|
INTRODUCTION
|
1.
|
People
|
The Bhumij people are members of the Munda tribe.
According to an early ethnographic "Dark
brown-almost black in colour, short in stature
but sturdy in his limbs, with irregular features,
scanty beard, thick lips, broad nose, a low facial
angle with a head long or doliko-cephalic like
that of the average Dravidian’s, the Munda is
a typical representation of the great kol race"
(Roy:1970). These features are not marked any
more.
|
|
It is believed that the Mundas were perhaps the earliest inhabitants of
India. Regarding the original home of the Mundas, however, the tradition
and legends do not give any information. According to Roy(1970), the
Mundas, hounded down by successive bands of alien enemies, fled from place
to place till they settled down in the jungles of Jharkand and established
their villages. The Mundas left behind them inedible signposts of their
former abode in the names of places and in sepulchral and memorial stones
which exists even today. Dalton (1978), however believes that their
original home must be the Ranchi district of Bihar.
|
|
The Bhumij near Chotanagpur in Bihar consider themselves members of the
Munda tribe so do the Bhumij in Orissa. The Bhumij from Orissa and West
Bengal participate in the annual meetings of the Mundas. Some of the
Bhumij in Orissa have relatives in Bihar and visit them annually. However,
the Bhumij in Dhalbhum consider themselves as autochthones and not
connected with any other Munda groups.
|
|
|
|
