Dorlas:
The Dorla inhabit the two southern most tahsils of Konta
and Bijapur in Bastar district. The Konta Dorla also overflow
into the adjoining parts of the Andhra and Orissa states.
According to Grigson the term Dorla is a corrupt for Dor
Koitor on account of their low-lying habitat. The Dorlas
when referring to their Maria neighbours, always used
the term ‘Go e
Koitor’ or simply ‘Goe’.
‘Gua’
is a Telugu word for hills. |
| The Dorla possess some characteristic
features from the cultural point of view in common with
the Bison-horn Maria. The use of Bison-horn head-dress
during a dance is also common among the Dorlas of Konta
tahsil, and the Koyas of adjoining parts of Andhra and
Orissa. They also have long drums which is used by Bison-horn
Maria. Both the groups have the system of dividing themselves
into the same number of phratries and many of the clan
names of the Bison-horn Maria under their respective phratries
correspond to those of Dorla; and also the names of the
clan gods(pe#ns) of both the groups, that is the Dorla
and the Bison-horn Maria, might have belonged originally
to one socio-ethnic group. This view is suggested by Grigson
also (Hijra, 1970; 79). |
| Koya:
The term Koya seems to be derived from the word ‘koi’
or ‘Koitor’ by which all the Gonds designate
themselves. The official designation for the Koitor in
Andhra and Orissa is Koya which may inculde a number of
groups having distinct cultures. This term is mainly used
in Bastar to denote the Teluguised Koitor living in the
southern fringes of that district so much so that the
Dorlas are often described as such. The Koyas inhabit
the hills in the North of Godavari district in Andhra
Pradesh and are also found in the Malkangiri taluk in
Kora-put district of Orissa . The Dorlas of Konta tahsil
assert that there is no difference between them and the
Koyas of Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. |
| Further Divisions: |
| The scheduled tribes
(Constitution) order lists as many as fiftythree sub-tribes
of Gonds. Among the Gonds there are several occuptional
castes such as Agarias or iron smelters, the Ojhas or
soothsayers, Solahas or carpenters, Koilabhutias or dancers
or prostitutes, Pardhans or priests and minstrels (Dube
and Bahadur, 1967:85). Haimendorf (1979: 55) says that
the Pardhans are the guardians of tribal traditions. It
is mainly through them the Gond mythology and Gond religion
are kept alive and intact. Without Pardhans Gonds have
no institutional means of keeping fresh in their minds
the tribal lore, and children grow up without ever hearing
the full text of the sacred myths. For a Gond Pradhan
is the helper, adviser and chronicler attached to his
tribe by divine commond. |
| In the
opinion of Russell (1916:62) these sub-tribes principally
sprang from the Gonds, though no doubt with an admixture
of other low tribes or castes. The Parjas of Bastar (p.6),
now classified as a separate tribe, appear to represent
the oldest Gond settlers who were subdued by later immigrants
of that tribe, while Bhatras and Jhadi Telengas are of
mixed descent from Gonds and Hindus. Similarly, Gowari
caste of cattle graziers. The Mannewars and Kolams are
other tribes allied to the Gonds. Many Hindu castes like
Ahirs, Basors, Barhais and Lohars and also non-Aryan tribes
like Baigas, Bhunjias and Khairwars living in contact
with the Gonds have a large Gond element. |
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