The Bhil of Central India – Madhya Pradesh

Bhil_Story_Tulika_EN_cover_thu
Find this title in several languages here: tulikabooks.com >>
Childhood | Bhil art and culture >>

The Bhil tribe is a proud and ancient ethnic group inhabiting the Western part of Central India with the highest concentration in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh State. Well over 1.5 million of them live as marginal farmers in almost 2000 villages. The members of the Bhil tribe possess a vast array of rich customs and traditions. Their colourful festivals and ceremonies are outbursts of joy and foster their sense of community. Yet they face the challenge of living in a hostile environment ravaged by drought and outbreaks of diseases. Poor infrastructure and lack of academic institutions further aggravate their situation.

Source: Bhil tribal development – Aktionsgemeinschaft Partner Indiens, and Bhil Health Initiative & Literacy Society collaborating in Central India
Address : http://www.bhils.org/index.html
Date Visited: Thu Oct 31 2013 18:18:00 GMT+0100 (CET)

Since illiterate farmers in the villages have shown great interest in receiving basic formal education, BHILS has started night schools in 20 villages and plans to open many more in the entire district. These night schools permit the attendants to do farming during the day and meet in the evenings to study from elementary school books under the guidance of a teacher. Their goal is to pass the Government’s fifth standard exams, which to them signifies emancipation. Under the light of gas lamps, which will be exchanged for solar lamps soon, these gatherings are a great means to teach these individuals about the importance of girls’ education, health and hygiene, and eco-friendly farming.

Source: Bhil tribal development – Aktionsgemeinschaft Partner Indiens, and Bhil Health Initiative & Literacy Society collaborating in Central India
Address : http://www.bhils.org/education/index.html
Date Visited: Thu Oct 31 2013 18:21:53 GMT+0100 (CET)

Bhil Health Initiative and Literacy Society c/o Patrick Bhuriya, 138/2 Madhopura behind Gail township, Jhabua, M.P. 457661 India Telephone: +91-7392-200212; E-Mail: [email protected]

Source: Bhil tribal development – Aktionsgemeinschaft Partner Indiens, and Bhil Health Initiative & Literacy Society collaborating in Central India
Address : http://www.bhils.org/contact/index.html
Date Visited: Thu Oct 31 2013 18:24:12 GMT+0100 (CET)

“We have to write our own stories, about our issues, from our own perspectives.” – Abhay Xaxa, a “Fiercely Unapologetic Adivasi Scholar-Activist” | Read more >>

Bhils are listed as Adivasi residents of the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan – all in the western Deccan regions and central India – as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh. Bhils are divided into a number of endogamousterritorial divisions, which in turn have a number of clans and lineages. Most Bhils now speak the language of the region they reside in, such as Marathiand Gujarati. They mostly speak a dialect of Hindi.

The Ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture. […]

Source: Bhil people – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhil_people
Date Visited: Thu Oct 31 2013

Up-to-date reports by Indian journalists and commentators

To search Indian periodicals, magazines, web portals and other sources safely, click here. To find an Indian PhD thesis on a particular tribal community, region and related issues, click here >>

Search tips

Combine the name of any particular state, language or region with that of any tribal (Adivasi) community.

Add keywords of special interest (music, poetry, dance just as health, sacred grove and biodiversity); learn about the rights of Scheduled Tribes such as the “Forest Rights Act” (FRA); and the United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, “women’s rights”, or “children’s right to education”.

Specify any other issue or news item you want to learn more about (biodiversity, bonded labour and human trafficking, climate change, ecology, economic development, ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, global warming, hunter-gatherers in a particular region or state, prevention of rural poverty, water access).

For official figures include “scheduled tribe ST” along with a union state or region: e.g. “Chhattisgarh ST community”, “Himalayan tribe”, “Scheduled tribe Tamil Nadu census”, “ST Kerala census”, “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Jharkhand”, “PVTG Rajasthan”, “Adivasi ST Kerala”, “Adibasi ST West Bengal” etc.

In case the Google Custom Search window is not displayed here try the following: (1) toggle between “Reader” and regular viewing; (2) in your browser’s Security settings select “Enable JavaScript” | More tips >>

Note: hyperlinks and quotes are meant for fact-checking and information purposes only | Disclaimer >>

Find publications by reputed authors (add “open access” for freely downloadable content)

 

Search for an item in libraries near you:
WorldCat.org >>

PDF-repository: texts quoted & further reference (Google Drive) >>

See also

Anthropology

Bhopal

Central region – Central Zonal Council

eBooks, eJournals & reports | eLearning

Cultural heritage | Customs

Languages and linguistic heritage

List of scheduled tribes by the Commissioner of Tribal Development – Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Museum collections – India

Revival of traditions

Seasons and festivals

Uttar Pradesh