International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention

ISSN (Online): 2319 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 7714

www.ijhssi.org Volume 4 Issue 1 January. 2015 PP.62-66

Ethnographic Profile of Gonads of Adilabad District

1,
1,

N.Srinivasu, 2,Pavani

Lecturer, Educational Management, State Institute of educational management and Training

2,
Ph.D Scholar, Dept of Anthropology, Andhra University, Vishakaptnam

ABSTRACT:GondsarewidelyscatteredthroughoutIndia.Gondslivingindifferentgeographicallocationsdonotpossessth
esameculturalfeatures.Thelanguagethedifferentgroupsspeaktooisnotexactlythesame.ThemajorityoftheGondsarefoundt
odayinthestateofMadhyaPradesh.TheirmainstrongholdsaretheSatpuraplateauincludingthedistrictsofBetul,Chhindwar
aandSeoni.Until1947GondRaja'sruledoverthestatesofKawardar,Sakti,RaigarhandSarangh,andthenknownastheChattis
garhStates.ThedistrictofAdilabadoftheformerHyderabadStatewaslaterincorporatedinAndhraPradesh,andisthehomeof
asubstantialgroupofGondscloselyakintotheGondsofYeotmalandChanda.But,GondsofAdilabadhavetheirowncustomsan
dtraditions,whicharedistinctanduniqueinitsownway.

I.

INTRODUCTION

TheGondsofAdilabadliveinthemidstofdeciduousforests.Theclimateoftheregionoftheirhabitatconformsclosel
ywiththatprevalentinmostpartsofthecentralDeccan.Threeseasonsarefeltduringayear:hotseasonlastingfromthemiddleof
FebruarytothebeginningofJune,therainyseasonthatfollowssummerandlaststilltheendofSeptember,andawinterextendin
gfromOctobertoFebruary.Thedaytemperatureduringthehotseasonwillbeupto46'Cintheplainsandabout40'Cinthehighe
rhills.Theaveragerainfallisabout100cm.Floraintheregionbasicallyincludestreesoftamarind,ppa,mango,teak,neem,bam
booetc.Themostcommonfaunaincludeswildpigs.Thepopulationoftigersisalmostnil.Deer'sandantelopesarealsodiminis
hinginnumber.Amongthebirdspeacock,duckarecommon,butavarietyofotherbirdsarealsopresent.
Study village:
Mankapur,thepresentstudyvillagefallsunderthejurisdictionofNarnoormandalofAdilabaddistrict.Thevillageis
around2kmsfromNarnoormandal.Itissurroundedbyhills.
Language: Invariably,allGondsspeaktheirownlanguage,thatis,Cond
ThislanguageisclassifiedasaDravidianlanguage.MostofthemarealsofamiliarwithTeluguandMarathi.
Physicalfeatures:Gondsarebasicallymediumstaturewithwellbuiltbodyanddarkbrowntolightercolorskincomplexion.Abroadface,highcheekbones,asmall,shortnose,widenostrilsanda
smallpointedchincharacterizethem.
Dressandornaments:Themenwearwhitecottondhoti.Aturbanofwhiteorcoloredclothisalsoamust.Womenwearthecott
onsariinauniquestyle.Oneendofthesareeisdrawnbetweenthelegsandtuckedinattheback.Theotherendisthrownovertherig
htshoulder.Womenwearornamentslikearmletsandankletsmadeofsilverandglassbanglesofdifferentcolors.Theirhands,ar
msandlegsareextensivelytattooed.
Housetypes:Mostofthehousesarerectangularandkutcha.However,about12%ofthehousesarepuccawithcementedwallsa
ndtiledroofs.Insomehouseswallsarealsomadeupofmud.Mostofthehousesaresingleordoubleroomedwithwoodendoorsan
dwindows.Foreachaneveryhousethereisfencingandinsidethecompoundofthehousetheymaintainakitchengardenwherev
egetablesandflowersareraised.
Foodhabits:Thetraditional
staplefood
ofGonds
isjowari
andrice.Consumption
ofdifferentvarietiesofcurrywithavailablevegetablesinthekitchengardenisalsohigh.Theyusuallyeattwiceaday.Specialfoo
ditemsarecookedatthetimeoffestivals.
SocialOrganization:SocialorganizationrelatestothefunctioningofdifferentsocialinstitutionsintheGondSociety.Theinst
itutionsareestablishednormsorconditionsofprocedurelinkedwithgroupaction.Thesocialunitsofclansandfamilyandtheins
titutionsofkinshipandmarriagearediscussedbelowforthedescriptionofsocialorganizationofGonds.Consequently,religion
,economicandpoliticalorganizationarealsodiscussed.

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Ethnographic Profile Of Gonads Of

Clans Socialgroupingsbasedonbloodareperhapsthemostimportantsocialunits
amongtheGonds.Thepersonsbelongingtotheseunitsgenerallyregardthemselvesasdescendantsofcommonancestorandcl
aimthatsamebloodrunsintheirveins.InMankapur,fourexogamouspatrilinealdescentgroupsknowninGondias"saga"wer
ereported..Allthefour"sagas"notonlyshareacommonmythicalhistory,tracedbacktotheirveryorigin,buttheirmemberssta
ndtoeachotherintherelationshipoftraditionalmarriagepartners.Eachphratryisdividedintoanumberofnamedclanscalled"
pari".Theclannameisalwaysplacedbeforethegivenname,thusamanofAtramclancalledLachu,isknownasAtramLachu.S
omeotherclansinthisvillageare:Mesram,Kotnaka,Atram,Kumraandsoon.
Family:Thefamilytypeispredominantlynucleartypewithextension.Buttherearealsofewbrokenandjointfamilies.Thefamilyispatrilineal,patrilocalandpatriarchal.Thatisa
mongGondsthefatherortheeldestmaleisrecognizedastheheadofthefamily.Thefamilyistheimportantbasisofday-todayeconomicandsociallife.Thememberoffamilyproducefoodbyjointactionwithwelldefineddivisionoflabour.Thenumeri
calcompositionofthehouseholdsoftheGondslivinginthestudyvillageisasfollows:
Numberofhouseholdmembers
Single

2-3

4 -5

6-8

7-9

9 Plus

Total

2 3.0%

13 19.7%

20 30.3%

28 42.4%

2 3.0%

1 1.5%

66
100.0%

Typesoffamilies:
a.

Sub-Nuclearfamily:Asubnuclearfamilyconsistsofamarriedcouplewitho utchildren.Therearethreesuchfamiliesoutoftotal66familiesinthevill
age.

b.

Sub-Nuclearfamilywith

dependent:This

isthe

family

consistsof

married

coupleswithoutchildrenanddivorcedorwidowedparentsdependentonthem.Thereisonly2suchfamiliesinthevillage.
[1]

Brokenfamily:Onceanuclearfamilybreaksdownduetothedeathordivorceofoneofthespouse's,itbecomesbroke
nfamily.Itconsistsofawidoworawidower,divorceordivorcewithunmarriedchildrenofeithersex.Thereare4fami
liesinthevillage

[2]

Brokenfamilywithdependents:Thisfamilyconsistsofbrokenfamilywithsomedependents.Thedependentsare
widow,widoweddaughter,daughtershusbandormarriedgranddaughter.Thereare5familiesamongthevillagers.

[3]

Nuclearfamily:Anuclearfamilyconsistsofahusband,wifealongwiththeirunmarriedchildren.Thereare30famili
esamong66familiesinthevillage.

[4]

NuclearFamilywithdependents:Thenuclearfamilywhichincludesonedependentwhodonotconstitutethefami
lybythemselvesandbecomedependentonanuclearfamily.Tenfamiliesareobservedtobeofthistypeinthestudyvil
lage.

[5]

Horizontalextendedfamily:whentwoormoremalesiblingslivetogetheralongwiththeirmatesandchildren,this
iscalledHorizontallyextendedfamily.Thereare8familiesfoundamongGond.

[6]

Verticallyextendedfamily:whenacouplelivealongwiththeremarriedsonandhischildren,theyformaverticallye
xtendedfamily.Thereare2families.

[7]

Polygamousfamily:APolygamousfamilyconsistsofamanandtwoormoreofhiswivesalongwiththeirchildren.T

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Ethnographic Profile Of Gonads Of

wofamilieswerefoundtobeofthistypeamongGonds.
Marriage:
MarriageisasignificantphaseofthelifeofbothmenandwomenamongtheGonds.Membersareconsideredasadultsonlyaftert
heirmarriage..Themostcommontypeofmarriageamonggondsismarriagebynegotiationcalledaskhajakhopramarming.Ma
rriagebyservice(lamsaremarming)andmarriagebycapture(pisiwatwalmarming)arealsoreported.Marriagebynegotiationi
sconsideredasprestigiousofalltypes,whilemarriagebyserviceisnotfavoured bymany.In caseofmarriagebynegotiation,a
formal proposal is first made bytheboy's side relatives.Oncethe
proposalisagreed,betrothalceremony(khaja)isarranged.Thisisfollowedbyanelaboratewedding(marming)inthebridegroo
m'svillage.Thekinsfolkofbothbrideandbride
groomparticipateintheweddingceremony.Marriageceremonyisheldatgroomhouseonly,andexpensesareexclusivelymetb
ythefamilyofthebridegroom.Monogamyisacceptednorm.
RarecasesofPloygynymayalsobefound.Gondwomendon'tobjectonprincipletoliveinpolygamousunionsandwecanfindma
nyinstancesofcowiveslivingamicablyinonehouse.TheabolitionofpolygamyimposedbytheGovernmentofIndiainthe1950'shashadnoeffec
tontheGondssofarandmostofthemareunawareofanylegallimitonthenumberofwivesamanmaymarry.Levirateandsororate
arealsopracticed.Marriagesysteminvolvespayment
ofbridepriceintheformofgoats,orevensometimescashatthetimeofmarriage.
ThefollowingrulesareobservedformarriageamongtheGonds.Theimportantrulethatinfluencestheselectionofmatesamon
gGondsisendogamyatthetribelevel.Ruleofexogamyisalsoobserved.Itisprohibitingmarriagewithinaspecifiedgroup.Am
ongGonds,thesocialgroupisusuallytheclan.ThemostpreferredcategoriesformarriagesareMBDandFZD.
Economicorganization:
ThemostpredominantoccupationforthemembersofMankapurvillageissettledagriculture.Somehouseholdsarealsoengag
edintailoring,wagelabor,serviceetc.Inthefollowingtable,distributionofthehouseholdsaccordingtotheoccupationoftheh
eadofthehouseholdispresented.
Occupationoftheheadofthehousehold
Agriculture
Tailor
Labour
Service
42
63.6%

2
3.0%

12
18.2%

7
10.6%

Total
Pettybusin
ess

Others

1
1.5%

2
3.0%

66
100.0%

IncaseofsettledagricultureploughingusuallystartsinthemonthofDurarithatcorrespondstoFebruaryMarchandcontinuestillthemonthofBhawe.FirstsowingtakesplaceinBurBhaweandthecropsareharvestedinSatithatcorrespondstoNovemberDecember.Majorcropsthatarecultivatedare:jowar,soya,kapus,wanjg,nung,pesalketc.Soyaandcottonarebasicallycultiv
atedformarketingandnotfortheirconsumption.
ThetotalagriculturallandinMankapurvillageis543acres.ThelandownedbytheGondsisdrylandandtheyentirelydependon
rainfallforirrigation.MostoftheGondswhoownthelandhave15acres.Thedistributionofhouseholdsbytheextentoflandownedispresentedinthefollowingtable.

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Ethnographic Profile Of Gonads Of

Landless

1-5
acres

6-10
acres

31.8%

31.8%

22.7%

Extentofland
11-15
16-20
acres
acres
6.1%

6.1%

21-25
acres

26-40
acres

Total

1.5%

Nil

100

Differentkindsofimplementsareusedforagriculture.Mainagriculturalimplementisnangal(plough)whichisasimplewood
enstructureusedforploughing.Sickleslikesetada, kusaareused for harvestingcrops.
Politicalorganization:
AmongtheGondsweseeaninterminglingofbothtraditionalandmodernpoliticalorganizationworkingtogether.Traditional
politicalorganizationistheorganizationinwhichvillageheadman-anelderlypersongenerallysolvesthedisputesthatmayoccurinthevillage.Modernpoliticalorganizationreferstotheparticipationinpoliticali
nstitutionsatPanchayat,Mandal,andDistrictlevelaspertheconstitutionofIndia.Participationinmodernpoliticalinstitution
sisthroughaffiliationswithpoliticalpartiesintheState.
Generally,thetraditionalpoliticalinstitutionofGondsfunctionsforresolvingthedisputesinthevillage.Thevillageheadman(
Patel)summonsmeetingofelderlypeopleforthispurpose.Theguiltypersonispunishedbyaskinghimtogivefeastorbyimpos
ingfine.Insomecasesthepersonisostracized.Patelactsasadministrativeheadandkeepsaneyeonthelawandordersituation.
OfficeofthePatelishereditaryandtransferredto
theeldestsonofthefamily.IfthedisputeisnotsolvedthenthelocalleadersgototheSarpanchtosolvethesame.
Religion:
Religionisthevitalpartofanysocietyanditplaysasignificantroleintribalsocietiesinparticular.Themostprominenttribalgod
samongGondsareBheemdevandPoochammaworshippedinthemonthofchaitthatcorrespondstoMarchApril.Apartfromthesetwo,theyhavetheirownclangodslikePersaPenandvillagedeitieslikeAkiPenandAuwalPen.Thereli
giousspecialistsamongtheGondsare:thevillagepriest(devari),the

clanpriest(katora),andthe

seerordiviner(bhaktal).Theyalsohaveancestralworship.Theyperformlifecycleritualsliketonsuring,puberty,marriage,an
ddeathinatraditionalmanner.Mostcommonfestivalsamonggondsareakhadipuja,polapanduga,nagobarite,holi,kamdevj
atraetc.
Communication
InMankapurvillagecommunicationandtransportfacilitiesarequitesignificant.Thevillageisconnectedtothemainroadand
within2Kmsthereisasmalltownwithtelephonebooths,groceryshops,hospital,medicalshopsetc.Villagers'commutetothis
townbyautorickshaws.
Medicalfacilities:
InMankapurvillagetherearelocalmedicinemen,providingherbalmedicinestothevillagers.Thesemedicinemenusevarious
herbsfortreatmentofvariousdiseaseslikeTyphoid,Jaundice,fever,cold,coughetc.IncaseofseriousillnesstheygototheNar
noorgovernmenthospital,whichis2kmsfarfromtheirsettlements.

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Ethnographic Profile Of Gonads Of

Interandintratribalrelations:
Gondsofthestudyvillagemaintainverycloseandintimaterelationshipwithmembersofothertribesandcastesinthevillagean
dalsooutsidethevillage.Thesorrows,happinessandallfeelingsareseentobesharedwitheachotherinthevillage.There
isexchange

of

laborand

other

agricultural

implements.Anyconflicts

and

tensionsthatmaycropupinbetweenarepeacefullyresolvedbytheheadofthevillage.
Literacyandeducation:
Majorityofthemembersinthevillageareilliterates.However,someoftheyouthhadtheireducationuptocollegelevel.Thefoll
owingtableshowstheeducationalattainmentsoftheheadsofthehouseholdsinthestudyvillage.
Educationoftheheadofthehousehold
Illiterate
Primary
Secondary
63.6%
9.2%
21.2%

II.

Inter
4.5%

Degree
1.5%

Total
100

CONCLUSION

TheGondsofAdilabadliveinthemidstofdeciduousforests.Theclimateoftheregionoftheirhabitatconformsclosely
withthatprevalentinmostpartsofthecentralDeccan.Invariably,allGondsspeaktheirownlanguage,thatis,Cond
.Themenwearwhitecottondhoti.Aturbanofwhiteorcoloredclothisalsoamust.Womenwearthecottonsariinauniquestyle.O
neendofthesareeisdrawnbetweenthelegsandtuckedinattheback.Thefamilytypeispredominantlynucleartypewithextension.Buttherearealsofewbrokenandjointfamilies.Thefamilyispatrilineal,patrilocalandpatriarchal.Majorit
yofthemembersinthevillageareilliterates.However,someoftheyouthhadtheireducationuptocollegelevel.

REFRENCES
[1]

Agarwal, B. 1994. A field of ones won: Gender and land rights in south Asia: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

[2]

Ali Alamas. 1994, Indigenous Health practices Among Tribals Relationship With Prevalent Diseasews, in Tribal Helath in India. Edited
by SalilBasu, New Delhi :Manak Publications 130-150.

[3]

Alland, Alexander, Jr. 1970. Adaption in Cultural Evolution :An Approach to Medical Anthropology. New York : Columbia University
Press.

[4]

Foster, G.M. 1984. Strategies for Research Henny Mosley and Licoln C,. Chen-Population and Development Review. A supplement to
Vol.10.

[5]

ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency). 1998. Report of the development activities for the Chenchus of Nallamalai Forest.
Mimeographed. Publication of the ITDA, Tribal Welfare Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Srisailam.

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