Munda
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Munda
An aboriginal tribe of the Chota Nagpur Division, Bengal, where they numbered 438,000 in 1901. They are mainly to be found in Ranchi District, and are closely akin to the Ho, Bhumij, and Santal tribes. The name Munda is of Sanskrit origin and denotes a ' village headman ' ; the people call them.selves Horo (meaning ' man '). Their physical type is Dravidian, but their language is allied to those spoken by the Ho, Santal, Bhumij, and other cognate tribes. These dialects form a distinct linguistic family, variously known as Munda or Kol, the origin of which is one of the most obscure philological problems of the day. It was suggested by Logan that they were evolved from the con- tact of the southern Dravidian languages with Mon-Anam forms of speech brought to India by Mongolian invaders from the north-east. The majority of the tribe (296,000) are returned as Animists, but there are 85,000 Hindus and 56,000 Christians; conversion to Christianity has recently made rapid progress among this race.
The village community retains its primitive form among the Mundas, and is provided with a complete staff of village officials. The munda is the headman ; he is responsible for the rent of the village, which he col- lects and pays to the 7>idnki or head of a group of villages, where there is one, or to the landlord. The mahto is an accountant, the pahn a priest, the bhanddri the landlord's agent, and the gorait a watchman. These officials are remunerated by grants of land held rent-free or at privileged rents, or by payments in grain or in cash, as are also the ah'ir or cowherd, and the lohdr or blacksmith.
The system prevails in its entirety in the tract of RanchT District which borders on Singhbhum and is known as the mdnki-paiti. Here many of the mdnkis and mundas are the descendants of the original chiefs, and still hold the villages which their ancestors founded. These villages are cultivated by the descendants of the original reclaimers, and each family is re- sponsible for the payment of a fixed quota of the village rent. For many years past the landlords have been endeavouring to break down the prescriptive rights of these people, which they are most tenacious in asserting, and the discontent thus engendered culminated in the unda rising of 1899. This outbreak was speedily suppressed ; but, in order to remove the grievances complained of, the Munda tract is being surveyed and settled, and an Act has been passed by the Local Government to protect the rights of these village communities.
In the early part of the last century the Mundas gave a great deal of trouble. There were outbreaks in 18x1 and in 1820; and in 1831 a serious insurrection took place, caused by the lease of some villages by the brother of the Maharaja of Chota Nagpur to Sikhs and other foreigners. This insurrection was suppressed with some difficulty in 1832 by Captain (afterwards Sir Thomas) Wilkinson.
Munda
(From People of India/ National Series Volume VIII. Readers who wish to share additional information/ photographs may please send them as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name.)
Synonyms: Hora Hon, Mura [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Manki [West Bengal] Khangar, Kompat, Mahili, Manki Munda, Munda or Khan gar or Marang Pattar [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Kolhani Munda, Nagpuria Munda, Tamadia Munda [Orissa] Bhumij Munda, Kharia Munda, Kol Munda, Mahali Munda, Manki Munda, Munda Majhi, Nagbansi Munda, Savar Munda [West Bengal] Subtribes: Bhuinhar Munda, Karanga Munda, Khangar M unda, Kharia Munda, Kol Munda, Konkpat Munda, Mahal Munda, Manjhi Munda, Manki Munda, Nagbansi Munda, O raon Munda, Sad Munda Savar Munda in Chotanagpur [H.H. Risley] Titles: Manki [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Bodra, Jojo, Lugun, Nag, Purti [Orissa] Bhuinhar, Dhangar, Kol, Konkipat, Manui, Mohato, Na gbansi inChotanagpur [H.H. Risley] Surnames: Munda, Singh [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Baghel, Nag [Madhya Pradesh and/or Chhattisgarh] Bodra, Chauva, Jojo, Lakda, Lugun, Nag, Purti, Sind uria [Orissa] Exogamous units/clans: Bagh (tiger), Kachim (tortoi se), Nag (cobra) [Madhya Pradesh and/or Chhattisgarh] Aind, Aird, Bage, Barha (pig), Barjo, Barla, Bodra, Guria, Hasda, Hori, Horo, Jaria, Jojo, Kerketa, Ke rketta, Lugun, Nag, Saga, Samad, Sinduri, Topno, Tuti [Orissa] Ashar, Bag (tiger), Bagela, Bar, Beng, Bhengra, Boj ra, Gagher, Hansa, Hembram, Karketa, Kiri, Machhli, Nag (snake), Sal, Tatia [West Bengal] Aind, Am, Amba, Ambras, Area (fish), Aru (yam), And, Ashar, Asur Lohara, Aura (fruit), Baba, Bage, Bag hela, Baghoar, Baghtkar, Bagti, Bahera, Bahomar, Balamdar, Balmus, Balum, Baman Banda, Bando, Barabhaia [H.H. Risley] Exogamous units/clans (kili/gotar): Aind, Bagear, B aghela, Bhengra, Hansda, Horo, Kachchap, Lang, Nag, Tud [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Gotra: Kashyap [Madhya Pradesh and/or Chhattisgarh]
- Septs: Aind (kind of eel), Amba (mango), Ambras (f
ruit), Area (Kind of fish), Aru (yam), Anil, Ashr ( June-month), Asur, Aura (fruit), Baba (rice), Bage (any thing fo rbidden), Bagear (tiger), Baghela (Quail), Baghtuar (a devotee), Bahera (fruit), Bahomar; Balamdar (Spearman), Balmus (kind of insect), Balum (Salt), Baman (many not t ouch by a member of Brahman caste), Banda (kind of leaf), Ban do (small Jackal), Bar (Ficus indica), Barabhaia (t welve brother's Sept), Barha (hog), Bari (flower), Barjo (ances for name), Barjoki (fig tree root), Barla (f ruit), Barukandal (Kussum tree), Barunda (big frog), Barupendil (Kuss um tree), Barwa (Small cocoon), Basaroar (kind of s mall hawk), Batuar (a bird), Beng (frog), Besra (small hawk), B haji Sag (Vegetable), Bhaonra (a large black bee/hor net), Bhengra (horse), Bhinjo (a yellow bird), Bhuina, Bhutkar, B ihan (Seed), Binha, Binjuar (a kind of eel), Bisrot, Bisru (a bird), Bjingraj (king crow), Bocha (a bird), Bodra (the an cestors did not wash their mouths after eating), Bo jra (a kind of grass), Budh/Budhwar (Wednesday), Buim (worm), Bukru (a kind of bird), Chadri (place of worship of a h eadman), Chadu (kind of bird), Chali (rice soup), Champia (a bird), Champia (a bird), Chata (umbrella), Chauria (rats), Chelekchela (a small bird), Chilhia (kite), Chirko (mushroom), Chitti (kind of snake), Chocha (a bird), Chota (kind of bird), Chutia (a small race of worship of a headman), Dhan (paddy), Dhechua (Kind of black bird), Dhel akata (kind of tree), Dirwar (wood fruit), Dobongwar, Dodrai (k ind of bird), Dud Sag (vegetable), Dumriar (figs), Dundu (Kind of eel), Dungdung (river fish), Ergat (Kind of mouse lives in palm bushes), Gandura (big bird), Garabi ng (a big river snake), Gari (a monkey), Garria (kind of bird), Gha ger (field bird), Ghi (clarified butter), Ghunri (k ind of fruit), Gidh (a vulture), Gondli (kind of grain), Goobolachan (m ay not eat beef), Goria (red earth), Gua (areca nut), Gundki (kind of wood), Gundri (a bird), Gurni (a kind of Vegetabl e), Guru (may not eat beef), Habin (a tree), Hadung (big black tree-ant), Hajeri (a kind of tree/bush), Haluman (m onkey), Han (nest of ants), Hanjait (a wild fruit), Hanre (a bird), Hansa (swan), Hanthi (elephant), Hardwar, Hargurra (bone), Hari (ancestors did not wash their mouth af ter eating), Harin (deer), Hasada, Hassar, Hassar Ara (kind of V egetable), Hausakar, Heding (a bird), Hembowar (anc estor), Hemram (a kind offish), Hemroni (ashes), Heride (bird), Herung (a kind of bird), Hoduar (a bird), Homa h, Hong (a kind of bird with a long tail), Horia (a wood bush), Horo (a red ant on tree), Hularbaha (flower used to flavour curry), Hundar (wolf), Huni (mouse), Hutar, Imli (t amarind), Indiir Katea (house rat), Ingaria (moon-l ight), Jagdar Jago (tamarind), Jamtuti (a kind of grain/vegetable), Jangatras (the bone of a cow), Jatrama, Jatria, Jhuri (dried bushes), Jia (a river-fish), Jirhul (a flower used for curry), Jitiapipar (kind of fruit), Jonk-Haper (leech), Kachhua (tortoise), Kakin (ant), Kamal (lotus), Kanda (a ki nd of sweeet potato), Kandir (a bird), Kandru (fish), Kandurua (a fruit), Karania (a kussum tree), Karma (a tree), Ka tea (a flower used for curry), Khandania, Khondua, Khoyea (wild dog), Khukri (mushroom), Kiri (rice weevil), Kissi, Koa (cacoon), Kodosag (water vegetable), Kongaddi (crow), Kotah Kaisi (small vulture), Kujri (fruit), Kukur (dog), Kukura, Kundula, Kurkuti (red ant), Kursi (fruit), Kusumbaha (flower), Lang (bird), Lapung (bird), Larapa (monkey eater), Larsunar, Lenda (earth worm), lilla (cow), Litiya ( bird), Logna Kotra (small deer), Logo (animal), Lohara, Lohrakhu khri (kind of mushroom), Longa (bird), Lugniar (rab bit), Lugum (tree), Lugun (tree), Lugunki, Lupu (paddy husks), Luti (small fly), Machli (fish), Madhuras (honey), Mahukal (bird), Maina (bird), Mar (rice-soup), Marmu, Matha sag (vegetable), Madiia (brass bracelet), Maugh (fish), Mind, Minjur (peacock), Mowl, Muduk, Mundoraj (tree), Mun dri (quail), Mungasag (vegetable), Munri (fried rice), Muri (wild fowl), Murum (stag), Musa/Musu (mouse), Mutri, Nadi Samp (river snake), Nag (cobra), Nagduar (wa ter insect), Nagrua (mud), Nimak (salt), Nois, Oaria (v erandah), Orea (basket maker), Pakhora, Pamia (tree); Pandar (tree), Panduchone, Panduki (dove), Pankhi (bird), Panr (tribe), Pardhiel Kokaw, Parsi (tree), Parsu ( bush), Peo (bird), Peroan (pigeon), Phuli (rainbow), Phurti, P ikord (bird), Porti (crocodile), Pussi (cat), Putam (dove), Raja (bird), Ramgharia, Rani Poka (red worm), Raut, Rukhi (squirrel), Runda (leopard), Ruta (tree), Sadom (horse), Sailum (porcupine), Saisarunduar, Sal (fish), Salkar (potato), Salu (root), Samal/Samar (deer), Samdoar, Sandi (plough), Sandi Sarin (fowl), Sandiguria (black mon key), Sandil (full moon), Sandipurti (cock), Sang C hiria (bird), Sanga (sweet potato), Sangoar (sweet potato), Sankura (king crow), Sanpuri, Sarai (tree), Sarnar (curry vegetable), Semar, Siar Tuyio (jackal), Sikcharo (b ird), Sikra (hawk), Sindur (vermilion), Singh (horn), Sisugi (fish), Soa (vegetable), Soai (bird), Sobarnarekha (river), Soeka (bush), Sohek (fish), Soi (spring), Sokoe (f ruit), Solai (fish), Son Maghia, Sonarwa (bird), Sone (may not wear gold), Sonkharihan (place of worship), Soso Bheloa (fru it), Suga (parrot), Sukru (potato), Sulankhi (kind of bird), Surhi (wood cow), Suri (fly), Suril, Surin, Susan, Taitum, Tamgarihar, Tamghuria, Tammba (copper), Tarwar, Tatia (bird), T elia (tree), Tewan Raja (bird), Thithio (bird), Tir ango (wood bird), Tirki (bird), Tirkiar (tree-mice), Tiro (bird), Tiruhar (bird), Toeba (bird), Toeba (flower), T ongsi (bird), Tono (tree ant), Topna (tree), Topoar (bird), Tow (bird), Tulsiar (flower), Tumbli (flying ant), Tunduar (t ree), Turania, Tursia, Turu (squirrel), Turuar (fruit), Tuti (vege table), Uchring (an insect), Udbarn (tree), Urdwar, Uring (wild bird) in Chotanagpur [H.H. Risley] Exogamous units/lineages (bans): [Madhya Pradesh an d/or Chhattisgarh]
