Tribal Culture of Jharkhand

Overview

Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar in November 2000, is home to 32 tribal communities that constitute approximately 26% of the state's population. Understanding tribal culture is essential for JTET Paper II Social Studies, as questions frequently test knowledge of major tribes, their festivals, folk dances, music, and social practices. This topic connects directly to the syllabus emphasis on regional identity and inclusive education.

The four dominant tribes—Santhal, Munda, Oraon (also spelled Oraho/Uraon), and Ho—each possess distinct languages, customs, and artistic traditions. However, they share common threads: reverence for nature, community-based governance, and vibrant performing arts. For the exam, focus on distinguishing features of each tribe, the significance of Chhau dance, major festivals like Sarhul and Karma, and the role of music in tribal life.

Key Concepts

• **Santhal**: Largest tribe of Jharkhand, concentrated in Santhal Pargana region. They speak Santhali (written in Ol Chiki script). Known for the historic Santhal Hul (1855) rebellion against British and zamindars.

• **Munda**: Second-largest tribe, inhabiting Ranchi, Khunti, and Simdega districts. They speak Mundari (Austroasiatic family). Birsa Munda, their legendary leader, led the Ulgulan movement (1899–1900).

• **Oraon (Kurukh)**: Dravidian-origin tribe speaking Kurukh language. Concentrated in Ranchi, Gumla, and Lohardaga. Known for the Karma dance and strong agricultural traditions.

• **Ho**: Found mainly in Kolhan region (West Singhbhum). Speak Ho language. Known for Mage Parab festival and distinct clan-based social structure.

• **Chhau Dance**: Semi-classical masked dance form with three styles—Seraikela (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Odisha). Seraikela Chhau is UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage (2010).

• **Sarhul**: Most important spring festival celebrated by Munda, Oraon, and Ho tribes. Marks the marriage of the earth and sky; sal flowers are worshipped.

• **Karma Festival**: Harvest festival of Oraon and Munda tribes celebrated in Bhadra month (August–September). The Karma tree (Karam) is worshipped for prosperity.

• **Tribal Governance**: Traditional self-governing institutions like Parha (Oraon), Manki-Munda system (Munda and Ho), and Majhi-Pargana system (Santhal) regulate village affairs.

Key Facts

| Tribe | Language | Script | Region | Key Festival | |-------|----------|--------|--------|--------------| | Santhal | Santhali | Ol Chiki | Santhal Pargana, Dumka | Baha (flower festival) | | Munda | Mundari | Devanagari | Ranchi, Khunti | Sarhul, Mage | | Oraon | Kurukh | Devanagari | Ranchi, Gumla | Karma, Sarhul | | Ho | Ho | Warang Chhiti | West Singhbhum | Mage Parab |

**Important Dates and Names**:

• Santhal Hul: 1855, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu
• Ulgulan: 1899–1900, led by Birsa Munda (Dharti Aaba)
• Jharkhand Statehood: 15 November 2000
• Chhau Dance UNESCO recognition: 2010
• Ol Chiki script creator: Pandit Raghunath Murmu (1925)

**Musical Instruments**:

• Mandar: Barrel-shaped drum, central to all tribal dances
• Nagara: Kettledrum played during festivals
• Bansuri (flute) and Dhol: Accompaniments in Karma and Jhumar dances
• Kendera: Single-stringed instrument of Santhals

Worked Examples

**Example 1**: *Which tribe of Jharkhand uses the Ol Chiki script for their language?*

**Solution**: The Santhal tribe uses Ol Chiki script for writing Santhali language. The script was invented by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925. Other tribes like Munda and Oraon use Devanagari script for their languages (Mundari and Kurukh respectively).

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**Example 2**: *Match the following festivals with the tribes that primarily celebrate them:* | Festival | Tribe | |----------|-------| | (a) Karma | (i) Ho | | (b) Mage Parab | (ii) Santhal | | (c) Baha | (iii) Oraon |

**Solution**:

• Karma → Oraon (iii): Harvest festival where the Karam tree is worshipped
• Mage Parab → Ho (i): Celebrated in January; hunting festival
• Baha → Santhal (ii): Flower festival celebrating the blooming of sal trees

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**Example 3**: *Seraikela Chhau dance was recognised by UNESCO in which year and under what category?*

**Solution**: Seraikela Chhau was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. It is a masked dance form depicting themes from Hindu epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata) and is performed during the Chaitra Parva festival (March–April).

Common Mistakes

• **Confusing Sarhul with Karma**: Students often mix these festivals. Sarhul is a spring festival (March–April) celebrating sal flowers and earth-sky union, while Karma is a harvest festival (August–September) centred on the Karam tree. Remember: **S**arhul = **S**pring; **K**arma = **K**harif harvest.

• **Attributing Chhau only to Jharkhand**: Chhau has three regional styles—Seraikela (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Odisha). Only Seraikela and Purulia use masks; Mayurbhanj Chhau is unmasked.

• **Wrong language-script pairing**: Students assume all tribal languages use Devanagari. Santhali uses Ol Chiki; Ho uses Warang Chhiti (though Devanagari is also used). For JTET, remember Santhal–Ol Chiki as the distinctive pair.

• **Mixing up Birsa Munda and Sidhu-Kanhu**: Birsa Munda (Munda tribe) led Ulgulan (1899–1900). Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu (Santhal tribe) led Santhal Hul (1855). Different tribes, different rebellions, different decades.

• **Ignoring the Oraon as Dravidian-origin**: Unlike Santhal, Munda, and Ho (Austroasiatic/Munda family), the Oraon speak Kurukh, a Dravidian language—a frequent exam trap.

Quick Reference

• **Largest tribe of Jharkhand**: Santhal (concentrated in Santhal Pargana)
• **Birsa Munda title**: Dharti Aaba (Father of the Earth)
• **Sarhul significance**: Marriage of earth and sky; sal flower worship
• **Chhau UNESCO year**: 2010 (Intangible Cultural Heritage)
• **Ol Chiki script**: Created by Raghunath Murmu (1925) for Santhali
• **Mandar drum**: Common to all major tribal dances in Jharkhand