Bhil

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Bhil
Total population
Regions with significant populations
Flag of India India
              Gujarat 3,441,945[1]
              Madhya Pradesh 4,619,068[2]
              Maharashtra 1,818,792[3]
              Rajasthan 2,805,948[4]
Languages
Bhil languages

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,Andhra Pradesh, 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 Bhils 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.'[5]

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 wiped out humanity and Rama suggests how it can be repopulated.[6]

[edit] Images

thumb|Bhil tribal girls in Jhabua

thumb|A Bhil tribe in Jhabua forests

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gujarat: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  2. ^ Madhya Pradesh: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  3. ^ Maharashtra: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  4. ^ Rajasthan: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  5. ^ The Mewar Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  6. ^ Food stories from around the World. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
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Scheduled tribes of India

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