People and Culture: Tribes of Odisha

In India, there is an amalgam of 437 tribes, and in Odisha, the number is 62. According to 2001 Census, in Odisha, the total strength the of tribal population is approximately eight million which constitutes 22.13% of the total population of the State.

Many tribes like Juanga, Bhuiyan, Saora, Dharua and Bonda practice shifting cultivation or Podu Chasa, also known as slash and burn. They select a plot of land on a mountain slope, slash down all the trees and bushes and burn them to ashes. Spreading the ashes evenly over the land, they wait for the rains before planting their crops. Due to cultivation for two or three seasons on one plot of land, the soil gets depleted and the tribes move on. It is a way of life for them.

Koya is the tribe of cattle-breeders. There are simple artisans too like the Mohali and Loharas, who practice crafts of basket weaving and tool making. A sizeable part of the tribal population of Odisha (Orissa) notably the Santals, Munda, Oran, and Ho has moved to the mining and industrial belts of the state, thus, easing out the pressures on small holdings.

Even if the tribal economy is shaky, tribal culture, in its pristine state, is rich and distinctive and the Adivasis work hard to preserve it. A tribal village manages its internal affairs very smoothly through two institutions -- the village council of elders and the youth dormitory.

The core of tribal culture, the youth dormitory, is the largest hut in the village. It has only three walls, profusely decorated with symbols representing animals. The fourth side is open. By night dormitory is home to the youth of the village. But before and after a hard day's work, people gather here to chat and relax. The council of elders meets here too to discuss matters relating to the welfare of the village.

The open space in font of the dormitory is where youths and maidens dance with abandon every evening, for tribal culture allows free mixing of the two sexes. Despite their poverty, the tribes of Odisha (Orissa) have retained their rich and colorful heritage of dance and music. Every tribal can sing and dance to the sound of pipe and drum, and give tune to impromptu compositions that come to him/her as naturally as breathing.

A major portion of the tribal habitat is hilly and forested. Tribal villages are generally found in areas away from the alluvial plains close to rivers. Most villages are uni ethnic in composition, and smaller in size. 

Considering the general features of their (i) eco-system, (ii) traditional economy, (iii) supernatural beliefs and practices, and (iv) recent "impacts of modernization", the tribes of Orissa can be classified into six types, such as: 

(1) Hunting, collecting and gathering type, 

(2) Cattle-herder type, 

(3) Simple artisan type, 

(4) Hill and shifting cultivation type, 

(5) Settled agriculture type and 

(6) Industrial urban worker type.

The position of priest, village headman and the inter-village head-man are hereditary. The village headman is invariably from original settlers' clan of the village, which is obviously dominant. Punishments or corrective measures are proportional to the gravity of the breach of set norms or crime, and the punishments range from simple oral admonition to other measures, such as corporal punishments, imposition of fines, payment of compensation, observance of prophylactic rites and excommunication from the community. Truth of an incident is determined by oath, ordeals and occult mechanism.

As regards the acquisition of brides for marriage, the most widely prevalent practice among the tribes of Orissa is through "capture", although other practices, such as, elopement, purchase, service and negotiation are also there. With the passage of time negotiated type of marriage, which is considered prestigious, is being preferred more and more. Payment of bride-price is an inseparable part of tribal marriage, but this has changed to the system of dowry among the educated sections.