Historical background Society and culture

1.1.2 Historical background

The term Bhumij means ‘children of the soil’ Dalton 1872:173, which likely was given to the community by Hindu immigrants who found them occupying the land in what is today West Bengal Risley 1891, reprinted in 1981:118. Roy 1929:96 writes that Bhumijes in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa maintain are not the original settlers of that area, but instead came from Tamar Pargana in Ranchi district of Bihar, and are thus known as Tamarias, Tamaria Mundas or Tamaria Bhumijes. A verbal account given by a person in West Bengal, which seems plausible, though not confirmed by any written sources available to the researchers, explains the history of the Bhumij during the period of the British occupation. While the British held power in east India, they imposed a system of collecting taxes from settlers of the land. At first, Brahmins were appointed to collect these taxes, but this did not prove to be effective. The British then appointed people who could secure taxes by force. At that time, the Bhumij were the most assertive out of all other groups, and were therefore commissioned by the British to this role. To obtain respect and compliance from other tribal and caste groups, the Bhumij began to adopt the culture and language of the higher caste Brahmin Bengalis as well as the British. As they related with these classes of people, it had an impact on their society, culture and language with the result that the Bhumij in several areas gave up their traditional mother tongue for Bengali.

1.1.3 Society and culture

The Bhumij are mostly agricultural workers and cultivators. If they possess their own land, they grow rice as well as oil seeds, pulses and vegetables. After harvest in November and December, when there is no other work, the males labour in the mining quarries of southern Bihar and northern Orissa, as well as in the tea gardens of Assam. Hunting used to be a profitable profession, but due to deforestation and government restrictions this is no longer followed. Bhumij families are patrilineal, and most of them are nuclear, though extended families also exist. Polygyny occurs occasionally, particularly among the wealthier families, with the main reason being the barrenness of the first wife. Divorce is permitted only in cases of adultery by the woman Das Patnaik 1990:57–58. The Bhumij are essentially animistic in their religious outlook, and the sun is their primary object of worship. They also serve a number of minor gods and spirits to which they sacrifice animals. In addition, the Bhumij believe in the power of white and black magic, consulting witch doctors found in the village. In addition, the community in various places has adopted Hindu beliefs and practices into their religion. People offer coconuts, plantains and sweetmeats to the gods, and visit Kali and Shiva temples during Hindu festivals Das Patnaik 1990:59–60. The total literacy rate among the Bhumij population is about 15, ranging from 12 in Orissa, to 15 in West Bengal, and 16 in Bihar. For males, the literacy rate is about one-quarter and for females only 4 Singh 1994:169–171.

1.2 Language