BIRHORS: A CASE STUDY OF JEHANGUTUA VILLAGE

DR. SUDHIR KUMAR, Rajkiyakit Senior Secondary School, Maner, Patna.

e-mail- sudhir7122@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: - The present paper deals with the geographical and socio-economic conditions of Birhor of Jehangutua village, (Bishunpur block, Gumla district) in Jharkhand state. The present paper is based on the field work undertaken by the author. The author personally visited Jehangutua village and observed the geography and economy of the Jehangutua village.

KEYWORDS: - The Chotanagpur Plateau region is the habitat of several tribes. The state of Jharkhand has an important place among the state of India where the tribes are in considerable number. Thirty branches of tribes are living in the state of Jharkhand. Birhors are concentrated in different parts of state.

Objective of the study: - The main objective of the study is to make a geographical interpretation in respect of social and economic life of Birhors of Jehangutua village.

METHODOLOGY: - The present work comprises of the following methodological approach on account of being empirical in nature:

(i) Review of literature and works done by the sociologists and anthropologists on Birhor.

(ii) Collection of secondary data from various government agencies.(iii) With the questionnaires the author personally visited the village to

collect primary data and information about the Birhor.

DISCUSSION: - The word Birhor which has been derived from two words ‘Bir’ and ‘Hor’. These two words means ‘Forest’ and ‘Man’ respectively. Literal meaning of Birhor is man of the forest. There are two groups of Birhors: ‘Jaghis’ and ‘Uthulu’. Jaghis Birhors have adopted the permanent way of life. On the other hand, Uthulu Birhors are still wandering (Nomadic) stage. Certainly, on account of government initiative, Uthulu Birhors have been

settled in the residential colonies of Jehangutua, Katiya and Beti villages of Bishunpur block of Gumala district of Jharkhand state. Birhors are also living in residential colonies of Bigha, Dembu, Peta, Sultan, Adam and Aman of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand state. Birhors are also concentrated in Ranchi. Lohardaga, Plamu, Dharbad, East and west Singhbhum districts.

Study village: - Jehangutua village (Thana No. 57) is situated in Bishunpur block of Gumala district. Jehangutua is bounded on the east by Dipadin, on the west by Oreya and Arangloya, on the south by Helta and Longa and on the north by Chenri and Bishunpur. In the north Jehangutua village is separated by Phuljhari river from Chenri and Bishunpur, while in the west Jehangutua is separated by Jowa river.

The northern part of the village is comparatively low land area while southern part of the village is high land area and its slope is north ward, central part of the village is rugged land. Flat land is situated in some area of eastern part of the village. The soil is red and not very fertile. Settlement pattern is linear. Table-1 shows the land under different use in village Jehangutua.

Table-1 Land under different use in Jehangutua.

Category of Land In Hectares (1991) In Percentage Forest 152.38 23.17Culturable waste land 8.18 1.24Area not available for cultivation

46.48 7.06

Agricultural land 450.50 68.53 Total 657.54 100.00

[ Source: N.I.C. Bihar State Unit, 1991]

It is clear from the Table-1 that Jehangutua has 657.54 hectares of total geographical areas, out of which 68.53% or 450.50 hectares of land is under agricultural purposes which is spread over entire village except some part of the village. 152.38 hectares of land in south-western and eastern part of the village is covered by forest. Culturable waste land of 18.18 hectares forms northern part of the village. [fig .1]

[fig.1]

According to the 1991 census, Jehangutua has a total population of 787 in which 373 are males and 414 are females. There are 149 households in Jehangutua in which 18 households belong to Birhors with a total population of 76. It is clear from Table-2 that out of total 18 Birhor household, 17 households depend on agriculture and rope making and only one household is labourer.

Table-2 Main occupation of Birhor

Main Occupation No. of Household In PercentageAgriculture and Rope making

17 95.00

Labourer 01 5.00 Total 18 100.00

[ Source- Field work]

95%

5%

Main Occupation of Birhor

Agriculture and Rope makingLabourer

[fig.2]

Table-3 Literacy of Birhor

Sex No. of Literate In Percentage Male 18 64.28 Female 10 35.72 Total 28 100.00

[ Source- Field work]

Males Females0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Literacy of Birhor

Literacy of Birhor

[fig.3]

It is clear from the Table-3 that total of 28 Birhors are literate among whom 18 are males and females respectively. In fig.3 the literacy among the Birhors of Jehangutua is shown.

Table-4 shows the age and sex structure of Birhors. In fig.4 age and sex is demonstrated by means of simple pyramidal diagram.

Table-4 Age and Sex Structure of Birhor

Age-Group Male Female 0-9 9 10 10-19 8 8 20-29 7 7 30-39 6 6 40-49 3 5 50-59 2 2 60-69 2 1 70+ - -

[ Source- Field Work]

Age and Sex structure of Birhor

[fig.4]

The government of India has taken various steps for the upliftment of tribals. The special efforts have been made by Bihar government for the upliftment of Birhor, which was at vanishing stage. Government of Bihar has allotted 5 acres of land for agriculture and 10 decimals of land for plantation to each family of Birhors in Jehangutua, Beti and Katiya village of Bishunpur block of Gumala district. 90% of the land settled with Birhors falls under the category of ‘Tarn Land’. In 1957-59, welfare department of the government had constructed 15 residential houses in Jehangutua. Primary school building was also established. The government has also established a tribal residential school in Jehangutua. Rope making centre was also opened. Under ‘Indira Awas Yojana’ pucca houses were built in Jehangutua village. One community hall has been constructed. Tractors have been given to Birhors on the basis of cent percent grant by the welfare department. Tanks has also been dug for irrigational facilities. The government has also made available one pair of bullocks, goats and other animals to each family.

On account of government initiative, Uthulu Birhors have been settled in the residential colonies of Jehangtua, Katiya and Beti of Bishunpur block. The Birhors of Jehangutua as compared with Birhors of other places, have developed themselves to great extent and in course of time adopted Christianity. The main occupation of Birhor was hunting, rope making, collecting herbs and honey from forest. But at present, they have adopted modern way of rope making and bee-keeping. They also do agriculture. There has been change in the form of their festivals and beliefs due to contact with Hindus. They have begun celebrating Holi, Deepawali, etc. This trend indicates that they have been greatly influenced by Hindu religion. The change has also been noticed in the use of clothes and ornaments of Birhors. Birhors were using earthern utensils, but in due course, they have been using utensils made of aluminium, steel, etc. During course of visit of Jehangutua the author found television set in

the house of Chchtrapal Birhor. Birhors are using rice, wheat, maize, marua, mahua and gondali, etc. Usually marriage is performed out of Gotras. Marriage among same patriarchal and matriarchal relatives is prohibited. Sadar Bapla is the most acceptable kind of marriage of Birhor. Family of Birhor is patriarchal and nuclear family.

Chchtrapal Birhor and Family.

Birhor women in the rural market, Bishunpur.

Tribal residential school, Jehangutua.

CONCLUSION: - On the basis of above discussion it may be concluded that the Birhor’s life in colonized villages is gaining momentum in terms of family structure, in terms of belief and iconography and in terms of economic activities. Previously the Birhors were used to be called a vanishing tribe, but with their colonization in villages and Government aids, they no longer remain to be called so.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: - Department of Geography, Patna University.

REFERENCE: - 1. Roy, S.C., The Birhors: A Little Jungle Tribes, Man in India office, Ranchi

(1925).2. Oraon, P.C. (ed.): Bihar ke Birhor, Bihar Government Welfare

Department, Bihar Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Ranchi (1994).3. Kumar Sudhir: The Birhors of The Chotanagpur Region: A Study in Tribal

Geography, Ph. D. Thesis, Patna University.4. Census of India, 1981, series-4, Bihar.