Tribes & Culture — Set 13

Correct Answer: B. Hollowed wood with animal skin stretched on both ends

The Dhol (and the related Mandar drum) played in Gond and Baiga tribal festivals is made from a hollowed wooden log with animal skin stretched and tied on both ends. The drum is played with both hands or with a stick, producing different tones from each end. The Dhol is the central rhythmic instrument in most central Indian tribal dances including Karma, Saila, and other ceremonial performances. Traditional drum-making is a specialized craft in tribal communities, often hereditary and tied to particular clans. The rhythm of the Dhol signals communal gatherings and plays a spiritual role in tribal rituals.

Correct Answer: B. Tantya Mama (Tantya Bhil)

Tantya Mama (also called Tantya Bhil, original name Tantya Mama Bhil) was a famous tribal freedom fighter and social bandit from western Madhya Pradesh who fought against British revenue policies and exploitation of tribal communities in the 19th century. He distributed food and money to poor tribal people, earning him the title of 'Robin Hood of India' and 'Bhagwan' (God) among the Bhil community. He was captured by the British and hanged in 1889. He is revered as a folk hero in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and his life has inspired numerous folk songs and stories.

Correct Answer: B. Public choosing of life partners by young men and women

Bhagoria is a pre-Holi festival celebrated by the Bhil and Bhilala communities in Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Dhar districts of western Madhya Pradesh. The festival is famous for the tradition where young men and women can publicly choose their life partners. If a young man smears a girl's face with the festival colors (gulal) and she accepts by returning the gesture, it signifies her acceptance of his proposal. Eloping couples are traditionally accepted if the boy can escape with the girl from the fair grounds. The festival involves elaborate tribal markets (haats), music, and traditional dances and is recognized as an important cultural event in MP.

Correct Answer: A. Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadamba)

The Karma tree revered during the Karma festival is botanically identified as Neolamarckia cadamba, commonly known as Kadamba or Kadam tree. The tree is associated with the Karma deity who is believed to bring prosperity and fertility. During the Karma festival, branches of the Kadamba tree are brought to the village center and planted, and tribal youth dance around it through the night. The Kadamba tree also has significance in Hindu mythology, particularly associated with Lord Krishna. Its spherical orange-yellow flowers have a sweet fragrance and the tree grows in moist deciduous forests of central India.

Correct Answer: B. Shifting cultivation (slash and burn)

Bewar or Dahiya cultivation practiced by the Baiga tribe is a form of shifting cultivation, also called slash-and-burn or swidden agriculture, where a section of forest is cleared by cutting and burning, then cultivated for a few years before moving to a new area to allow the original land to regenerate. The Baiga people believe they are the original cultivators of the earth and consider Bewar their sacred right. The practice was severely restricted by the British and subsequently by Indian forest laws. Today Bewar is largely banned due to its impact on forests, creating significant cultural and livelihood conflicts for the Baiga community.

Correct Answer: B. Stories based on the Mahabharata, particularly the Pandavas

Pandavani is a traditional oral performance tradition of central Indian tribal communities including the Gondi people, in which narratives from the Mahabharata (particularly the stories of the Pandava brothers) are recited with song and dance. The tradition blends tribal and Hindu cultural elements. Famous Pandavani singer Teejan Bai from Chhattisgarh has brought international recognition to this tradition. In Madhya Pradesh, tribal storytellers incorporate local Gondi cultural elements into their Pandavani performances. The tradition reflects the syncretic nature of tribal cultures that absorbed and transformed mainstream Hindu narratives into their own cultural context.

Correct Answer: C. Bhil

The Bhagoria dance and festival is associated with the Bhil tribal community in western Madhya Pradesh. During the Bhagoria festival (held before Holi), young Bhil women dress in their finest traditional clothing and jewelry and dance at the festival grounds while young men look for potential life partners. The tradition allows young people to interact freely and choose partners, which is unusual in a society where marriages are typically arranged. The festival takes place over several days across different haats (markets) in Jhabua and Alirajpur districts. Bhagoria is now recognized as an important cultural event that draws visitors from across India.

Correct Answer: C. Pre-agricultural or declining economy, declining or stagnant population, and extreme geographic isolation

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs, formerly called Primitive Tribal Groups) are distinguished from other Scheduled Tribes by their extremely vulnerable conditions including pre-agricultural or declining economy, declining or stagnant population, extremely low level of literacy, and relative or complete isolation from mainstream society in geographically remote areas. In Madhya Pradesh, the five PVTGs are Baiga, Bharia, Birhor, Saharia, and Kamar. The government provides special targeted programs for PVTGs including Van Dhan Kendras, housing assistance, and healthcare camps. The PVTG designation was introduced by the Government of India to give additional attention and resources to the most marginalized tribal communities.

Correct Answer: A. Koyapunem (Gondi Dharma)

The Gond people follow a cosmological belief system called Koyapunem (also known as Gondi Dharma or Gond Phalakism), which is based on nature worship, ancestral reverence, and a complex cosmological system involving the deity Persa Pen. The name 'Koyapunem' refers to the dharma or code of life of the Koya (Gond) people. The system involves worship at sacred forest groves (thanas), ritualistic festivals aligned with agricultural cycles, and the veneration of clan totems. There is a growing movement among educated Gonds to codify and formalize Koyapunem as an officially recognized religion distinct from Hinduism.

Correct Answer: B. Van Dhan Vikas Kendra scheme under TRIFED

The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) scheme under the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) establishes value addition and marketing centers for tribal communities to process and sell their forest products at better prices. MP has been one of the active states in establishing Van Dhan Kendras in tribal districts. These centers help tribal communities process Mahua, tendu, amla, bamboo, honey, and other minor forest products into higher-value goods. The scheme is meant to supplement tribal incomes and reduce dependence on exploitative middlemen in the forest produce trade.