Major tribes and PVTGs

Santhals, Bhils, Gonds and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

Anthropology5 questions
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The essentials

The Santhals, Bhils and Gonds are among the largest and most widely known tribal communities of India. Separately, the Government of India identifies some of the most vulnerable tribal communities as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), earlier called Primitive Tribal Groups.

Key points

  • Santhal: mainly in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar; speak Santali (Austro-Asiatic), written in the Ol Chiki script devised by Raghunath Murmu; settled agriculturists; patrilineal exogamous clans; village headman called manjhi; festivals include Sohrai and Baha. Led the Santhal Hul (rebellion) of 1855–56 under Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
  • Bhil: mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; one of the largest tribes; known for archery traditions, agriculture and the Bhagoria festival; Bhili language is Indo-Aryan; Bhil art (painting with dots) is well known.
  • Gond: mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Odisha; Gondi language is Dravidian; historically had Gond kingdoms (e.g. Garha-Mandla, Chanda); subgroups include Muria and Maria (Bison-horn Maria); the ghotul dormitory; Gond painting is a recognised art form.
  • PVTGs: identified by criteria such as pre-agricultural level of technology, low literacy, economic backwardness, and a declining or stagnant population. Several dozen communities across states and union territories are listed as PVTGs. Examples: Jarawa, Onge, Great Andamanese, Sentinelese and Shompen (Andaman and Nicobar), Toda and Kurumba (Tamil Nadu), Birhor (Jharkhand), Bonda (Odisha), Baiga (Madhya Pradesh), Chenchu (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).
  • PVTGs receive focused programmes for housing, health, education and livelihood.

Exam tips

  • Remember language family for each: Santali (Austro-Asiatic), Gondi (Dravidian), Bhili (Indo-Aryan).
  • Learn the PVTG criteria and a few examples from different states.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking all Andaman and Nicobar tribes are Negrito; the Shompen and Nicobarese of the Nicobar Islands are not usually grouped that way.

Practice questions

The Ol Chiki script is used to write which language?Easy
The Hul rebellion of 1855–56 was led by which community?Easy
Which of these is a criterion used to identify a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group?Medium
A tribe of central India speaks a Dravidian language, has the Muria and Maria among its subgroups and once ruled kingdo…Medium
Which group of communities consists entirely of PVTGs?Hard
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