Why in News?
The Tharu Tribe is recently in the news due to several major legal and developmental updates in April 2026. Most notably, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to withdraw over 4,000 pending forest cases against community members, and the Allahabad High Court has ordered a re-hearing of their community forest rights claims that were previously rejected.
Habitat and Origin
- Location: Reside in the Terai lowlands (foothills of the Shivaliks) across the Indo-Nepal border. In India, they are found in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
- Status: Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in India and an official nationality in Nepal.
- Etymology: The name is believed to be derived from Sthavir, meaning followers of Theravada Buddhism.
Culture and Language
- Language: Speak Tharuhati, a language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup. Dialects vary by region, incorporating elements of Hindi, Maithili, and Bhojpuri.
- Social Structure: Known for a matrilineal lean where women have significantly stronger property rights than in mainstream North Indian society.
- Joint Family: They traditionally live in long houses made of mud and grass, often housing multiple generations under one roof.
Lifestyle and Food
- Diet: Standard items include Bagiya (steamed rice flour dish) and Ghonghi (edible snails cooked in curry).
- Religion: A unique blend of Animism, Hinduism (worship Lord Shiva as Mahadev), and Buddhism.
- Agriculture: Primarily forest dwellers and farmers, cultivating rice, wheat, and mustard.
Unique Biological Trait
- Malaria Resistance: The Tharu are famous for their genetic resistance to malaria, specifically an incidence rate nearly seven times lower than neighbouring groups due to genes related to thalassemia.
Government Initiatives
- Homestay Scheme: Tourists can stay in traditional Tharu huts in districts like Balrampur and Lakhimpur Kheri to experience tribal life.
- Tribal Museum: The first Tharu Tribal Museum was established in Imilia Kodar, Balrampur, to showcase their evolution and traditions.
- Unnat Gram Abhiyan: Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, funding of up to ₹5 lakh is being provided to develop tribal homestays.
Download Pdf
