Scheduled Tribes
The population of Gujrat in 2011 census of India was 60,439,692 of this 8,917,174 persons belongs to one of the Scheduled Tribes constituting 14.75 percent of the total population of the state. The state has registered 24.4 percent decadal growth in the Scheduled Tribe population between 1991-2001. In 1972 , the tribal development departmentestablished for effective implementation of tribal welfare schemes. In 1976 Tribal Development Commissionerate was established. In 1984 separate Tribal Department. We are find out many Adivasi Tribes in Gujrat like:
● Barda
● Bawcha
● Charan
● Choudhari / Chaudhara
● Kukana
● Dhodia
● Gamit
● Gond
● Halpati
● Kunbi
● Rathwa
● Warli
● Tadvi
● Bhil
Now let us discuss some tribes in detail.
■ Barda :-
The Barda means hilly region. So people from hilly region are called Barda. They are believed to have migrated to Gujrat from the Khandesh region and are hence also known as The Khandeshi Bhil. At the regional level they are regarded as a subdivision of the Bhil. Enthoven (1920) mentioned them as belonging to one of the twelve forest and hill tribes of Gujrat. The Bhil consider them as one of their group but treat them as inferior in social status because of their habit of consuming beef. They are mainly distributed in Mehsana , Ahmedabad , Baroda and Surat districts. They speak the local dialect of Gujrat and use the Devnagri script. Earlier men used to wear a loin cloth but now they wear turban, Shirt and dhoti. Their women wear enormous hared ghaghra with or without inner garment. Both men and women wear brass or silver ear rings and anklets. The Barda are non vegetarian and take fish , eggs , mutton and beef. Their staple food is bajra , Jowar and wheat. The Barda have tometic clans such as Ahir , Baria , Dangia , Gatwad , Mali , Mori , Thakur and so on which are the basis of marriage alliances. They use clan names as their surnames.
■ Bhawcha:-
Except some historical information no written evidence is available about origin of Bawcha tribe. Bawcha must have their origin in Yadav dynasty or Pandav dynasty. This is presumed on the basis of custom of marriage between maternal cousin. As heard from the elderly people in oral communication; Bawcha have migrated from Maharashtra for socio political conditions and settled in Gujrat. According to them Bawcha were very active during Maharaja Chhatrapati Shivaji. It is also said that Bawchas were recruited in Shivaji's army. They keeps utensils clay , plastic etc. They include utensils for cooking, eating and bringing water. Besides they keep cots , tables, chair , cycle, clock , radio, tape recorder, television, basket, boxes , cupboard, machine, fan , musical instrument, gas etc. The Bawcha men used to put on small dhoti , Shirt and a safa, a piece of cloth covering head. The women used to put on dress like Maharashtrian women saree covering two legs separately and a blouse on top of it. Bawcha are both vegetarian as well as non vegetarian. Wheat , rice , bajra are main food grains. They cook Bajra loaf , vegetable and eat it with butter milk . The working Boplas also eat rice , dal , vegetable, pulses, sweet etc. Bawcha believe in Hindu religion. They worship Hindu Gods and Goddesses . Kalkamata , Ambamata , Bahucharmata , Hanumanji , Ganpati , Lord Shankar etc. However they more faith in Goddesses rather than God Devli madi and 64 jogani are their main Godesses and they are worshiped as family godesses. They celebrate Navratri , Holi , Diwali , Janmashtami etc. Hindu festivals. Their traditional Gods are Vaghdev , Kaka balia etc.
■ Charan :-
The Charan is a small tribe in the state, their total population in year 2001 was 2481, 1299 male and 1182 female. They are also called Gadhvi. According to Enthoven (1920) the name Charan is derived from the word Char which means grazing. The Charan were bards attached to royal courts to spread royal fame by singing praises. They are distributed in all districts of Gujrat. The population of Charan notified as scheduled tribe in the area of Babra, Gir and Alech records 2481 , according to 2001 census. They speak Gujrati and use Gujrati script. The traditional man's dress consist of a pair of trousers, a waist cloth , a Jacket, a loose shirt cotton coat and turban around the head. Women wear a petticoat, a Jacket , a robe and black woolen blanket over the head. The Charan are strictly vegetarian and their stable food is Jawar or bajri roti with tur , moong, moth and occasionally seasonal vegetable. They drink milk and are in the habit of smoking bidi and chewing tobacco.
■ Choudhari /Chaudhara :-
The Chaudhari are a well documented community with studies having conducted on this community sinse 1900. The term Chaudhra is also used for rural areas they are called Chaudhra while in urban areas as Chaudhari claim Rajput descent. A section of the Chaudhari call themselves Ravalia aftet the last Rajput ruler of Pavagarh Patel Raval. The Chaudhari of Vyara as well as Mandavi talukas claim that they migrant from Pavagarh and settled in this part of the state about five hundred years back. The Chaudhari are non vegetarian. The common cereals are rice, kodra, Jawar and wheat. The pulses such as toovar and arad and grams are taken. Tea is taken regularly. Alcohol is also consumed chewing betel leaves and smoking bidi are common habits among the man folk. Child birth take place within the four walls of dwelling hut. The mother and the child are attended to by the local mid wife. On yhe fifth day after birth pachara is observed and the name of the child is selected by the maternal uncle. Mundan or tonsure ceremony is observed during fifth or seventh year. Ahinde Dev , the God of the hills is considered their supreme God. Himaria Dev is considered the protector of the field and crop.
■ Kukana :-
Unlike other tribes there has been no legend or no prevalent belief about origin of this tribe. One inference can be drawn very easily from the name kukana and it can be considered if they have migrated from konkan patti in Thana district. Traditionaly man in the lower part of the body put on only a brief. On upper part of the body, they put on Pant and shirt. Children wear a half Pant and bush shirt. Women put on Saree in Maharashtrian style keeping both legs apart. The upper part is coverd by Choli. Kunkas speak their own Kunkani speach. It is like a marathi mix language. The food includes cereals and beans pulses such on Nagli , Banti , Varai , Kodra and other beans. Kunkanas are as fond of Tattoing as they are of ornaments. They have tattoos of the picture of Saint or God like Ram , Hanumanji, Sri krishna etc.
Reference (Wikipedia, https://triti.gujarat.gov.in )
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