An Introduction to the Gond Tribe
The Gond tribe of India is considered one of the largest tribal communities. The major source of livelihood of the people of the Gond tribe is agriculture or daily wages. This tribe lived in a widely spread forest region called Gondwana. The Gonds practiced shifting cultivation. The Gond tribe, which has a larger population, was divided into many other smaller groups of people who were related to each other (clans). They constructed their houses near a hill or river which were later fortified with dense forests.
Gonds are popular for their bravery in the battle against British rulers. The Gonds also attained control of Malwa after the downfall of the Mughals, followed by the Marathas in 1690. India is a land of such tribes and each tribe has some cultural and social specialty. We will have a closer look- the Gonds unique ideology and thought process of the Gonds tribe that makes this tribe stand apart from any other tribe in India.
Gonds Location
The main location where the Gonds tribe is found is the Gond forests of central India. Some of the other places of inhabitation by these warrior and royal Indian tribes are the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa. They are also found in south-central India.
Religious Beliefs of the Gond Tribe
In India, almost every tribe believes in the existence of supreme power. Similarly, even the Gonds believe in “Bhagawan” or a greater God. There are different Gods and Goddesses according to their belief system that represents natural features. The existence of spirits is one unique feature of tribal beliefs. The people of this tribe believe that every river, lake, hill, and tree, etc has a spirit.
They worship Janani (the mother of the creator). The Gonds tribe worships different Gods and goddesses such as Pharsa Pen (protector of all clan members), Mariai (the Goddess of plague and other diseases), and Bhimsen (the Hindu God). Hence the Gods can be considered as highly religious-minded people.
Though most of the Gonds follow nature worship, still there are a lot of people who has influence of Hinduism and follow this religion. Besides this, they also used to follow their own religion namley “Koyapunem”, the meaning of which is “the way of nature”. It was said to be fouded by “Pari Kupar”.
Gonds Society
The society of the Gond tribe was divided into equal societies. Later these divided Gonds society got divided into unequal classes of the society that later eventually emerged as large states. The Gond Rajas grant lands to the Brahmanas and village priests and they become more influential people of the society. The priest of the village is given a lot of respect by the tribal people. The appointment of the village priest is done by the village council on the basis of heredity. The main duty of the priest is to do all the ceremonies and sacrifices in the village.
Caste & Houses
The society of the Gonds is divided into four groups known as sagas in Gondi. Clans (pari) have emerged from the division of the saga. The village council of the Gond tribe divides the tribe into castes such as Pardhan (board and singers), Ahir (cowherds), Agaria (blacksmith), and Dhuli (drummers), etc.
The village houses are made from mud and hutch. The houses contain a kitchen, outer space, shrine, and areas for women, etc. They also have guest rooms and welcome guests by presenting them tobacco leaves and fruits. The marriages in the tribe are chosen by themselves and later approved by the village council.
Language
The major language spoken by the tribal people is Gondi which is an unwritten language of the Dravidian family. Moreover, the people of the Gond tribe also have a good command of different Indian languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Parsi, Marathi, and many other Dravidian languages
Clothing
Their dress culture is also simple and traditional. The male population of the Gonds wears a long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist passing through the legs which are referred to as Dhoti in India. Women wear saris mainly woven from cotton with the blouse.
Food
The main occupation of the people of the tribe is agriculture. They grow crops and raise livestock. The staple food of Gonds tribes is two millets known as Kodo or Kutki. They used to include rice in their meal during festivals and most of the population is meat consumers.
Tribal Art
The famous folk art of these tribal people is painting. The tribal art of the Gonds consists of folk songs, folk dances, and paintings. The modern Gond paintings have come from their traditional painting Bhittichitra and Digna. The Digna is made on the walls and floors of the houses which can be called a traditional geometry. Bhittichitra includes images of animals, plants, and trees painted on the walls and floors of the houses. The women of the Gond tribe use natural colours to paint the walls and floors of their homes
Did you Know?
The famous story of The Jungle Book by author Rudyard Kiping featured the Gond tribe.
The society of the Gonds practices the culture of remarrying the widows so that the woman does not have to face the bad and hard circumstances of the society. Hence there are no widows in the Gond tribe.
Conclusion
India has a very rich culture and these tribal lives are part of Indian culture. Hence through the above article, we now get information about Gonds in detail and also about the cultural and social aspects of the society of the Gond tribes. This tribe is one of the oldest tribes of our country and had a brave history. We also get to know about the fascinating history of the Gond tribe.
FAQs on A Closer Look - The Gonds
1. Who were the Gonds and where did they live?
The Gonds were a tribal people who lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana, or "country inhabited by Gonds." This area spanned across parts of modern-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. They were one of the largest tribal groups in India, known for their distinct culture and the powerful kingdoms they established.
2. How was the Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga administered?
The administration of large Gond kingdoms like Garha Katanga was highly organised and centralised. Their system was based on specific units:
- The kingdom was divided into garhs.
- Each garh was controlled by a particular Gond clan.
- A garh was further divided into units of 84 villages, known as a chaurasi.
- The chaurasi was then subdivided into barhots, which were made up of 12 villages each.
3. What was the structure of Gond society?
Gond society was fundamentally divided into large clans, or khels. Each clan had its own Raja or Rai. Over time, as some Gond chiefs grew more powerful, they began to grant land to Brahmanas, who in turn became more influential. The Gond chiefs aspired to be recognised as Rajputs, as exemplified by Aman Das of Garha Katanga, who assumed the title of Sangram Shah. Despite these changes, a large part of Gond society maintained its traditional clan-based structure.
4. What is the significance of Rani Durgawati in the history of the Gonds?
Rani Durgawati holds a significant place in Gond history as a brave and capable ruler of the Garha Katanga kingdom. She was the daughter of Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput raja of Mahoba, and was married to Dalpat, the son of the Gond raja Aman Das. After her husband's early death, she ruled on behalf of her five-year-old son, Bir Narain. She was a skilled administrator and military leader who fiercely resisted the Mughal invasion led by Asaf Khan in 1565. Though she was defeated, she is remembered for her courage and her fight to defend her kingdom's independence.
5. Why was the Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga considered wealthy?
The kingdom of Garha Katanga was considered prosperous primarily because it controlled a lucrative trade. It trapped and exported wild elephants to other kingdoms, which was a major source of wealth. When the Mughals defeated the Gonds, they captured a huge amount of treasure, including precious coins and many elephants, highlighting the immense wealth the kingdom had accumulated through its strategic trade and control of forest resources.
6. How did the rise of larger empires like the Mughals impact the Gonds?
The rise of powerful empires like the Mughals significantly impacted the Gonds by challenging their sovereignty and eventually leading to their decline. While some larger Gond kingdoms like Garha Katanga initially resisted, they were ultimately annexed by the Mughals. After being defeated, they lost their independence and much of their territory. However, some parts of Garha Katanga remained under Gond control for some time. Later, they faced further pressure from other rising powers like the Bundelas and Marathas, which led to the weakening of their political power.
7. What is Gond art and how does it reflect their culture?
Gond art is a famous form of tribal painting that originates from the Gondwana region. It is known for its vibrant colours and unique style, where images are filled with intricate patterns like dots, dashes, and lines. This art form traditionally decorated the walls of their houses and reflects their deep connection with nature and spirituality. Common themes include animals, birds, trees, and mythological stories, providing a visual narrative of their beliefs, daily life, and folklore.
8. What was shifting cultivation, and why was it important for the Gonds?
Shifting cultivation, known locally as bewar, was the primary agricultural method for many Gond tribes. This practice involved clearing a patch of forest by cutting and burning trees, cultivating crops in the ash-fertilised soil for a few years, and then moving to a new patch to allow the old one to regenerate. This method was important because it was well-suited to the forested, hilly terrain of Gondwana and allowed them to sustainably use the land without permanent plough-based agriculture, aligning with their traditional lifestyle and relationship with the forest.
