Tribes & Culture — Set 11
MP GK · जनजातियां और संस्कृति · Questions 101–110 of 140
The Gond tribe is the largest tribal community in Madhya Pradesh and one of the largest in India. To which language family do the Gond languages belong?
Correct Answer: B. Dravidian
The Gondi language belongs to the Dravidian language family, making the Gonds an interesting example of a Dravidian-speaking people living deep in central India among predominantly Indo-Aryan speaking populations. The Gond people have historically inhabited central and eastern India, particularly in the Satpura-Maikal mountain belt of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The Gondi language has several dialects and is spoken by millions but has a limited written tradition. The Gonds are known for their rich oral literature, mythology centered on the deity Persa Pen, and their vibrant folk art tradition.
Bhil is one of the largest tribal communities in India. The Bhil tribes of Madhya Pradesh are predominantly found in which region?
Correct Answer: B. Western MP (Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar)
The Bhil tribe is predominantly found in western Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the districts of Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Dhar (which borders Rajasthan and Gujarat). The Bhils are one of the oldest tribal groups in India with references in the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Jhabua and Alirajpur districts have some of the highest tribal population concentrations in India. The Bhil people have a rich tradition of handicrafts, music, and the famous Pithora art form, a ritualistic wall painting tradition.
The Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh holds special status as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They are found mainly in which districts?
Correct Answer: C. Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat, and Shahdol
The Baiga tribe is found primarily in the forest districts of Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat, and Shahdol in eastern Madhya Pradesh. They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) due to their declining population, pre-agricultural practices, and extreme isolation. The Baiga people traditionally practice 'Bewar' (a form of shifting cultivation) and have a deep spiritual connection with forests. They are known for their unique tattoo tradition (especially women's body tattoos) and their role as forest healers using traditional plant medicine.
The Korku tribe of Madhya Pradesh belongs to which language family, distinct from the Gonds?
Correct Answer: C. Munda (Austroasiatic)
The Korku tribe speaks Korku language which belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family, making them linguistically distinct from the Gonds (Dravidian) and other Hindi-speaking communities. The Korku people are found in the Satpura hills of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, particularly in Betul, Hoshangabad, and Chhindwara districts. Korku society is organized into clans (gotras) and they have traditionally been cultivators and forest dwellers. Their religious practices involve worship of nature spirits and ancestor veneration.
The Sahariya tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in MP, is predominantly found in which region?
Correct Answer: B. Guna and Sheopur districts in northern MP
The Sahariya tribe is found mainly in the Guna, Sheopur, and Shivpuri districts in northern Madhya Pradesh near the Rajasthan border. They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and are one of the most marginalized communities in India. The Sahariya people traditionally live in forest settlements called 'Sahrana' and practice forest-based livelihoods. They have been significantly impacted by the creation of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that restricted their access to forest resources. Various government schemes specifically target the Sahariya community for upliftment.
The Halba tribe, found in eastern MP, is primarily associated with which occupational tradition?
Correct Answer: A. Weaving and agriculture
The Halba tribe of eastern Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat district) is known for their tradition of weaving and settled agriculture. The Halbas are classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC) in some states though they have tribal status in Chhattisgarh. They have historically been known for producing handwoven cotton cloth and cultivating rice in forest clearings. The Halba speak a language related to Chhattisgarhi (a form of Hindi) and have social customs that blend tribal and Hindu traditions. They are known for their community festivals and the practice of community labor (gotia).
Karma dance is one of the most popular tribal folk dances in Madhya Pradesh, performed during which festival?
Correct Answer: B. During the Karma festival honoring the Karma (Kadamba) tree for prosperity and good crops
Karma dance is performed during the Karma festival, celebrated on the eleventh day of Bhadra month (August-September), when tribal communities honor the Karma (Kadamba) tree as a symbol of prosperity and fertility. The festival involves young unmarried women gathering branches of the Karma tree, planting them, and dancing around them through the night with young men. The dance is performed to the beat of the Mandar drum and involves energetic circular movements. Karma is celebrated by Gond, Baiga, Korku, and other central Indian tribes and is one of the most significant festivals in the tribal calendar.
Saila dance, a traditional tribal dance of Madhya Pradesh, is performed exclusively during which season?
Correct Answer: B. After the winter harvest during the month of Phagun (Holi season)
Saila is a traditional tribal folk dance performed during the Phagun month (February-March, the Holi season) after the completion of the winter harvest in Madhya Pradesh. It is performed primarily by the Gond, Korku, and Baiga tribes. The dance involves men carrying decorated bamboo staves (saila) and performing acrobatic formations. The energetic performance involves complex stick-hitting patterns as participants form circles and lines. Saila dance is particularly popular in the Satpura and Maikal hills region of eastern Madhya Pradesh.
Gond art (also known as Gondi art or Gond painting) uses which distinctive visual technique to create detailed patterns?
Correct Answer: B. Dots and dashes to fill spaces and create textures
Gond art is characterized by the use of dots, dashes, lines, and intricate patterns of small marks to fill all spaces in the composition, creating a distinctive textured quality. Traditionally painted on walls and floors for ritual and decorative purposes, Gond art has evolved into a commercially successful contemporary art form thanks to artists like Jangarh Singh Shyam of Patangarh village in Mandla district. The art depicts the natural world including trees, birds, fish, animals, and tribal deities in vivid natural colors originally made from natural materials like charcoal and plant pigments. Gond art is now recognized internationally and is used in books, textiles, and urban art installations.
Jangarh Singh Shyam, the renowned Gond artist who pioneered bringing Gond folk art to canvas, was from which village in Madhya Pradesh?
Correct Answer: B. Patangarh, Mandla district
Jangarh Singh Shyam (1960-2001) was from Patangarh village in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh and is credited with pioneering the transition of Gond art from traditional wall paintings to paper and canvas. He was discovered by architect Charles Correa and artist J. Swaminathan who brought him to the Bharat Bhavan arts center in Bhopal in the 1980s. His work was exhibited nationally and internationally, earning global recognition for Gond art. His legacy inspired an entire generation of Gond artists particularly from the Mandla and Dindori districts who continue to develop this tradition.