Tribal Communities

8

ByAkbar Ali – The Springs and Habitat

Tribal Societies

• Features of tribal communities during medieval period • We know very little information. Why ?

• They did not keep written records, preserved orally• They did not let outsiders in to their areas of habitation• They lived in remote areas such as dense forest, hills,

mountain & deserts

Occupation s

• Some of them engaged in agriculture

• Collecting honey

• Others led a nomadic lifestyle

Some tribal groups

• In our locality ?• Cholanaykar, Kurichyar …etc…

• In North-West India – Baluchi• Punjab – Khokhars, Ghakkars• Western part - Bhils & Kolis• Central India- Gonds• East – Mundas, Cheros,Santhals,Khasis,Nagas,Ahoms,• South – Todas,Koragas, Maravars, Bagdagas, & Vetars

Life of the nomadic tribal group

• Most of the tribal groups were nomads

• Moved with their animals

• Exchanged milk, honey, wool, ghee …

• They also sold animals

Changing nature of tribal society

• With time, they were exposed to new cultures

• Many of them settled life adopted better methods of agriculture

• The Mughals tried to extract taxes

• Powerful tribal groups- Gonds & Ahoms

Gonds

• One of the powerful tribal communities in central India (Madhyapradesh )

• The name ‘Gond’ comes from Telungu word ‘Konda’ which means a hill.

• They orgaised during mughal times – Garh Katanga was most powerful kingdom.

• In 1565 Mughal attacked this kingdom• Rani Durgavati was most towering personality of this

kingdom

Administration

• Kingdoms were divided into garhs• Each ghrhs divided into chaurasis -84 Villages• Chaurasi was further divided into Barhots –

Consist 12 villages

Economy

• Gond kingdoms were rich• Agriculture – Jhoom cultivation

• Decline• Marathas defeated them• The English also took over Gondwana in 19th C.

Ahoms

• Other most powerful tribal community

• Assam – Ahom (Word derive)

• Homeland – china• First Ahom king was Sukapha – 1228-1268• Gragaon was the Capital of Ahom• Aurangazeb managed to capture, but failed.

Administration

• Rudra Singh –powerful ruler

• Economy - Agriculture – Food crops

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