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Articles: Arts and Culture | Culture and Civilization-2
- Mr. Vachaspati V.
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States of Economic Development and their related cultural developments:
Many say that mankind as a whole passed through the economic stages in course of time. Of course, it is true if we observe the chronology of human history.
1. Hunting and Gathering Stage.
2. Pastoral Nomadic stage.
3. Agricultural Stage.
4. Industrial Stage.
But there are differences in the stages of evolution. Not all the human beings changed uniformly. We can see all the stages on this earth.
Let us examine the Indian context:
Hunting and Gathering Stage::
This was the early stage of economic development of man. In India, nearly all tribes who have reached this stage of civilisation, practised hunting and gathering in one way or other. But there are some tribal groups, who are, even today, dependent on hunting and gathering for their livelihood and survival.
For example, the Rajis of Uttar Pradesh, Birhor, Hill Kharia, Parahiyas, Bijuas, and Korwas in Bihar, Juang, Khonds, Hill Maria Gonds in Orissa, Chenchus in Andhra Pradesh, Kadars, Male Pandarams, Arandans, Kurumbas in Kerala, Puliyans in Madhurai district of Tamil Nadu, Onges, Andamanese, Sentinales, Shompen and Nicobarese in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Veddas in Sri Lanka, pigmy of Philippine and Malaya islands, and Bushmen of S. Africa are also examples of hunting and gathering economy.
I am happy to inform you, that I lived with Chenchus as part of the project on H & G tribes, for two months in December 1999. Fighting the Chill weather in winter in the Nallamalla forest is really challenging. I enjoyed it.
Pastoral Stage::
The classic locus of pastoral tribes in India is Nilgiris, in Tamil Nadu, where the Pastoral people, the Todas live, and the Gujars, Bakarwala, Gaddis, the Jodhs live in Champa in Himachal Pradesh in North Western Himalayas. Pastoralism proper involves full commitment and that is true especially with Todas. In Central India, the Kisans or Nagesias of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are also considered to some extent pastoral. The Barward of Maldhari and Rai Sipotra of Gujarat and the Rabaris of Gujarat and Rajasthan are the cattle herders of West India. The Gollars, Kurubas and Lambadas are herders in South India. The Sasis of Punjab and the Choupans of J & K in Himalayan region also come under the herder type. The Bhots of Almora district depends on cattle rearing.
I am happy to inform you that I studied the beautiful and colour ful tribe of Ranga Reddy District, the Lambadas. The article (My Field Report) relating to it is kept in TeluguPeople.com.
Agricultural Stage::
The agricultural stage of primitive people may be divided into two: Hill Cultivation, Plain Cultivation.
The practice of Hill Cultivation is widespread in our country (In the world, there are two percent of the population survive by doing this type of cultivation). In India, the tribal population inhabiting the hill forests of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura i.e., North-Eastern Himalayas have no alternative other than this type of cultivation. It is called Jhum cultivation. It is there in M.P., Orissa, A.P., Karnataka, T.N., and Kerala etc… wherever there are hilly slopes. It is called with various names in various places.
In N.E Himalayas -Jhum.
In Bihar -Kallu or Kurawa
In Chotanagpur -Bewar
In Orissa -Podu, Rema, Dahi, Kamau, Bringa, Gudia,
Dongar
In A.P. -Podu practiced in N.E Andhra Pradesh.
There are several other names, need not be mentioned, as it is not possible here.
Plain Cultivation:
Khasis and Jaintias of Assam and Meghalaya are doing it. Khasas and Tarus of Terai Region of Uttar Pradesh (Presently Uttaranchal), Kiunnauras, Pangawalas, Swangalas of H.P, Bhumji, Korawas, Buiyas, Santhals, Mundas, Oraons, Hos, Karwars, Gonds in Central India, Bhils, Minas, Garasias, Damarias, Koli Maldaves, Valris, Thakurs, Korkles, Dubla in Western India.
In Andhra Pradesh, we have tribal societies following plain cultivation, i.e., Koyas, Jatapus, Konda Dora, Manne Dora etc.
I am happy to inform you, I studied Jatapus in 1998 December, the topic is ‘Customs and Traditions among Jatapus of Thonam Panchayat: A Case Study of their Changing Living Style’, as part of my dissertation work in M.A (Anthropology). I, along with my Professors and classmates, stayed there at Thonam for two months. Even then also there is winter that is severe amidst of forest where the bear psychosis exists.
Industrial Stage –Tribal Societies::
Examples of this type of separate economic organisation is very few and recent development in primitive societies. This goes on side by side along with hunting and gathering, pastoralism, and agricultural activities. But there are some examples in which some tribes subsist on crafts and cottage industries like basket making, tool making (iron and wooded), spinning, weaving, metal work and iron-smithy, etc. Only few tribes come under this category with poor individual population strength. They live in tribal villages as part of it, and have no exclusive village of their own tribesmen. Those people usually get re-tied to major tribes by a chord or more or less Jajmani relation as is the system prevailing in Hindu villages. (I will write something about the Jajmani System, later on). They visit the periodical markets with their finished goods and dispose them of by barter or on cash in tradition of Jajmani exchange.
The craft and cottage industries are peculiar features of the tribal people as a whole and most of them know matting, basketry, rope making, spinning and weaving. This work is subsidiary occupation for them.
The Gujjars of J & K and Kinnauris of H.P. produce wood products.
The Kanjars of U.P. are engaged in Basketry and rope making.
The Loharas, Karmalis etc are artisan tribes of Bihar.
There are many tribes. Hence not possible to mention here.
From the above accounts, it seems probable that the economic life of tribals has passed through the developmental stages in different periods of time, as a result of which, the present complex form of economic organisation came into existence.
It is true that human beings evolved from these modes of livelihoods. But all the people and societies living at present are not representatives of the past societies. Because there could be several changes, due to several factors, such as conflicts, migration, natural calamities and these might have pushed them to the remote areas. The life we are at present enjoying is different from our ancestors.
In Ramayana, there mentioned a name of a tribe that is indigenous called as Savara. May be you all are well aware of this name. Sabari belongs to this tribe Savara.
In MahaBharata, there was a person belong to Bhils, the Biggest Tribe in India. Ekalavya belong to this tribe. The indigenous people were there in this land prior to Ramayana and Mahabharata. The warrior people, experts in archery, defeated these people and might have pushed them to the remote areas.
It is said; the first people who came to India are Negritos.
Presently presented by Great Andamanese, Irulas of Tamil Nadu, Yarukala, and Yanadi of Andhra Pradesh etc. We can observe the Negrito Strain among these populations. The Great Andamanese live in Great Andaman Island, the Smallest Tribal Society in India. While the remaining India is progressing, it is, at present an Endangered Tribe. How they became endangered will become an issue of another topic.
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