Latest revision as of 20:56, 4 March 2015

[edit] Khondmals, 1908

Subdivision of Angul District, Bengal, lying between 20 degree 13' and 20 degree 41' N. and 83 degree 50' and 84 degree 36' E., with an area of 800 square miles. The population fell from 66,352 in 1891 to 64,214 in 1 90 1, the decrease being due to the prevalence of cholera and other diseases, and to short crops in 1896 and 1899 which stimulated emigra- tion. The density in 1901 was 80 persons per square mile. The subdivision consists of a plateau 1,700 feet in height, intersected by circular ranges of hills. Heavy forest still covers much of the area, and the cultivated lands lie in scattered clearings on the hill-sides and in the valleys below. A range of hills 3,000 to 3,300 feet in height separates the Khondmals from Ganjam, forming the southern watershed of the Mahanadi. The head-quarters are at Phulbani, and there are 995 other villages. The Khonds, a Dravidian tribe, here survive as a distinct nationality with a history, a religion, a language, and a system of law and landed property of their own. The villages are divided from each other by rugged peaks and dense forests ; but a regular system of government on the aboriginal plan is maintained, the hamlets being distributed into muthas each under the supervision of its own chief. Throughout this wild tract the Khonds claim an indefeasible right in the soil. At no time were they more than nominally subject to the Baud Raja, who was totally unable to control or coerce them. They first came into prominence in the early part of the nineteenth century, owing to the prevalence among them of human sacrifices and female infanticide. The human sacrifice was a propitiatory offering to the earth-god, and the flesh of the victims was buried in the field to ensure good crops ; it was firmly believed that turmeric could not have a deep-red colour without the shedding of blood. The victims, or meriahs as they were called, were purchased, as an ancient rule ordained that the meriah must be bought with a price. The duty of providing them rested with the Pans, who are attached to every Khond village as serfs, and who either kidnapped them from the plains or purchased them locally. These human sacrifices were suppressed with difficulty by the British Government. The Khonds hold their lands directly under the Government and pay no rent or tax, except a contribution of 3 annas per plough for the improvement of communications. Infant and adult marriages are both common ; in the former case, the girl is often older than the boy. The Khonds of the Khondmals recognize two principal gods, Saru Pennu and Taru Pennu, of whom Saru Pennu may be described as the god of the hills and Taru Pennu as the earth-god.

[H. H. Risley, Tribes and Castes of Bengal (1891).]

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.