181
10.3.1 Ecology
Santals in the past were nomadic and migrated from place to place in quest of
favourable ecological condition. In this regard O’Malley (1999) stated that “The
traditions of the Santals represent them as a race wandering from one country to
another until they found their present home in Chota Nagpur and the adjacent districts” (O’Malley 1999, p.89). The traditional history of the Santals exhibits that
they have had a tendency of wandering for a homeland which is summarized in the
following four lines:
In Hihiri Pipiri we were born,
In Khoj Kaman we were called for,
In Harata we grew up,
In Sasan Beda we became septs. (Troisi 1978, p.32)
In Purulia district, the traditional clustering of Santal community is mainly concentrated in the uplands of Bagmundi and Bundwan region. Beside this, Santal is also
inhabited in and around non-tribal territory in the district. It is seen that as a permanent agriculturist, Santal tribal community is presently distributed almost all over
the district in all types of ecological conditions.
10.3.2 Social Structure
Almost 99% of the Santals live in villages including both uni-ethnic and multiethnic villages. In most of the uni-ethnic Santal villages in Purulia, there are few
“service giving communities” like kamar (the black smith), Bhuniya (those who
make beaten rice) and Julaha (the weavers) live in the marginal areas of the village.
Each Santal village has a well-defined administration, guided by seven village officials or by at least five village heads (“More Hor”) namely – Manjhi (village head
man), Paranik (assistant headman), Jog-paranik (an assistant of the paranik), Jogmanjhi (the guardian of the Morales of the young men and women of the village),
Naeke (village priest), Kudam Naeke (the priest worshipping local spirits) and
Gadet (the messenger of the Panchayat or village council). The officials of a village
council are hereditary in nature but could be removed on the ground for incompetence by the people of the village. Moreover, every member of each household is
considered as the member of the village council, which is represented mostly by
elders and grown up male members. The council regulate on things which are
closely related to Santal’s social and religious life in which the whole community is
involved, for example, fixing the dates of a wedding, religious festivals, etc. In this
context, P. K. Bose (1985) asserted that “The Santals … are divided into twelve
clans, namely, Hansdak, Murmu, Kisku, Hembrom, Marandi, Saren, Tudu, Baske,
Besra, Puria, Chore and Bedia, which are exogamous and totemic… The Santal
clans are called paris and pari is further divided into number of sub-clans known as
Khut” (Bose 1985, p.108). Among the 12 septs of Santals, except Bedia, 11 septs
have been identified in Purulia district (Table 10.1).
10 Socio-ecological Niche of Tribes of Purulia District, West Bengal, India
10.3.1 Ecology
Santals in the past were nomadic and migrated from place to place in quest of
favourable ecological condition. In this regard O’Malley (1999) stated that “The
traditions of the Santals represent them as a race wandering from one country to
another until they found their present home in Chota Nagpur and the adjacent districts” (O’Malley 1999, p.89). The traditional history of the Santals exhibits that
they have had a tendency of wandering for a homeland which is summarized in the
following four lines:
In Hihiri Pipiri we were born,
In Khoj Kaman we were called for,
In Harata we grew up,
In Sasan Beda we became septs. (Troisi 1978, p.32)
In Purulia district, the traditional clustering of Santal community is mainly concentrated in the uplands of Bagmundi and Bundwan region. Beside this, Santal is also
inhabited in and around non-tribal territory in the district. It is seen that as a permanent agriculturist, Santal tribal community is presently distributed almost all over
the district in all types of ecological conditions.
10.3.2 Social Structure
Almost 99% of the Santals live in villages including both uni-ethnic and multiethnic villages. In most of the uni-ethnic Santal villages in Purulia, there are few
“service giving communities” like kamar (the black smith), Bhuniya (those who
make beaten rice) and Julaha (the weavers) live in the marginal areas of the village.
Each Santal village has a well-defined administration, guided by seven village officials or by at least five village heads (“More Hor”) namely – Manjhi (village head
man), Paranik (assistant headman), Jog-paranik (an assistant of the paranik), Jogmanjhi (the guardian of the Morales of the young men and women of the village),
Naeke (village priest), Kudam Naeke (the priest worshipping local spirits) and
Gadet (the messenger of the Panchayat or village council). The officials of a village
council are hereditary in nature but could be removed on the ground for incompetence by the people of the village. Moreover, every member of each household is
considered as the member of the village council, which is represented mostly by
elders and grown up male members. The council regulate on things which are
closely related to Santal’s social and religious life in which the whole community is
involved, for example, fixing the dates of a wedding, religious festivals, etc. In this
context, P. K. Bose (1985) asserted that “The Santals … are divided into twelve
clans, namely, Hansdak, Murmu, Kisku, Hembrom, Marandi, Saren, Tudu, Baske,
Besra, Puria, Chore and Bedia, which are exogamous and totemic… The Santal
clans are called paris and pari is further divided into number of sub-clans known as
Khut” (Bose 1985, p.108). Among the 12 septs of Santals, except Bedia, 11 septs
have been identified in Purulia district (Table 10.1).
10 Socio-ecological Niche of Tribes of Purulia District, West Bengal, India