THE PATTERN OF DISEASE AND TREATMENT AMONG THE SANTANL AND MUNDA TRIBES IN A VILLAGE OF JHARGRAM BLOCK, PASCHIM MEDINIPUR: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL OBSERVATION

EXCEL International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies ________________ ISSN 2249- 8834

EIJMMS, Vol.3 (11), November (2013)

Online available at zenithresearch.org.in

64

THE PATTERN OF DISEASE AND TREATMENT AMONG THE SANTANL

AND MUNDA TRIBES IN A VILLAGE OF JHARGRAM BLOCK,

PASCHIM MEDINIPUR: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL OBSERVATION.

SANTANU PANDA; ARUP MAJUMDER

RESEARCH SCHOLAR

DEPT. OF ANTHROPOLOGY

VIDYASAGAR UNIVERSITY

WEST BENGAL, INDIA

ABSTRACT

In this paper we have made an attempt to study the pattern of disease and their treatment. This

study was conducted in a village inhabited by Santal and Munda tribes. These data was collected

from 32 families by using simple open-ended question and case history method. In my findings

revealed that the occurrence of the disease forms patterns in terms of age and sex. The frequency

of disease is less early ages but the boys and girls become affected by various diseases like fever,

cough, diarrhea, etching etc. as soon as they reach ten years old. The girls come across menstrual

problems during their teens. Serious disease like Tuberculosis, Gastric ulcers, urine blockage and

Hypertension begin to occur after 40 years old among the male.

The treatment of disease also are flows a pattern. In our study area very few families were found

to apply the traditional herbal medicine in case of fever, dysentery and sores. A good number of

families were also found rush to hospital and a primary health centre whoever they were affected

by any aliments. There are also few families who are going to costly private clinics in the Jhargram

town. The whole scenario reveals a varied and varied condition rather than a uniform consistent

pattern.

KEYWORDS: Ethnomedicine, Pattern of disease, Santal, Munda, Tribe, treatment, Jhragram

______________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

Pattern is a written document that describes a general solution to design problem that recurs

repeatedly in many projects. Software designs adapt the pattern solution to their specific project.

Patterns use a formal approach to describing a design problem its proposed solution and any other

factors that might affect the problem or the solution. There is various type of disease pattern. The

villagers had been suffering various type of disease. The two communities faced many diseases.

The two community of this village are tribal. So they faced many diseases in each year, so this

studies to pick up their disease pattern and pattern of treatment in each age group of both sex. In

which reason they are attacked many disease. Disease pattern and their treatment system study are

very important in tribal community because they have to use traditional medicine.




65

The santal and Munda both are tribal (Adibashi). The Munda are tribal people of the chhotonagpur

region in Jharkhand. This is spread over eastern state of India. Their language is ‘Mundari’, which

belongs to the Munda sub-group of the Austro Asiatic Language family. The Mundas are the

fourth largest group in the state with a total population of 2, 30,015. They are concentrated in

Jalpaiguri, 24-Parganas, Paschim Medinipur district. Their primary and traditional occupation is

cultivation followed by hunting and collection of forest produce as subsidiary occupations. They

also work as a wage laborers in Industries. Mundas maintain their own religion, called ‘Sarna’. In

which they warship nature and Natural power. They believe in a supreme being called

‘Singbonga’.

The Santals an ethnic group in Bangladesh, mainly living in the Himalayan sub-mountain region in

deferent district. According to 1991 census the total population of Santals in West Bengal was 16,

66,608. They are mostly concentrated in the district of Medinipur. Their mother tongue ‘Santali’

belongs to the Austro-Asiatic family of languages. They have their own script ‘Olchiki’, In West

Bengal they are conversant with Bengali, many Bangla words are now adopted in ‘Santali. Their

primary occupation is settled cultivation, their secondary occupation is forest resource collection

and some of them are employed in Govt. & non-government services too. Santals have separate

religion it is called ‘Sarna’. The Santali name for marriage is called ‘Bapla’. In santal society

marriage is one of sacred event of life. In Santal marriage there is no restriction of age. The bride

may be younger, older or equal age with bridegroom.

Santals are peace loving, sons of the soil of India. They belong to the Pre-Aryan community and

are the descendants of the great Heroes of India like Baba Tilka Majhi, Sido, Kanhu, Chand,

Bhairab and others who gallantly fought against the mighty British ruler to get themselves rid of

the shekels of exploitation, tyranny, deprivation and oppression. Santal people identify and

introduce themselves as Hor (Human Beings) which amply testifies their broad world view. They

are the largest linguistic tribal community of India.

Objectives of the Study

To study the pattern of illness and disease among the Santals and Mundas of Narda Village

of Jhargram Subdivision.

To study the pattern of disease and their treatment among the Santals and Mundas of Narda

village.

To compare the pattern of disease in terms of age and sex among the both community.

Methodology

.

This study, which is based on the M.Sc. dissertation report of the first author, mainly depended on

direct intensive observation and interviews with the villagers affected by various types of disease




66

and their treatment. The demographic and socio-economic surveys were conducted among all the

households of the Narda village with the help of structured and open-ended questionnaire

schedules. Questionnaire included regarding various type of disease and their treatment. The

qualitative information regarding the feeling and attitude of the suffered persons were collected

through repeated conversations with those persons over long period of time. Various type of

disease and their treatment have been collected from individual family members by the case study

method.

The educational and health status of the parents would be collected through schedules. The main

part of the survey and the fieldwork would however follow the typical participatory

anthropological fieldwork. Those data was collected from a tribal village of in Paschim Medinipur

District of West Bengal. At last the data was analysis through the tabulation.

Study Area

The study village situated 4 km away from NH-6, it is situated 15 km fur away from Jhargram

Town. The village name is Narda, J.L. no. - 896. The mouza name is Narda. The Gram Panchayet

name is Patasimul (12 No. Anchal). The Block name is Jhargram. The Post- office name is

Jorananda. The Police Station name is Jhargram. Sub-division- Jhargram, Dist- Paschim

Medinipur, West Bengal.

Climate In summer the weather is to much hot and in winter the weather is too much cold. In the rainy

season the rainfalls heavily. But the summer is belongs to whole year in every year.

Soil

The land type of the selected village is sandy type but the farming land is mixed with sand and

mud. During rainy season it does not muddy so it becomes very fertile for farming.

House type

Most of house is thatched with strand and wall is made with mud. But some houses are thatched

with Tali.

Village boundary

There are so many villages around the studied village. To the east Mohonpur & Kharbandhi

Village. At the west side there are Patasimul, Jorananda & Uttargram village and south side

Gobindpur, Naraharipur & Radhagobindapur village and the north there are Dalma, Basantipur &

Banksole village. At the Banksole there is a bus stand.

Village road

There are two types of road inside the village one is moram road (Laterait soil Road) and another

is mud road. Mud road are not so broad but the moram road are broader. In rainy season the mud

road is bad for use.




67

Flora

There is abundance of bamboo trees. Besides there other trees like – Simul, coconut tree, Tetul etc.

are available. In the forest Sal, uclipatas, Segun etc. are available.

Hunting Gathering

They go for hunting in Banksole, Kalikunda, Kadabani, Paharaj and Kandabanga forest. They also

go to near forest like Sonspara, Gurbhanga, Pathardanga from 5-7 kms away.

Politics

There are three parties like C.P.I.M, T.M.C, and J.K.P. Most of the people like to J.K.P, but two

years ago all of the people in this village like to C.P.I.M. At present the leader of the C.P.I.M

Party’s behavior is very bad. They are busy to develop their own family. They could not think

other poor families in this village.

Economy

They lead their lives on the basis of agriculture, selling the leaves of forest and working at the land

of others.

Para division

In Narda village there are two paras. One is high schedule tribe para where lives Santal and

another low tribe para where lives Munda community. They work together.

Literacy

About 60% people are illiterate, 10% only can sign, 10% have one the school and 20% are reading

in secondary and higher secondary still now.

Language

In this village two communities have belongs to types of language. One is Mundari and another is

Santali.

Dress

Married female wear sari, unmarried female wear frock and churidar. Married men wear Dhuti,

Shirt & Pant. Married men wear cloths, lungies. During festivals women wear sari with red border

and men wear dhuti.

Drinking water There are six wells and most of men drink water from well. Now though there is tube well but to

foul smell in water very few people drink the tube well water.

Other water source

There is small damp named Ledhar, but during summer time it becomes dry. It is filled with water

during 6 months, and then about six months it becomes dry. Besides there are two ponds one

named Sabitri and another big pond where water remains whole year people uses this pond water

to bath cow buffalo.




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Agriculture

Before interaction with ‘Gramin Bikas Trust’ there was only the cultivation named Paddy. After

few years the people trained by G.V.T Members about various types of cultivation. Then the

villagers cultivate Paddy, Wheat, Potato, Karala, Brinjal and Melon etc.

Communication

The communication system is not so good. Two trackers drives without permission from village to

bus stand. Two short routes from village mingled with N.H-6 which is 5 km. away. There is

another short root which has mingled with another bus root Kharbandhi. This is 4 km far away

from village.

Important Place

There was no important place about 5 years ago without Jaherthan. Any type of meeting was held

in the house of someone. But now G.V.T hall (Honda) is an important place to them. Most of the

villagers spend their time in the G.V.T hall and any type of meeting is held there.

Health Centre

There is no primary health & sub-centre but there is one RMP doctor. He treats the patient without

fees in G.V.T hall in a week. He has a private chamber in his own house. There is a Block Primary

Health Centre at Mohonpur which is situated 8 km away from village.

Temple

There is no temple but there are two Jahera (sacred place) inside the two paras (Hamlets). There

are various type ceremonies/ festival was held in the whole year.

Club There is not registered club but during Saraswati puja, there are two groups in two paras and they

considered themselves as a member of one club and worth together.

Sanitation

There are no latrine, bathroom and urinal. They extricate their stool in the open field. Very few

houses are use latrine.




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Findings of the Study

The Age-Sex Composition

Table 1 Age- Sex Composition of total Population of the Study

[] Represents the percentage of total column

() Represents the percentage of total population

The age-sex composition of the sample population reveals higher number of younger persons

including children belonging to 0-4, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19 age groups. These four age groups

constitute 50.31 per cent of the population. The population pyramid (Fig.1) also shows a broad

base extending up to 15-19 years, after which the breadth of the pyramid begins to shrink although

the number of females shows a sudden increase at the age group 30-34 which seems unusual. The

female population in the higher age groups, particularly beyond the reproductive age, i.e. after 49

years, shows greater number than the males in general. There are 4 males & 4 females above 65

years in the population. This fact is most revealing in all the young age groups from 0-4 up to 25-

29. It only in the age groups, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49 that we find a predominance of males

over females .

Age group Male

Female

Total

0-4 (5.55) 15 [9.80] (2.96) 08 [6.83] 23 (8.51)

5-9 (7.40) 20 [13.07] (4.07) 11 [9.40] 31 (11.48)

10-14 (6.29) 17 [11.11] (4.44) 12 [10.25] 29 (10.74)

15-19 (9.25) 25 [16.33] (5.18) 14 [11.96] 39 (14.44)

20-24 (3.70) 10 [6.53] (4.81) 13 [11.11] 23 (8.51)

25-29 (5.55) 15 [9.80] (4.07) 11 [9.40] 26 (9.62)

30-34 (1.85) 05 [3.26] (4.81) 13 [11.11] 18 (6.66)

35-39 (4.07) 11 [7.18] (3.70) 10 [8.54] 21 (7.77)

40-44 (2.96) 08 [5.22] (1.85) 05 [4.27] 13 (4.81)

45-49 (3.70) 10 [6.55] (2.96) 08 [6.83] 18 (6.66)

50-54 (1.48) 04 [2.61] (1.48) 04 [3.41] 08 (2.96)

55-59 (2.96) 08 [5.22] (1.11) 03 [2.56] 11 (4.07)

60-64 (0.37) 01 [0.65] (0.37) 01 [0.85] 02 (0.74)

65+ (1.48) 04 [2.61] (1.48) 04 [2.96] 08 (2.96)

Total (56.66%) 153 (43.33%) 117 270




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Table 2 Occupational Status of the Study Population

Age

group Agriculture

M F

Day Labour

M F

Forest resource

collection

M F

Fishing

M F

Govt. Job.

M F

Pvt. Job.

M F

Business

M F

Others

M F

0-4

5-9

10-14 2 1 1 8 12

15-19 8 3 2 1 1 4 1 1 9 4

20-24 5 5 2 6 1 3

25-29 9 5 2 3 3 2 2

30-34 3 8 3 3 1 1 1 1

35-39 5 4 5 4 4 5

40-44 5 3 1 3 1

45-49 5 5 1 1 2 1 1

50-54 1 0 1 2 1 2

55-59 4 2 1 2

60-64 1 1

65+ 1 1 1 2 2

Total

(%)

47

(17.4)

37

(13.17)

17

(6.29)

11

(4.07)

9

(3.33)

24

(8.88)

1

(0.37)

0 6

(2.22)

1

(0.37)

2

(0.74)

0 2

(0.74)

0 22

(8.14)

27

(9.80)

From this table we have seen various types of occupation like Agriculture, Day Labor, Forest resource collection, Fishing, Govt. Job, Pvt. Job,

Business and others, but most of people depend on agriculture (30.21%). Agriculture is the main occupation of the village. They cultivate their

own land like Paddy. Male and female both are engaged to cultivate their own land. Their secondary occupation is forest resource collection.

Most of the female members (8.88%) of the village was collect Forest resource for earn extra money for their better livelihood. Some people of

the village worked as Agriculture labor and road worker (10.36%). 17.94% members of the village were engaged unscheduled occupation.




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Table 3 Age Group Wise Distribution of Disease

Age

group

Male Female

0-4 Cold/Cough, Itching, Hydrosil, Influenza Nil

5-9 Malnutrition, Dehydration, Poliomyelitis Epilepsy, cold/Cough, Pneumonia,

Dehydration

10-14 Cough/Cold, Blood vomiting, Diarrhea, Itching,

Defendom, Toungh sore, Ear sore, Vomiting

Fever & Cough, Angulberi, Toung, sore,

15-19 Malaria, Diabetes, Cholera, Tetanus, Jaundice, Rib pain, Blood

dysentery, Problem of Menstruation.

20-24 Vomiting, Piles, Jaundice Heart disease, blood dysentery, Problem

of Menstruation.

25-29 Leprosy, backache, Piles, dysentery, Epilepsy,

Itching, Gout, Infection of teeth.

White discharge, cholera, boils,

Malnutrition.

30-34 NIL Sore, itching, vomiting, Breast ache, TB,

Indigestion, Gastric, Cough/cold,

35-39 Blood dysentery, rib pain, breathing trouble and

hydrosol.

Sore, itching, vomiting, Breast ache, TB,

Indigestion, Gastric, Cough/cold, White

discharge, Dehydration, RTI,

40-44 Hypertension, Stomach ache, boil, urine block,

Spondilitis, Alcohol Abuse.

Tumor, Mental problem, Low presser,

Menstruation problem, Fever.

45-50 TB, Gout, rib pain, vomiting, dehydration,

cholera, Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency, Piles, Gastric

Typhoid

51-59 TB, Gout, rib pain, vomiting, dehydration,

cholera, Piles, Gastric, Malaria, Diabetes, boil,

dysentery,

Dehydration, Malaria, Gout,

60+ Dehydration, Hypertension, Malaria,

Typhoid, heart disease.

Breathing problem, Itching,

Common cold,

The above table shows the age group 0-4 is for female and 30-34 is for male, we did not found

any disease in last three years. The female members are more affected by the disease in the age

groups 15-19, 20-24, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44. The male members are more affected by the disease in

the age groups 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 25-29, 40-44, 45-50, 51-59 & 60+. The major diseases are

itching, T.B, gout, Sore & menstruation problem. They have been suffering itching because

living environment is very bad. They live with cattle; pig & hen so various type of germ come

from the body of cattle. They have been suffering T.B because the male member of the village

drinks ‘Mohua’ liker & smoke ‘Biri’, ‘Chanta’ and the female member of the village suffer

malnutrition so they are affected by T.B & menstruation problem.




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Table 4 Distribution of disease according to age among the Santal

Age

group

Male Female

0-4 Cold, cough, Itching ------------------------

5-9 Poliomyelitis, Malnutrition Earsore, Dehydration, Cold, Pneumonia

10-14 Cough, Cold, Blood vomiting, Diarrhea,

Headache, Leprosy, Itching, Stomachache,

Defandum,

---------------------------

15-19 -------------------------- Menstrual problem, Rib pain, Itching

20-24 Stomachache, Vomiting, Piles, Jaundice, Blood dysentery, menstruation disorder,

25-29 Leprosy, Backache, Piles, Dysentery,

Epilepsy.

Boil, malnutrition, Cholera, Menstruation

irregularity.

30-34 ----------------------- Sore, Itching, skin rash, Cough/Cold,

Indigestion, Vomiting, Gastric, T.B,

35-39 Blood dysentery , Rib pain, Sore, Itching, Vomiting, Dehydration, T.B,

Cold.

40-44 Stomachache, mental abnormality,

Hypertension, Boil, Urine block, Spondilitis,

Alcohol abuse,

Tumor, Metal problem, Hair loss, Low

pressure, menstrual problem

45-49 T.B, Gout, Rib pain, Vomiting, Dehydration, ------------------------

50-54 T.B, Gout, Rib pain, Spondilities, Carbuncle,

Blood vomiting.

Dehydration, Malaria,Gout.

55-59 Typhoid, Tumor, Diabetes, Encephalitis. Itching

60+ Dehydration, Hypertension. Itching, common cold, respiratory infection.

There is no disease in the age group 15-19 & 30-34 of male and 0-4, 10-14, 45-49 of female.

Santal are more affected by itching both male and female. Santal are more affected by various

type of disease than the Munda’s. In Santal community male are more affected than the female.




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Table 5 Distribution of disease according to age among the Munda

Age

group

Male Female

0-4 Hydrosil, Influenza, --------------------

5-9 Dehydration, Defendum Cold/Cough, Pneumonia, Epilepsy

10-14 Cough, Cold, Blood vomiting, Toung sore,

Indigestion Itching, Earsore, Dehydration, piles,

Chatagali(sore)

Fever and cough, Angulberi, Sore,

Itching.

15-19 Malaria, diabetes, Cholera. Menstrual problem, Hair loss,

Tetanus. Jaundice.

20-24 -------------- Hair loss, heart disease, Pox,

Menstrual problem.

25-29 Dysentery, Itching, Gout, Sore. White discharge, Cholera.

30-34 ------------------ Tumor

35-39 Hydrosil, Breathing trouble. Itching, Dehydration, White

discharge, Back ache

40-44 Ulcer, rib pain. Fever

45-49 T.B, Dehydration, Cold, Piles, Gastric. Fever. Typhoid, Mental disorder.

50-54 T.B, Gout, Gastric, Dysentery Dehydration, Gout.

55-59 Gout, Breathing trouble Itching

60+ Hypertension, Malaria, Typhoid, Heart disease --------------------

There is no disease in the age group 20-24 & 30-34 of male and 0-4, 60+ of female. Their major

disease is T.B and Gout. Because they used to alcohol whole day without any food but they

could not take any solid food for survive. They are hard worker. When they went to day labourer

work at that time they used tobacco like Biri, Khaini etc. Maximum male are effected in the age

group of 10-14, because in this age groups boys are always outside the home.




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Table 6 Pattern of treatment of disease among the Santals and Mundas in the study area.

Community Application

of

traditional

medicine

by

themselves

Treatment by

village

Medicine

man

Primary

health

centre and

Hospital

Quack

doctor

Private

degree hold

Doctor

Total

Santal 15(18.52%) 10(12.34%) 27(33.33%) 16(19.75%) 13(16.04%) 81(62.79%)

Munda 07(14.58%) 08(16.66%) 20(41.66%) 05(10.42%) 08(16.66%) 48(37.20%)

Total 22(17.05%) 18. (13.95%) 47(36.43%) 21(16.27%) 21(16.27%) 129(1.29%)

The treatment system of the villagers is peculiar. There are five types of treatment system.

Majority of the villagers is used to Primary health centre/ Block Primary health centre (36.43%).

Application of traditional medicine by themselves only 17.05%. 16.27% of the villagers are used

to quack doctor but in our view villagers faith on own traditional medicine. They are ready

herbal medicine by themselves used various type root which is collect from forest or local

garden. The Santals more used their own traditional medicine than the Mundas because the

Santals are beliefs in own herbal medicine.

Conclusion

From the above finding we can said that the villagers were suffered various disease such as i)

Tuberculosis ii) Diarrhea iii) Malaria iv) Dehydration v) Anemia vi) Tumor vii) Piles vii)

Pneumonia viii) Hypertension ix) Encephalitis x) Boil xi) Leprosy xii) Itching xiii)Epilepsy

xiv)Typhoid xv) Gout xvi) Gastric ulcer xvii) Pox xviii) Cholera xix) Menstruation problem

xx) Indigestion xxi) Common cold, cough & fever, xxii) White discharge xxiii) Stomach ache

xxiv) Chest pain xxv) Poliomyelitis in this village. The villagers have been also affected by the

above disease in each age group of both sexes. The female members of the village are more

affected than the male. Most of the peoples were affected by Itching, Dehydration, Common

cough and cold, problem of menstruation.

The treatment of disease also are flows a pattern. In our study area in both cases very few

families were found to apply the traditional herbal medicine in case of fever, dysentery and




75

sores. A good number of both families were also found rush to hospital and a primary health

centre whoever they were affected by any aliments. There are also both numbers of families who

are going to costly private clinics in the Jhargram town, but in little number. The whole scenario

reveals a varied and varied condition rather than a uniform consistent pattern.

References

Castiglioni, A. 1947- A History of Medicine, London, Routledge & KeganPaul Ltd2.

Dash Sharma, P. (Ed). 2000- Environment, Health And Development. AnAnthropological

perspectives, Ranchi, SRIANS.3. Hardesty, D.L. 1977- Ecological Anthropology, New York, John Willy &Sons.4. Honigman, J.J. 1973- Hand Book of Social & Cultural Anthropology,Chicago, Ran McNally.5. Leach, Edmund R. 1966- Ritualisation in Man in relation to conceptual andsocial development.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Sociaty of London. Series B, 251.6. Maiti, S. 1999- Cognition of Disease and Ciring Behaviour in Rural Bengal,Studie in Medical Anthropology (Ed),

Dibrugash, N.L. Publiser.7. Rai, H.N, Chowdhury & D.C. Pal, 1976- Poor Man’s Medicine, Man in India,Vol-2, No.3 & 4,

Calcutta, ISRAA

Majumder, A 2013, Cognitive Performance Of Disease AndDimensions Of Ethnomedicine

Among The TribalPeople Of Patamda, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, International Journal of

Innovative Research & Studies, Vol- 2, Issue 3, Kolkata

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the villagers of Narda of Paschim (west)Medinipu and

other adjoining villages for providing us valuable information. Last but not the least; express our

deep sense of gratitude to my teacher Dr. Abhijit Guha Associate Professor, Department of

Anthropology, Vidyasagar University for providing academic and intellectual inputs for

completion the article.

Documents

THE PATTERN OF DISEASE AND TREATMENT AMONG THE SANTANL AND MUNDA TRIBES IN A VILLAGE OF JHARGRAM BLOCK, PASCHIM MEDINIPUR: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL OBSERVATION