Tribes & Culture — Set 12
MP GK · जनजातियां और संस्कृति · Questions 111–120 of 140
What percentage of Madhya Pradesh's total population belongs to Scheduled Tribes (ST), making it one of the states with the highest tribal population?
Correct Answer: C. 21%
According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute about 21.1% of Madhya Pradesh's total population, making MP one of the states with the highest absolute ST population in India. In absolute numbers, MP has one of the largest ST populations among all Indian states. The tribal population is concentrated in the eastern and southern districts with forest cover. Several districts like Jhabua, Alirajpur, Mandla, Dindori, and Bastar-adjacent areas have ST populations exceeding 60-80% of their total district population.
The tribal economy in Madhya Pradesh relies heavily on which traditional forest produce item that is collected and sold commercially?
Correct Answer: B. Tendu (Kendu) leaves used for making beedis
Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves are one of the most important non-timber forest products in Madhya Pradesh, primarily collected by tribal communities and sold for making beedis (Indian cigarettes). Tendu leaves collection is a major seasonal livelihood for millions of forest-dwelling tribal families in MP. The Madhya Pradesh State Minor Forest Produce (Trade and Development) Cooperative Federation (Madhya Pradesh Laghu Vanopaj Sangh) manages the collection and trade. Mahua flowers, bamboo, and various minor forest produces (MFP) are also important for tribal economies in MP.
The Bharia tribe of Madhya Pradesh, classified as PVTG, lives in the Patalkot valley in which district?
Correct Answer: B. Chhindwara
The Bharia tribe lives in the Patalkot (Pataal Kota) valley, a geographically isolated bowl-shaped depression in Tamia tehsil of Chhindwara district, MP. The valley is about 79 meters deep and is surrounded by steep cliffs, creating natural isolation from the outside world. The Bharia people have maintained traditional practices, herbs-based medicine, and a self-sufficient lifestyle in this remote valley. They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The Patalkot valley is also known for its rich biodiversity and medicinal plants.
The Gondi deity 'Persa Pen' (also called Bara Dev) is the supreme god of which tribal community in MP?
Correct Answer: C. Gond tribe
Persa Pen or Bara Dev is the supreme deity of the Gond tribe, representing the totemic clan deity and the ancestral spirit. The Gond people practice a form of nature worship that venerates forests, mountains, rivers, and animals as sacred. Each Gond clan (phratry) has a sacred emblem or totem related to an animal or natural element. The Gond religious system, known as Gondi Dharma or Koyapunem, is based on a complex cosmology and is distinct from mainstream Hinduism. Gond priests (Baiga-Devar) perform rituals at sacred forest groves called 'Thana'.
The Pithora painting tradition of the Bhil tribe in western MP is primarily created for which purpose?
Correct Answer: C. Ritualistic wall paintings during festivals and marriages for blessings
Pithora paintings are ritualistic wall paintings created by Bhil and Rathwa tribal communities as offerings to deities for thanksgiving or to seek blessings for marriage, childbirth, and good harvests. The paintings depict the Pithora deity on horseback, along with scenes from nature and community life. The paintings are created on the walls of homes by specialist painters called 'Lakhara' and involve a ceremonial process including prayers and offerings. Pithora painting has received national recognition and has been adapted into commercial art form though it retains its spiritual significance for the community.
Which tribal dance of MP involves performers wearing tall conical bamboo headgear decorated with peacock feathers?
Correct Answer: D. Saitam or Tertali dance
The Tertali dance performed by the Kamar tribe and the Saitam dance performed by Bhil tribes involve distinctive costumes. However, the dance most famous for the conical bamboo headgear (called Gonge) decorated with peacock feathers is performed by Gond and Baiga tribal communities during harvest festivals. These elaborate headgears can be several feet tall and represent the connection between tribal communities and nature. The elaborate costumes of central Indian tribal dances reflect the communities' deep relationship with forests and wildlife. Each dance style has specific dress codes, movements, and musical accompaniment.
The Gondi language, spoken by the Gond tribe, is related to which South Indian language?
Correct Answer: B. Telugu
Gondi language belongs to the South-Central Dravidian branch of the Dravidian language family and is most closely related to Telugu among the major South Indian languages. This linguistic relationship is evidence of the ancient southward migration or the broader spread of Dravidian languages across the Indian subcontinent before the Indo-Aryan expansion. Gondi has several dialects and lacks a standardized script, though efforts have been made to create a Gondi script based on various writing systems. The relationship with Telugu suggests deep historical connections between the Gondi-speaking and Telugu-speaking peoples in prehistoric India.
The 'Van Adhikar Kanoon' (Forest Rights Act 2006) gave tribal communities in MP the right to claim land titles up to how many hectares of forest land that they have been cultivating?
Correct Answer: B. 4 hectares
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, commonly called the Forest Rights Act (FRA), grants individual land rights to tribal and forest-dwelling communities for land they have been cultivating for at least three generations, up to a maximum of 4 hectares. The Act also grants community forest rights to villages for the use and management of community forest resources. Madhya Pradesh has been a significant state for implementation of FRA with millions of forest dwellers eligible for rights. The Act recognized the historical injustice done to tribal communities who had cultivated forest land without legal rights.
The Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) plays a central role in the tribal economy and culture of MP. What is its primary importance?
Correct Answer: B. Flowers used for food, alcohol, and seeds for oil, making it a multipurpose tree for tribal livelihoods
The Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) is called the 'Kalpavriksha' (wishing tree) of tribal communities in MP because virtually every part is used. The flowers are eaten fresh, dried, and fermented into traditional Mahua liquor which is an integral part of tribal culture and ritual. Mahua seeds yield 'Mahua butter', a valuable cooking oil and ingredient in soaps and cosmetics. The leaves serve as fodder and the bark has medicinal properties. Mahua flowers are also a significant source of nutrition and income for tribal families during lean seasons. The Mahua tree is considered sacred by tribal communities and is central to their festivals and rituals.
The Scheduled Tribe population of MP is distributed across how many Scheduled Tribe communities as officially recognized?
Correct Answer: C. 46 communities
Madhya Pradesh officially recognizes 46 Scheduled Tribe communities, among which the major ones include Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Sahariya, Halba, Kaul/Kawar, Kol, Bhumia, and various others. Out of these, 5 communities are designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG): Baiga, Bharia, Birhor, Saharia, and Kamar. The diversity of tribal communities reflects the varied geography and ecology of MP, with forest-dwelling tribes in the east, plateau tribes in the center, and western border tribes influenced by Rajasthani and Gujarati culture. Each community has distinct language dialects, cultural practices, and livelihood traditions.