Bhil tribe
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TH
Context: A translated collection of Bhil folk tales in Hindi will soon be released as an e-booklet on the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s Adi Vaani website and app, showcasing oral traditions on caste, love, theatre, and social justice.
About Bhil Tribe:
Who They Are?
• The Bhils are among the oldest tribal communities in India, belonging to the Austroloid group and often identified with the Dravidian racial stock of Western India.
• Known as skilled archers, their name derives from the Dravidian word billu/villu (bow).
Habitat:
• Traditionally spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and parts of Bihar.
• Present population pockets also exist in Tripura, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
History:
• Ancient references: Associated with Shabari in Ramayana, linked to Eklavya in Mahabharata, and believed by some traditions to be descendants of Harappan settlers.
• Medieval period: Fought guerrilla wars against Rajputs, Mughals, and Marathas to defend ancestral lands.
• Colonial era: Declared a “criminal tribe” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, subjected to bonded labour, taxation, and displacement.
• Resistance movements: Bhagat Movement (1883) led by Govind Guru, culminating in the Mangarh massacre (1913); later the Eki Andolan (1920) led by Motilal Tejawat.
Features:
• Social:
• Organised around village deities (Gramdev, Kuldev, Kuldevi). Traditionally patriarchal but community-centric decision-making through elders. Strong kinship bonds, with joint family traditions.
• Organised around village deities (Gramdev, Kuldev, Kuldevi).
• Traditionally patriarchal but community-centric decision-making through elders.
• Strong kinship bonds, with joint family traditions.
• Cultural:
• Rich oral traditions of folk tales, theatre, and dance. Festivals marked by music (flutes, drums), drinking, and all-night dancing. Worship of local and natural deities: Baba dev, Bhilat dev, Bag dev, serpent gods, along with Shiva and Durga. Mythology connects them to Valmiki and to Shabari’s offering to Lord Rama.
• Rich oral traditions of folk tales, theatre, and dance.
• Festivals marked by music (flutes, drums), drinking, and all-night dancing.
• Worship of local and natural deities: Baba dev, Bhilat dev, Bag dev, serpent gods, along with Shiva and Durga.
• Mythology connects them to Valmiki and to Shabari’s offering to Lord Rama.
About Adi Vaani:
• What it is? A language translation application and website launched by the Government of India. It is designed to translate between various Adivasi (tribal) languages and Hindi/English.
• A language translation application and website launched by the Government of India. It is designed to translate between various Adivasi (tribal) languages and Hindi/English.
• Developed by: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The project utilized linguistic data collected by State Tribal Research Institutes to ensure authenticity.
• Key Features: Bi-directional Translation: Translates to and from Adivasi languages, Hindi, and English. Initial Language Support: Currently supports Gondi, Bhili, Mundari, and Santali. Support for Kui and Garo is planned for a soon. Multi-Platform Access: The app will be available for download on both Android and Apple app stores. Feedback Mechanism: Includes a feature for users to provide feedback to help improve translation accuracy over time. Cost-Effective: Developed as a “frugal innovation” at a fraction of the cost of commercial platforms.
• Bi-directional Translation: Translates to and from Adivasi languages, Hindi, and English.
• Initial Language Support: Currently supports Gondi, Bhili, Mundari, and Santali. Support for Kui and Garo is planned for a soon.
• Multi-Platform Access: The app will be available for download on both Android and Apple app stores.
• Feedback Mechanism: Includes a feature for users to provide feedback to help improve translation accuracy over time.
• Cost-Effective: Developed as a “frugal innovation” at a fraction of the cost of commercial platforms.