Kharia

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Kharia can refer to one of the tribal (adivasi) group of people, living in Jharkhand, and Orissa states, India or to the Austro-Asiatic language spoken by these peoples. In the late 20th century, the population of Kharia people were around 300,000. For more information : http://www.kharia.in First Kharia Online Magazine : http://www.kharia.in/satod.php Patricia Donegan & David Stampe’s Online Kharia Dictionary :http://www.ling.hawaii.edu/austroasiatic/AA/Munda/Dictionaries/Kharia.txt

The Kharia group has three sub-groups such as Dudh Kharia, Dhelki Kharia and the Hill Kharia. The first two speak Austro-Asiatic. But the Hill Kharia speak an Indo-Aryan called Kharia Thar. Kharia Thar (ISO/DIS 639-3: ksy) has been classified as Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bengali-Assamese. There has not been any language development efforts made in this dialect.

The Hill Kharia live in different states of India. In Orissa, the Hill Kharia are mainly found in Jashipur and Karanjia Blocks of Mayurbhanj district. A few villages are also found in Morada block. In Jharkhand, they are concentrated in East Singhbhum,Gumla,Simdega districts. Though widely found in this district, Musabani, Dumaria and Chakulia Blocks are the blocks where they live in large numbers. And in West Bengal, they are in West Midnapur, Bankura and Purulia districts. The majority are in Purulia.

The Hill Kharia are also called Pahari (meaning “Hill”) Kharia, Savara/Sabar, Kheria, Erenga, or Pahar. Outsiders call them Kharia but they call themselves as Sabar. They are called “Pahari (Hill) Kharia” because they live in the midst of forest and depend upon forest produces.

There are several gotras (clans) among the Hill Kharia such as Golgo, Bhunia, Sandi, Gidi, Dehuri, Pichria, Nago, Tolong, Suya, Dhar, Tesa, Kotal, Kharmoi, Digar, Laha, Saddar, Sikari, Rai, Khan, Dolai, Sal, Alkosi and Khiladi. Golgo seems to be dominant one because in every village that clan is spelt out first whenenever their clans were asked.