Tribes, Nomads And Settled Communities
Introduction- In large parts of subcontinent,
socity was already divided according to the rules of varna. These rules as
prescribed by Brahamanas, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms.
Difference between high and low, difference
between rich and poor increased.
Tribal
Societies in Different Parts
-
➤Many
societies in the subcontinent did not follow the social rules and rituals
prescribed by Brahamanas. Nor were they divided into numerous unequal classes
- ➤
These
societies are often called as tribes.
-
➤Members
were united by kinship bonds.
-
➤Main
occuption was agriculture.
- ➤Usually
lived in forest, hills, deserts and places difficult to reach.
-
➤In
Punjab, the Khokkar tribe was very influential during 13th-
14th century.
-
➤Then
Gakkar was made noble (mansabdar) by empiror Akbar.
-
➤In
Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated before they
were subduced by Mughals.
-
➤The
Balochis were another arge and powerful tribe in the north-west.They were
divided into smaller clans under different chief.
- ➤
In
western Himalaya lived the Shepherd tribe of Gaddis.
-
➤The
north-eastern part was dominated by the Nagas, Ahoms and many others.
- ➤
In
Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero chiefdoms emerged in 20th
century which was attacked and defeated by Raja Man singh in 1591.
-
➤The
Mundas and Santals were other tribes that lived in Odissa and Bengal.
-
Maharashtra
and Karnatka were homes of Kolis, Berads and many others.
-
➤Kolis also
lived in Gujarat.
- ➤
In
South there were a large population of Koragas, Vetars, Meravars and
many others.
- ➤
A
large tribe of Bhills was spread across western and central India. In late 16th century,
many of them had become settled agriculturists and even zamindars also.
-
➤The
Gonds were found in Chhatishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Andhra Pradesh.
Living Styles og Tribes
Deliberation On Jatis
|
A 12th century
inscription from Uyyakondan Udaiyar, in Tiruchirapalli taluka, described the
deliberation in a sabha of Brahamans .
They deliberated on the status of a
group known as rathakaras (literally, chariot makers)
They laid down their occupation, which
were to include architecture, building coaches and chariots, erecting
gateways for temples with images in them, preparing wooden equipments,
building mandapas, making jewelleries for kings.
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Nomadic
pastoralists moved over long distances with their animals. They lived on milk
and other pastorals products . They also exchanged wool, ghee with the settled
agriculturists for grain, cloths, utensils and other products. Banjaras were
most important traders nomads. Their caravan was called as Tanda. Sultan
Alauddin Khalji used banjaras to transport grains to the city markets.
Emerging
of New Castes And Hierarchies
As the societies
grew new castes in the the tribes emrged .Smaller castes, or jatis, emerged
within varans. For example, new castes appeared amongst the Brahamans.
Specialised artisans - smiths, carpentes
and masons – were also recognised as separate jatis by the Brahamans.
Banjara
- The Banjaras were the most important trader-nomads. Their caravan was called tanda.
- Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets.
- Emperor Jahangir wrote in his memoirs about Banjaras.
- ➤The
Gonds lived on a vast forest region called as Gondwana – or “country
inhabited by Gonds”.
- ➤
They
practised shifting cultivation. They were divided in clans. Each clans have its
own Raja or Rai.
-
➤The
Gond Kingdom of Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
- ➤
The
kingdom was divided into garh. Each garh was controlled by a particular Gond
clans . This was further divided into 84 villages called as chaurasi.
Chaurasi was further divided into barhots made up of 12villages.
- ➤
Later
the Gond came to know as rajputs. The Gond Raja Aman Das married with princess Padmavati, daughter of Salbahan
, tha chandel Rajput raja.
- ➤
The
Ahoms migrated to the Brahmaputra valley from present – day Myanmar in
13th century.
-
➤They
emerged as Bhuiyans (landlords) .
-
➤In
16th century, they annexed
the kingdom of the Chhutiyas (1523) and Koch – Hajo (1581).
-
➤They
faced many invasion from the south-west . In 1662, the Mughals under Mir Jumla
attacked the Ahoms Kingdom.
- ➤
The
Ahoms were forced for labour , those who were forced for labour are called as paiks.
- ➤
By
the first half of 17th century Ahoms clans were broken up and
administration became centralised.
- ➤
Ahom
society was divided into clans or khel. A khel controlled many villages.
They worshiped their own tribal Gods.
-
➤Mongols
were the best known pastoral and hunter- gatherer tribe.
-
➤They
are found in grassland (steppes) of Central Asia and the forested
areas of North.
- ➤
In
1206 Genghis Khan had united the Mongols and Turkish tribes into
a powerful military forces.
- ➤At
different point of time, it included parts of Russia, Eastern Europe and
also China and West Asia.
- ➤
They
have well organised military and administrative systems.
- ➤They
were based on different ethnic and religious groups.
