Halba Tribe

Halba is Dravidian tribe from Warangal. They speak Indo- European language
halbi. They are divided in to bastaria, chhattisgarhi and marathia halba.
As per R.V. Russell, The Halbas or ploughmen ; are another mixed caste, of Gond
and hindu, probably the descendants of house-servants of the Uriya Rajas, who,
like the Khandaits, formed a sort of militia for the maintenance of the chiefs
authority. They are now mainly farm servants, as the name denotes, but where they
hold land, as in Bastar, they rank higher, almost as a good cultivating caste but
genetic study done (by ‘Anthropology & Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical
Institute, Calcutta, India; Human Genetics & Genomics Department, Indian
Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India; Crystallography & Molecular
Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta India) found that
though they are not related to gonds but they are Dravidian as per R.V. Russell.
Also evidences found that they belong to telugu tribe in Warangal migrated to
bastar with king Annam Deo.

History
Bastar state was a princely state in India founded in early 14th century, by Annam
Deo, a Rajput belonging to Lunar Dynasty (Chandravanshi). The princely state of
Bastar was established around 1324 AD, when Annam Deo, brother of the last
Kakatiya King, Pratap Rudra (r. 1290-1325), left Warangal and established his
kingdom at Bastar under the tutelage of local goddess, 'Danteshwari', who still is
the tutelary deity of Bastar region. Annam Deo ruled till 1369 when he was
followed successively by Hamir Deo (r. 1369-1410), Bhaitai Deo (1410-1468),
Purushottam Deo (1468-1534) and Pratap Raj Deo (1602-1625) after which the
Bastar branch of the dynasty became extinct in the third generation with Digpal
Deo (1680-1709), after which a descendant of the younger brother of Pratapraj
Deo, Rajpal Deo became the next King in 1709. Rajpal Deo had two wives, first a
Baghela Princess, married, who had a son, Dakhin Singh, secondly, a Chandela
Princess, who has two sons, Dalpat Deo and Pratap, trouble however struck again
when after the death of Rajpal Deo in 1721, the elder queen ousted other claimants
and placed her brother on the throne of Bastar, Dalpat Deo took refuge in the
neighbouring kingdom of Jeypore and finally regained his throne a decade later in
1731.
Its capital was Jagdalpur, where Bastar royal palace built by its ruler, when its
capital was shifted here from old capital Bastar.
Later at some point in the 15th century Bastar was divided into two kingdoms, one
based in Kanker and the other ruled from Jagdalpur.[8] The present Halba Tribe
claims to descend from the military class of these kingdoms. They were come with
Annam Deo from warangal to bastar.
They take pride in being the bodyguard of the Chief and boast that he walks under
the shelter of their naked swords.' No mention is made of them in the song which
recites the names of those who came with Annam Deo Raja from Warangal Two
stories are current as to their origin. One is that their founder, Halba, was
transformed into a man from a grass scare-crow of human likeness by God
Mahadeo. The other is that he was born out of Balaram's plough. Some of these
Halbas gave trouble about one hundred and thirty years ago to the Chief Daryao
Deo, who flung many of them down the Chitrakot fall on the Indravati river, only
one man escaping with his life.

Halba rebellion

The rebel was fine example of the bravery and greatness of great Halba
tribe. This is one of the most important tribal rebels in the history of
India. It is written in the golden letter in history of Halba tribe.
Let’s pay tribute to those martyrs who fought for the wellbeing of all.
The Halba rebellion is considered as an important tribal rebellion in the history of
the present day state of Chhattisgarh in India. The event of Halba rebellion took
place in the area of the Bastar District in Chhattisgarh. It created everlasting
alteration in the Bastar District.

After the decline of the Chalukyas, the situations were such that both the Marathas
and the British came one after the other, to the place in order to rule. The Halba
rebellion started against them in the year seventeen hundred and seventy four. The
then governor of Dongar, Ajmer Singh, was the initiator of the revolt of Halba.
The revolution of Halba was started with the desire of forming a new and
independent state in Dongar.

The Halba tribe as well as the soldiers stood beside Ajmer Singh. The main reason
behind the revolt was lack of money and food in the hands of the common people.
A long drought had affected the people especially those who had very little
cultivable land in their hands. Added to this severe problem, there was the pressure
and fear caused by the Maratha and the British on the commoners, which
eventually resulted in the uprising.

The British armies and the Marathas suppressed them and in a massacre, many of
the Halba tribal people were killed. Subsequently, the army of Halba was also
defeated. However, the situation was such after the defeat of the Halba army that
the history of the district of Bastar changed forever.
Patron Deity
Patron deity of halba tribe is Maa Danteshwari.
Danteshwari Temple is a 600-year-old heritage pilgrim center built by Chalukya
kings in the 14th century. The temple is located at Dantewada, about 80 km
from Jagdalpur, near the Gole Bazaar and Bastar Palace, in Bastar
District, Chhattisgarh. Two rivers, Shankini and Dhankini, meet here. Danteshwari
got its name from the belief that a tooth of Devi Sati fell here.
The temple, with its unique idol made of black stone, is rich in architectural and
sculptural wealth. It has four parts - Garbh Griha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap
and Sabha Mandap - with a Garud Pillar at the entrance. The temple is decorated
and lit up magnificently during the Dussehra festival. Hindu and tribal pilgrims
flock to Danteshwari during this time.