Why in News?
The Gond community was recently shifted from the Scheduled Caste (SC) list to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Chandauli, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Bhadohi.
About
- Population: One of India’s largest tribal communities, with over 11 million members (2011 Census).
- Geographic Spread: Primarily inhabit the Gondwana region (Central India), covering Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Language: They traditionally speak Gondi, a Dravidian language related to Telugu, though many now use regional languages like Hindi or Marathi.
- Social Structure: They are divided into four main sub-tribes: Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds.
Culture and Heritage
- Gond Art: Famous for intricate paintings made of dots and lines. These works often depict nature, mythology, and daily life. Traditionally, they decorated the walls of their homes with these motifs to bring "good luck."
- Festivals: Major celebrations include Keslapur Jathra, Madai, and Dussehra (where some lineages worship Ravana as an ancestor-king).
- Belief System: Most practice Koyapunem (The Way of Nature), worshipping a supreme deity called Baradeo along with village and clan deities (Persa Pen).
- Food: Their staple diet revolves around two types of millets: Kodo and Kutki.
Historical Significance
- Gond Kingdoms: Between the 13th and 19th centuries, they ruled powerful kingdoms like Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, and Chanda.
- Rani Durgavati: The most famous Gond warrior-queen, she is celebrated for her heroic resistance against the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1564.
- Freedom Struggle: The tribe has a long history of rebellion, notably the Bastar Rebellion (1910) and leaders like Komaram Bheem, who coined the famous slogan "Jal, Jangal, Jameen" (Water, Forest, Land).
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