Hatti tribe

Source: NDTV

Context: A woman in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district married two brothers from the Hatti tribe, reviving public and legal debate over the tribe’s age-old polyandry custom known as Jodidara or Jajda.

About Hatti tribe:

• Who Are the Hattis?

• The Hattis are a Scheduled Tribe (ST) recognized in Himachal Pradesh and found in Trans-Giri region and Jaunsar Bawar in Uttarakhand. They derive their name from their historical role as vendors in haats (rural markets) where they sold local produce, wool, and meat.

• The Hattis are a Scheduled Tribe (ST) recognized in Himachal Pradesh and found in Trans-Giri region and Jaunsar Bawar in Uttarakhand.

• They derive their name from their historical role as vendors in haats (rural markets) where they sold local produce, wool, and meat.

• What is Polyandry? Polyandry is a form of marriage where one woman marries multiple men. It is of two main types:

• Polyandry is a form of marriage where one woman marries multiple men. It is of two main types:

• Fraternal (Adelphic): All husbands are brothers. Non-Fraternal: Husbands are unrelated, and share the woman by rotation.

• Fraternal (Adelphic): All husbands are brothers.

• Non-Fraternal: Husbands are unrelated, and share the woman by rotation.

• Habitat and Geography:

• Inhabit hilly regions between the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna River. Spread across Sirmaur district (HP) and Dehradun district (Uttarakhand). Historically linked to the Sirmaur princely estate and British colonial expansion post-1814.

• Inhabit hilly regions between the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna River.

• Spread across Sirmaur district (HP) and Dehradun district (Uttarakhand).

• Historically linked to the Sirmaur princely estate and British colonial expansion post-1814.

• Cultural and Social Features:

• Traditional Attire: Hatti men wear white headgear on ceremonial occasions. Community Governance: Governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which arbitrates customs and disputes. Marriage Customs: Known for polyandrous practices, community celebrations, and strong kinship systems. Inter-clan marriages are frequent between Hattis in HP and Uttarakhand.

• Traditional Attire: Hatti men wear white headgear on ceremonial occasions.

• Community Governance: Governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which arbitrates customs and disputes.

• Marriage Customs: Known for polyandrous practices, community celebrations, and strong kinship systems.

• Inter-clan marriages are frequent between Hattis in HP and Uttarakhand.

• Polyandry in Hatti Tribe: Customary Practice:

• Customary Practice:

• Locally called Jodidara or Jajda, where two or more brothers marry a single woman. Ritual includes “Seenj” ceremony at the groom’s house.

• Locally called Jodidara or Jajda, where two or more brothers marry a single woman.

• Ritual includes “Seenj” ceremony at the groom’s house.

• Reasons for Polyandry:

• Preservation of Land: Prevents division of agricultural holdings. Family Security: Ensures manpower for farming and safety in isolated regions. Economic Efficiency: Supports collective care of livestock and scattered fields. Promotes Brotherhood: Strengthens joint family bonds, even among half-siblings.

• Preservation of Land: Prevents division of agricultural holdings.

• Family Security: Ensures manpower for farming and safety in isolated regions.

• Economic Efficiency: Supports collective care of livestock and scattered fields.

• Promotes Brotherhood: Strengthens joint family bonds, even among half-siblings.

• Polyandry and Indian Law:

• General Legal Framework:

• Polyandry is not legally valid under: Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 Special Marriage Act Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Bigamy is punishable.

• Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

• Special Marriage Act

• Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Bigamy is punishable.

• Exception for Scheduled Tribes:

• Hindu Marriage Act excludes Scheduled Tribes unless notified by the Central Government. Customary practices, if ancient, reasonable, and not against public policy, may be legally valid. Section 13 of Indian Evidence Act allows proof of customs in civil matters.

• Hindu Marriage Act excludes Scheduled Tribes unless notified by the Central Government.

• Customary practices, if ancient, reasonable, and not against public policy, may be legally valid.

• Section 13 of Indian Evidence Act allows proof of customs in civil matters.