Kurukh people

The Kurukh or Oraon, also spelt Uraon or Dhangar,[7] (Kurukh: Karḵẖ and Oṛāōn) are a Dravidian speaking ethnolinguistic group inhabiting Chhotanagpur Plateau and adjoining areas - mainly the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.[8] They predominantly speak Kurukh as their native language, which belongs to the Dravidian language family.[9] In Maharashtra, Oraon people are also known as Dhangad or Dhangar.[10][11]

oraon
Kurukh in traditional clothes performing dance
Total population
3.8 million (2011)
Regions with significant populations
 India3,696,899[1]
   Jharkhand1,716,618
   Chhattisgarh748,739
   West Bengal643,510
   Odisha358,112
   Bihar144,472
   Assam73,437
   Tripura12,011[2]
 Bangladesh85,846[3]
   Nepal37,424[4]
 Bhutan4200[5]
Languages
Kurukh • Sadri • Odia • Hindi • Bengali
Religion
Hinduism, Christianity, Sarnaism[6]
Related ethnic groups

Traditionally, Oraons depended on the forest and farms for their ritual practices and livelihoods, but in recent times, they have become mainly settled agriculturalists. Many Oraon migrated to tea gardens of Assam, West Bengal and Bangladesh as well as to countries like Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius during British rule, where they were known as Hill Coolies.[12][13] They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe for the purpose of India's reservation system.[14]

Etymology

According to Edward Tuite Dalton, "Oraon" is an exonym assigned by neighboring Munda people, meaning "to roam". They call themselves Kurukh.[15] According to Sten Konow, Uraon will mean man as in the Dravidian Kaikadi language, the word Urapai, Urapo and Urang means Man. The word Kurukh may be derived from the word Kur or Kurcana means Shout and stammer. So Kurukh will mean a speaker.[16]

History

According to the Indian Anthropological Society, Konkan is said to be the original home of the Kurukh tribes from where they migrated to the Chota Nagpur Plateau.[17] The group is said to have settled in the Chota Nagpur Plateau by 100 CE.[18]

There are three opinions of scholars about the origin of Kurukh people. According to Sarat Chandra Roy, Kurukh people might have migrated from Coorg in South India. In 1987, Elefenbein proposed Baloch's hypothesis, in which he proposed the Brahui tribe migrated from Baluchistan to Sindh where Brahui is still spoken, and the Rohtasgarh and Rajmahal hills. Those who migrated to Rohtasgarh were Kurukh and Rajmahal hills were Malto. According to another opinion, Kurukh people were living in Indus valley civilization, then they migrated to South and Central India after the decline of the Indus valley civilization due to droughts and floods in 2500 BCE.[19]

According to the writings of Colonel Edward Tuite Dalton, Oraon claimed that they were settled in Gujarat, then they were expelled from there. Then they settled in Kalinjar, where they fought with Lowrik Sowrik of Palipiri and were defeated. Then they came to Rohtasgarh and were driven out by Muslims during the reign of Akbar. Then they settled in Chotanagpur. According to Dalton, Oraon were settled in Chotanagpur before the reign of Akbar and possibly some Oraon were in Rohtas hills when Rohtasgarh fort was constructed by Muslims. According to him the Oraon language is similar to Tamil, but some words spoken by Oraon are of Sanskrit origin due to their living with Sanskrit and Prakrit speaking people in the past. The physical features of Oraon are the darkest but those who live in mixed settlements have varieties of features.[20]

Colonial rule
Dalton's painting of Oraons in 1872

During the British Period, Kurukh people rebelled against the British East India Company authority and local Zamindars against tax imposition. The Budhu Bhagat led the Lakra rebellion which is also known as the Kol uprising in 1832.[21]

Jatra Bhagat led civil disobedience movement Tana Bhagat Movement from 1914 to 1920.[22] After independence of India, They listed as a Scheduled Tribe for the purpose of India's reservation system.[14]

Society

The Kurukh tribe is patrilocal and patrilineal. Kurukhs are divided into many exogamous clans. Clans names among the Kurukh are taken from plants, animals and objects. Some important clans are:[23][24][25]

  • Addo (ox)
  • Aind (a fish)
  • Alla (dog)
  • Bakula (Heron)
  • Bando (wild cat)
  • Bara (Banyan)
  • Barwa (wild dog)
  • Beck (Salt)
  • Chidra (Squirrel)
  • Edgo (Mouse)
  • Ekka or kachhap (Turtle)
  • Gari (monkey)
  • Gede (Duck)
  • Gidhi (vulture)
  • Halman (langur)
  • Keond (a fruit)
  • Khoya (wild dog)
  • Kinduar (a fish)
  • Kosuar (a fish)
  • Kiro (a fruit)
  • Kiss (pig)
  • Kerketta (Hedge- sparrow)
  • Kokro (cock)
  • Kujur ( A medicinal plant)
  • Lakra (Tiger)
  • Minz (a fish)
  • Khetta or Nag (Cobra)
  • Panna (Iron)
  • Tido (a fish)
  • Tirkuar (tithio bird)
  • Tirkey (an eagle)
  • Toppo (Woodpecker)
  • Tigga (Monkey)
  • Xalxo (pigeon)
  • Xaxa (Crow)
  • Xess or Dhan (Paddy)

Culture

Language

Kurukh are traditional speakers of Kurukh, which belongs to the northern branch of the Dravidian family. Just under half still speak this language as their mother tongue. Many have adopted the local lingua francas, Sadri and Odia, as their first languages. This shift to regional languages, especially Sadri, has been most pronounced in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and Tripura, where the Kurukh are mainly tea garden workers and Sadri is the main link language.[9]

Festivals

The Kurukh celebrate all traditional festivals of the Chota Nagpur plateau: Sarhul, Karma, Dhanbuni, Harihari, Nawakhani, Khariyani etc.[26]

Music and dance

Since time immemorial The Oraon people have a rich range of folk songs, dances and tales,[27] as well as traditional musical instruments. Both men and women participate in dances, which are performed at social events and festivals. The Mandar, Nagara and Kartal are the main musical instruments. In Kurukh, song is known as "Dandi". Some Kurukh folk dances are war dances (between two Parhas), Karma dance (Karam dandi), Khaddi or Sarhul dance, Phagu, Jadur, jagra, Matha, Benja Nalna (wedding dance) and Chali (courtyard dance).[9]

Sarhul dance known as Khaddi

Marriage tradition

Marriage among Kurukhs is usually arranged by the parents. The parents negotiate a bride price, after which the wedding can take place. On the wedding day, the groom arrives with his friends to the bride's house, and they hold a dance. A pandal is constructed in front of the bride's father's house, and the bride and groom stand on a stone, under which is grain above a plough yoke. A cloth is then thrown over the couple, who are doubly screened by the groom's friends. Then the sindoordaan is done: the groom applies sindoor to the bride's forehead, which is sometimes returned. Afterwards, water is poured over the couple and they return to a separate area of the house to change. When they are emerged, they are considered married. During this entire time, the rest of the party continue to dance.[28]

Dress
Oraon House at 'State Tribal Fair-2020' Bhubaneswar, India

At the turn of the 20th century, Kurukh men wore a loincloth tied around the hips, while women less influenced by other communities would wear a cloth reaching to just above the knee, covering the chest.[28] Today, women traditionally a wear thick cotton sari with detailed stitched borders of purple or red thread. Traditional tattoos include elaborate symmetrical patterns around their forearms, ankles, and chest. Men wear a thick cloth with similar detailed borders as a dhoti or lungi.[6]

Livelihood

Originally, the Oraons relied on the forest and its goods for an economic livelihood. Unlike many other communities of Jharkhand which practice jhum, the Kurukh community uses plough agriculture. At the turn of the 20th century however, due to the policies of the British colonial government, most of the tribe worked as agricultural labourers for the Zamindars on their own lands.[28] However, recently many have become settled agriculturists, while others became migrant workers.[6]

Administration

In a Kurukh village, the village level political organization is called Parha which consists of post such as Pahan (village priest), Panibharwa (water-bearer of Pahan), Pujar (assistant of Pahan), Bhandari and Chowkidar (watchman). Each has a particular role in religious ceremonies, festivals and solving disputes in the village. The traditional informal educational institution youth dormitory is called Dhumkuria. The public and common meeting place is Akhra where people meet for the purpose of discussion and solving disputes.[29]

Twelve to thirty villages form a Parha council. Each village has a village council, member of village council act as the members of Parha council in the headship of Parha chief. One of the villages in Parha is called Raja (King) village, another dewan (prime minister) village, another panrey (clerk of the village), a fourth kotwar (orderly) village and remaining village are called praja (subject) village. Raja village has highest social status because headman of this village presides at the meeting of a Parha Panchayat.[29] The Kurukh are patrilocal and patrilineal. Clan name descends from father to son. The major lineage is known as Bhuinhari Khunt. Bhuinhari means owner of the land. Khunt has two sub groups: the Pahan Khunt and Mahato Khunt. Pahan and Mahato are two main office of Bhuinhari lineage.[9]

Religion
  Hinduism (36%)
  Sarna (32%)
  Christianity (30%)
  Animism (1%)
  Others[i] (1%)

|^ Others includes Muslims, Sikhs and Jains.

The Oraon follow their traditional religion (Sarnaism), which is based on nature worship. Some of the groups started following Sarnaism in a Hindu style, as the sects of the Bishnu Bhagats, Bacchinda Bhagats, Karmu Bhagats and Tana Bhagats. The Oraons have established several Sarna sects. Oraons worship Sun as biri (a name given for Dharmesh). Kurukhar also believe in Animism.

Most of population is Sarna, which is a religion that is indigenous to Adivasis in the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Sarna perform religious rituals under the shade of a sacred grove. They worship the sun as Biri and the moon as Chando, and call the earth Dharti Aayo (Earth as mother). Chando Biri are the words which are used in Sarna pujas. Dharmesh is their supreme almighty god.[30]

Kamru Bhagats (Oraon or Munda devotees) originated when Oraons acquired special powers after making a pilgrimage to Kamakhya in Assam to pay respect to Durga.[31]

The Tana Bhagat was formed by Oraon saints Jatra Bhagat and Turia Bhagat. Tana Bhagats opposed the taxes imposed on them by the British and staged a Satyagraha movement even before Mahatma Gandhi. All Tana Bhagats were followers of Gandhi during the Independence movement. Tana Bhagats still wear a khadi kurta, dhoti and Gandhi topi (cap) with tricoloured flag in their topi. All Tana Bhagats perform puja to the Mahadeo and the tricolour with a chakra symbol on it, which is fixed at their courtyard.

Among Christian Oraons, there are Roman Catholics and Protestants, the latter of which having several denominations.

In 1957, film-maker Ritwik Ghatak shot a preparatory test film named Oraon on the life of the Adivasis of the Ranchi region in Jharkhand and on the Oraons of Rani Khatanga Village in Jharkhand.[32]

Notable people

See also

References
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  2. "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  3. "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF) (in Bengali). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33.
  4. "National Population and Housing Census 2011: Social Characteristics Tables" (PDF). Nepal Census – via Government of Nepal.
  5. "Oraon of Bhutan". PeopleGroups. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. Winston, Robert, ed. (2006) [First published 2004]. Human. Dorling Kindersley. p. 439. ISBN 0-7566-1901-7.
  7. "The Long Journey: From India to Guyana".
  8. Hasnain, Nadeem (2021). Tribal India (7th ed.). Delhi: Palaka Prakashan. p. 136.
  9. Prasad, R. R. (1996). Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes, Volume 1. ISBN 9788171412983.
  10. Singh, Kumar Suresh; Mehta, B. V.; Anthropological Survey of India (2004). Maharashtra Part 3. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1585. ISBN 9788179911020.
  11. Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India (December 2002). 27th report of Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare with regards to SCs and STs order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2002 (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2020.
  12. "The Long Journey: From India to Guyana".
  13. "Oraons - Dictionary definition of Oraons". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  14. "List of notified Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  15. Dalton E T, The Oraons, Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal, 1872. Section 1, page 215.
  16. Ferdinand Hahn (1985). Grammar of the Kurukh Language. Mittal Publications. p. xii. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  17. Indian Anthropological Society (1986). Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society, Volumes 21-22. Indian Anthropological Society. pp. See page 75.
  18. Singh, Anjana (August 2018). "Linguistic Politics and Kurukh Language Movement of the Oraons in Jharkhand". Journal of Adivasi and Indigenous Studies. 8: 37–50 – via Academia.edu.
  19. Alisha Vandana Lakra, Md. Mojibur Rahman (August 2017). "Vitality and Endangerment of Contemporary Kurukh". Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  20. Sanjay Nath (2015). "Pages from the Old Records: A Note on 'The "Kols" of Chota-Nagpore' by E.T. Dalton". academia.edu: 15-22. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  21. "Governor pays tribute to Veer Budhu Bhagat". dailypioneer. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  22. Kumar, Sanjay (2008). "The Tana Bhagat Movement in Chotanagpur (1914-1920)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 69: 723–731. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44147236. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  23. "Tradition of Clan names and conservation among the Oraons of Chhattishgarh". niscair.res.in. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  24. James George Frazer (2000). Totemism and Exogamy. Psychology Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-0700713387.
  25. "आदिवासी गोत्र". vikaspedia. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  26. "Marriage Customs among The Oraons". etribaltribune.com.
  27. Ferdinand Hahn (1906). Blicke in die Geisteswelt der heidnischen Kols: Sammlung von Sagen, Märchen und Liedern der Oraon in Chota Nagpur. C. Bertelsmann. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  28. Hewitt, J. F. (April 1893). "Art. VII.–The Tribes and Castes of Bengal, by H. H. Risley. Vols. I. and II. Ethnographic Glossary, Vols. I. and II. Anthropometric Data". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. 25 (2): 237–300. doi:10.1017/s0035869x00022395. ISSN 0035-869X. S2CID 163011123.
  29. Team, Mai Bhi Bharat (16 May 2016). Tribes of India, PESA Act & Padaha system of Oraon tribe (Television production). Mai Bhi Bharat (in Hindi). RSTV. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  30. Ghosh, Abhik (2003). History and Culture of the Oraon Tribe : Some Aspects of Their Social Life. Mohit. p. 237. ISBN 81-7445-196-X.
  31. Jha, P. 41 India and Nepal
  32. Cinema & I pg.116 Archived 25 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  33. "Asunta Lakra, a symbol for tribal hope". The Times of India. 6 February 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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