a Part II of this article. The general rule is that if we have nothing nice to say about communities other than our own it is best to say nothing at all.
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NOTE 2: While reading please keep in mind that all posts in this series have been scanned from a very old book. Therefore, footnotes have got inserted into the main text of the article, interrupting the flow. Readers who spot scanning errors are requested to report the correct spelling to the Facebook page, [http://www.facebook.com/Indpaedia Indpaedia.com]. All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name.
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==Origin==
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A non-Aryan tribe, classed on linguistic gr0unds as Dravidian, properly belonging to the Central
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Provinces,l but found also in the Tributary States of Chota Nagpur', in the south of Lohardaga and in Singbhum. In the States of Sarguja, Korea, and Udaipur most of the feudal tenures held on terms of military service dil'ectly under the Chief are in the hands of Gonds-a fact which suggests that the tribe lliust have been among the earliest permanent settlers in that part of the oountry. The Gonds or Bengal are divided into rour sub-tribes :-Gond, Raj-Gond, Dhokar•Gond, and
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==Internal structure==
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Doroa-Gond or Naik. The Gond represent the bulk of the tribe, while the Raj-Gond are supposed to be descended from families .who attained to the dig-nity of Ohief. The Dhokar-Gond are a wandering race, who make a living by begging and thieving. The Doroa-Gond or Naik are found only in Singbhum. According to Colonel Dalton, they were the military retainers of the MaMpatra of Bamanghati, a feudatory of the RiLja of Moharbhanj, who were driven out of Bamanghati with their leader and permitted to settle in Singbhum in consequence of his having rebelled against his lord paramount. Their sections, shown in Appendix I, are totemistic. One of them, Bes?'a (hawk), occurs also among the Santals.
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==Marriage==
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Gonds practise both infant and adult-marriage, but under Hindu influence the former practice tends
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Mamage. continually to become more popular and to be looked upon as a badge of social distinction. The ceremony is modelled on that in use among the lower castes of Hindus. Sindtwdan and marriage to a mango-tree form prominent parts of the ritual, while according to some the binding portion of the rite consists in the village barber pouring a vessel of water over both bride and bridegroom. Widows are allowed to marry again, the usual practice being for the widow to marry her late husband's younger brother. No religious ceremony is in use on such occasions, nor is it customary to send for the Brahman and Hajjam, who officiate at the marriage of a virgin. All that is necessary is to assemble a sort of committee of relations, before whom the bridegroom gives the bride a new oloth and a lac bracelet and promises to maintain her in a suitable fashion. The proceedings end, as is the manner of the non-Aryan tribes, with a feast, at which everyone gets very drunk.
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===Widow remarriage===
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====Madhya Pradesh: 2016====
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[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=There-are-no-widows-in-this-tribal-belt-10052016001025 ''The Times of India''], May 10 2016
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'''There are no widows in this tribal belt of MP'''
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Amarjeet Singh1
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Among the Gonds of Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district, it's almost impossible to find a widow. According to their tradition, if a woman's husband dies, she is married to the next bachelor in the family -even if that is her grandson.
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If no male is willing or available, the woman is then offered specially designed silver bangles called `pato' by elders of the community on the tenth day of her husband's death. Thereafter, she is considered married and lives in the house of the woman who offered her the bangle.
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Patiram Warkhade's grandfather died when he was just six. On the ninth day of his de ath, Patiram was married off to his grandmother, Chamri Bai, under the tradition of `naati (grandson) pato'. “Later, we participated in all religious ceremonies as husband and wife.When I grew up, I married the girl of my choice because the community allows minors married under this system to remarry as adults,“ says 42-year-old Patiram, who lives in Behanga village. However, the girl of his choice had to be content with the status of `second wife' till his grandmother died five years ago.
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Usually , there's no physicality in this kind of relationship because of the considerable age gap between the spouses.But even if the two get intimate, the community does not disapprove or intervene.
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Sundaro Bai Kurwati, 75, was married off under the tradition of `devar pato' to her husband's brother, Sampat, who is now 65. “My husband died two years after our wedding. The community elders refused to eat at his shraddh because my brother-in-law was initially reluctant to marry me. It was only after he agreed that the elders ate. We have been happily married for decades now,“ Sundaro says.
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Kripal Singh Warkhade (55) says he married his sisterin-law, Honsu Bai, who is five years elder to him. “It's our tradition. Why should she remain a widow?“ Kripal says. Despite the pressure, a handful of women re fuse to remarry . Like Bhagwati Warkhade, a 28year-old and mother of two, whose husband died two years ago.“Though I didn't want to remarry , I was given the status of a married woman under `panch pato' tradition. The `panchs' (village elders) have the power to do so,“ Bhagwati says.
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The Gonds uphold this practice even after moving out of their native village. “It's alive even among the educated youth of our community. In a city like Bhopal, there are at least two engi neers working with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited who have married under devar pato,“ tribal leader Gulzar Singh Markam tells.
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“It is so common in our culture that despite the fact that the marriage is only symbolic in case of `naati pato', villagers playfully tease the child when they see him playing with the grandmother,“ Gulzar says.
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He may call it symbolic, but after `nati pato', the grandson is considered head of the family.
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==Religion==
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The Bengal members of the tribe affect to be orthodox Hindus,
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and worship the standard gods with the assist¬
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ance of a degraded olass •of Brahmans, who also officiate at their marriages. Although to this extent they have embraced the popular Religion, they still worship the charac¬teristic deities of the non-Hinduised Gonds-Bar Deo and Dulha Deo. They burn their dead, but the relatives mourn for three days only, after which period they purify themselves by bathing and shaving, and make offerings of bread and milk to the spirit of the departed. Their social rank is very low, as in spite of their professed conformity to Hinduism they eat fowls and other unclean food. Ooncerning their appearance and characteristics, Colonel Dalton has the following remarks ;¬
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==Social dates==
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Socially  I consider the Hinduised or semi-Hinduised Gonds
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to be the least interesting of the great families ocm us. of the aborigines of India. They have none of the lively disposition of the Oraons or of the free, dignified demeanour which characterises many of the Singbhum Kols. They are in character reserved, sullen, and suspicious. They are indifferent cultivators and careless about the appearance of their home¬
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steads, and they are withal singularly ill-favoured; and though some of the wealthier families bave formed a series of alliances with othel' races, which bave improved theiT looks, I can point to many who have tried this in vain, and wbo show to this day features more closely resembling the lower Negro type than any I have met with amongst the tribes of Bengal. They often have short crisp curly bail', and though it is said, and no doubt truly, that this is far removed from the regular woolly covering of a Negro's head, I have generally found such haiT in conjunc¬tion with features very noticeably Negro in type, and accompany¬ing a very dark skin. They are larger and heavier in build than the Oraons and Kols, and with none of the graceful physique to be found in both these tribes."
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The following statement shows the number and distribution of Gonds in 1872 and 1881 :¬
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“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.
 
“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.
 
=See also=  
 
=See also=  
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[[Gond (Home Page)]]
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[[Gond: Central India]]
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[[Gond: Jharkhand, Chota Nagpur]]
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*
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[[Dhokar-Gond, Or Mangan¬Gond]]
 
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[[Doroa-Gond]]
 
[[Doroa-Gond]]
 
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[[Gond, Bison Horn Maria]]
 
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Latest revision as of 07:00, 27 March 2023


Contents

[edit] 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]

[edit] The 21st century

[edit] Gonds get anti-clocks, other MP/ Gujarat tribals follow

Sachin Sharma, July 20, 2018: The Times of India

Around 10,000-15,000 clocks have been sold in 2016-18
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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

Gond (Home Page)

Gond: Central India

Gond: Jharkhand, Chota Nagpur

Dhokar-Gond, Or Mangan¬Gond

Doroa-Gond

Gond Art

Gond, Abuj Maria

Gond, Amat

Gond, Bison Horn Maria

Gond: Deccan

Gond, Dheria

Gond. Dhur

Gond, Dhulia

Gond, Dorla

Gond-Gowari

Gond, Kandra

Gond, Khatoia

Gond, Kolbhuta

Gond, Muria

Gond, Nagwanshi

Gond, Paharia

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