Barda (tribe)

The Barda are tribal community found in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in India. They have scheduled tribe status. The community is also known as Adivasi or Khandeshi Bhil.[1][2]

Origin

The word in the (Gujarati language) means a dweller of a hilly region, and the term Barda is now applied to members of the Bhil community who are said to have immigrated from Khandesh to Gujarat some three hundred years ago . The community is now settled in the districts of Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Baroda, and Surat. They spoke Gujarati.[3]

In Maharashtra, the Barda is considered to be a sub-group of the Bhil ethnic group. According to their traditions, the community descend from Sabari Bhil , a well-known character from the Ramayana. The Bardas are concentrated in the districts of Dhule, Jalgaon, Nasik, Osmanabad, Sangli, Kolhapur and Sholapur. They speak Barda bhasha, which is related to Marathi. Most Barda also speak Gujarati.[4]

Present circumstances

In Gujarat

The Barda are strictly endogamous and practice clan exogamy. Their major clans are the Ahir, Baria, Dangia, Gaikwad, Mali, Mori, and Thakur, all of whom intermarry. Historically, the Barda were a community of hunter gatherers. The Barda are now settled agriculturists, while many more are agricultural labourers. A few who have small pieces of land produce millets and pulses. The number of casual labourers from amongst the community.[5]

The Barda have their own tribal belief system, to which they have later added a pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses. Like other tribal communities in west India, they perform a number of folk dances and songs. Economically, they are a marginal community, and literacy levels are very low.

In Maharashtra

The Barda Bhil consist of a number of exogamous clans such as the More, Sonone, Thakre, Wagh, Gaikwad, Mali, and Phulpagare. Each of these clans is of equal status and intermarry. The community is strictly endogamous. Their traditional occupation was hunting and gathering. A small number have agricultural land, but most are landless agricultural labourers. A few are also employed by the police. The Barda Bhil have their own tribal deities such as Khanderaoji.[6]

References
  1. People of India Gujarat Volume XXII Part One edited by R.B Lal, S.V Padmanabham & A Mohideen page 124 to 127 Popular Prakashan
  2. People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 158–162
  3. People of India Gujarat Volume XXII Part One edited by R.B Lal, S.V Padmanabham & A Mohideen page 124 to 127 Popular Prakashan
  4. People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 158–162
  5. People of India Gujarat Volume XXII Part One edited by R.B Lal, S.V Padmanabham & A Mohideen page 124 to 127 Popular Prakashan
  6. People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 158–162
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