Bhil

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Bhils are a tribal people of central India. They speak Bhil languages, a group of Indic languages.

Bhils are a scheduled tribe in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in western and central India, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh.

Bhils are also settled in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan.

The ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture.

In feudal and colonial times, many Bhil were employed by the ruling Rajput in various capacities, e.g. as shikari because of their knowledge of the terrain. Many had even become warriors in armies. They were in the Mewar army of Maharana Pratap Singh and like Shivaji , were experts in guerilla warfare which the Mughals had trouble with so much. Today, there is a 'Mewar Bhil Corps.'

In religion, popular Bhil figures are Shabari, who offered Shri Rama and Shri Laxmana half-eaten 'ber' when they were searching for Sita Devi in the forest. Maharishi Matanga was another Hindu sage that became a Brahmana.

It is noteworthy that Shri Rama appears in a Bhil myth where there has been a flood that wipied out humanity and Rama suggests how it can be repopulated.[1]

[edit] Sources and references

• website of Udaipur,Mewar's royal house - also on the 19th century Mewar Bhil Corps