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==Culture and Tradition==
==Culture and Tradition==
[[File:Preparation of Handia.JPG|thumb|An Adivasi woman preparing ''diyeng'']]
There are four main festivals for the Ho. In [[Maghe]] , celebrated in February–March–April, a puja is performed for the newly havested crop stored at home. Ba festival is celebrated in March–April–May when the first flowers of the Sal tree blooms. The cattle in the household are worshipped in [[Goma]] celebrated in August.A puja is performed November before eating the ripened crop. It is the [[Jomnama]] festival.
There are four main festivals for the Ho. In [[Maghe]] , celebrated in February–March–April, a puja is performed for the newly havested crop stored at home. Ba festival is celebrated in March–April–May when the first flowers of the Sal tree blooms. The cattle in the household are worshipped in [[Goma]] celebrated in August.A puja is performed November before eating the ripened crop. It is the [[Jomnama]] festival.


Revision as of 05:01, 10 October 2017

This article is about the Austroasiatic ethnic group of India. For the Tibeto-Burman people also known as Ho of China, Vietnam and Laos, see Hani people.
Ho
Total population
1,000,000+[1]
Regions with significant populations
              Jharkhand[citation needed]700,000+
              Odisha[citation needed]200,000+
Languages
Ho
Religion
Sarnaism,Traditional belief
Related ethnic groups
Mundas  • Santals  • Kolho  • other Mon-Khmer people
Starting alphabet of Varang Kshiti Ong and its letters.

The Ho people are a tribe of people belonging to the Indian state of Jharkhand. They are the warrior tribe of jharkhand.[2][3][4] They are the fourth most numerous scheduled tribe in Jharkhand after Santals, Oraons, and Mundas, and constitute around 10.5 percent of the total population of the Scheduled Tribes, numbering around 700,000 (total in the state) in the 2001 census.[5] In Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam[6] or West Bengal,[7] HO tribe are present, as the territory they inhabit in Jharkhand borders these states. According to an American publication,[which?] total number of people speaking the Ho language was 1,077,000 in 1997. There were more than 200,000 people speaking the language in Odisha.[citation needed].The Ho is a sister tribe of the Munda tribe.[8] It is believed that Ho speakers were originally Mundas. In course of time, some fourteen to seventeen century A.D., they parted aside for unknown reason and migrated from Bandhgaon-Khunti region and settled down in Singhbhum or Kolhan region.[9].Over 90% of the Ho practice the indigenous religion Sarnaism.[5]

History

Recent genetic studies suggest that Austroasiatic speakers in India are likely the descendants of a relatively small group of migrants from Southeast Asia who mixed extensively with local Indian populations.[10][11] The genetic evidence further suggests that the Austroasiatic ancestors of the modern people arrived in northeastern India between 4600-5800 years before present and continued migrating over the next millennium, arriving in their current locations in eastern India approximately 4000 years before present.[12] Separate linguistic studies similarly suggest that the Austroasiatic homeland was in Southeast Asia and speakers diffused along the river valleys, including into northeastern India, beginning 4000-5000 years ago.[13]

According to historian Ram Sharan Sharma in his book India's Ancient Past mentioned that, many Austroasiatic, Dravidian and non-Sankrit terms occur in the vedic texts ascribed to 1500-500 BC.[14]They indicate ideas, institutions, products, and settlements associated with peninsular and non-vedic India. The people of this area spoke the proto-Munda language. Several terms in the Indo-Aryan languages that signify the use of cotton, navigation, digging, stick, etc. have been traced to the Munda languages by linguists. There are many Munda pockets in Chhotanagpur plateau, the remnants of Munda culture are strong in these areas. It is held that changes in the phonetics and vocabulary of the Vedic language can be explained as much on the basis of the Dravidian influence as that of the Munda.[14]

Starting from the period between the 9th and 12th centuries, copper was smelted in many parts of old Singhbhum district. It is believed that many immigrants entered Singhbhum from Manbhum in the 14th century or earlier. When the Hos entered old Singhbhum, they overcame the Bhuiyas, who were then inhabitants of the forest country. In the latter half of the eighteenth century, the Hos fought several wars against the Rajas of Chota Nagpur and Mayurbhanj to retain their independence. As far as is known, the Muslims left them alone.[15] Although the area was formally claimed to be a part of the Mughal Empire, neither the Mughals nor the Marathas, who were active in the surrounding areas during the decline of the Mughals, ventured into the area.[16]

In 1765, Chota Nagpur was ceded to the British East India Company as part of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. .The Raja of Singhbhum asked the British Resident at Midnapore for protection in 1767, but it was not until 1820 that he acknowledged himself as a feudatory of the British. The restless Hos broke the agreement soon and took part in the fierce rebellion of 1831-33, along with the Mundas.[16][17] The immediate cause of the Kol uprising in 1831-32 was the oppression of Adivsis by non-Adivasi thikadars (literally meaning contractors) or farmers of rent. The Hos and Mundas were joined by the Oraons and the houses of many dikku (non-Adivasis or outsiders) landlords were burnt and a number of people were killed.[15] It compelled the British to recognise a thorough subjugation of the Hos.[16] The uprising was suppressed with a good deal of trouble by Captain Wilkinson, who had several hundred troops at his disposal.[15] While local troops quelled the uprising, another group under Colonel Richards entered Singhbhum in November 1836. Within three months all the headmen surrendered. In 1857, the Raja of Porahat rose in rebellion and a sizeable section of the Hos joined in the revolt. Troops were sent who put an end to the disturbances by 1859.[16]

Religion

See also: Sarnaism

In the 2001 national census, 91% of the Hos declared that they professed "other religions and persuations", meaning that they do not consider themselves to belong to any of the major religious groups and follow their indigenous religious systems called "Sarna" or Sarnaism.[5] Also known as sarna dhorom ("religion of the holy woods"), this religion plays an important part in the life of adivasi.[18] Their beliefs in gods, goddesses and spirits are ingrained in them from childhood. The religion of the Hos resembles, to a great extent that of Santals, Oraons, Mundas and other tribal people in the region. All religious rituals are performed by the village priest, deuri. However, he is not required to propitiate malevolent spirits or deities. The spirit doctor deowa takes care of this.[16]

Language

Main article: Ho language

Ho people speak the Ho language which has been written in Warang Citi script .This script was invented by Lako Bodra in the 20th century.[19][20] Ho language can also be written in Devnagari and Roman scripts.

Culture and Tradition

There are four main festivals for the Ho. In Maghe , celebrated in February–March–April, a puja is performed for the newly havested crop stored at home. Ba festival is celebrated in March–April–May when the first flowers of the Sal tree blooms. The cattle in the household are worshipped in Goma celebrated in August.A puja is performed November before eating the ripened crop. It is the Jomnama festival.

For the Adivasis, dance is the very breath of life rather than a means of entertainment. Their songs are generally accompanied by dances, which change with the change of seasons. Most villages have an akhra or dancing floor. It is usually a cleared space of hard ground under a spreading tree. The Hos have their distinctive choreography expressive of their culture and art traditions.[15][21] One of the dancing festivals of the Hos is called Mage Porob, held in the month of Magh. The festivities are organised on a staggered basis in the villages so that other villagers can participate.The Ho people use musical instrument namely dama, dumeng, rutu, etc.[15] Tribals in Jharkhand have several festivals.

The Ho people brew a sort of rice-beer commonly known as diyeng, otherwise also known as "handiya" in other language. It is said to be highly refreshing and invigorating. It has great importance in religious festivals, and is also used as a good medicine for the stomach.

Position of women

Houlton writes, “I do not want to give the impression, by mentioning occasional divergences from the straight and narrow path, that aboriginals are immoral. On the contrary, their standards of post-marital morality and fidelity are probably a good deal higher than in some races that claim to be more civilised. The status of women is high. Wives are partners and companions to their husbands. It is even whispered that hen-pecked husbands are not uncommon among the tribesmen.”[15]

There is a system of payment of bride-price amongst the Hos. The bride-price is often a status symbol and even until today's modern times it remains not more than Rupees 1001 or rupees 101. As a result, many Ho girls remain unmarried till advanced age.[15] Among the Hos, females outnumber the males in their total population.[5]

Economy

Almost half the population is engaged in cultivation and another one third also work as land-less agricultural labourers.[5] The Hos, along with Santals, Oraons and Mundas, are comparatively more advanced, and have taken to settled cultivation as their mode of life.[21]

The discovery of iron ore in Ho territory opened the way for the first iron ore mine in India at Pansira Buru in 1901.[22] Over the years iron ore mining spread out in the area. Many Hos are engaged in mining work but that does not add up to any sizeable percentage. However, small, well planned mining towns dotting the territory have brought the Ho people in close touch with the good and bad aspects of urbanization. Some of the prominent mining towns in the area are Chiria, Gua, Noamundi and Kiriburu.

Forests

sal tree

Sal (Shorea robusta) is the most important tree in the area and it seems to have a preference for the rocky soil there. Although sal is a deciduous tree and sheds its leaves in early summer, the forest undergrowth is generally evergreen, which has such trees as mangoes, jamun, jackfruit, and piar. Other important trees are mahua, kusum, tilai, harin hara (Armossa rohitulea), gular (Fiscus glomerata), asan. The Singhbhum forests are best in the Kolhan area in the south-west of the district.[21] The lives of Ho people have long been intertwined with sal forests and there is a strong resentment against the efforts of timber merchants to replace sal forests with teak plantations.

The reserved forests are the haunt of many animals. Wild elephants are common in Saranda (literally meaning seven hundred hills) and Porahat forests. Herds of sambar and chital roam about the forests. Bison is still found (locally extinct when a study was undertaken in 2005 by Kisor Chaudhuri FRGS). Tigers were never numerous but they are there (locally extinct when a study was undertaken in 2005 by Kisor Chaudhuri FRGS). Leopards are more common. The Hos are keen hunters and have practically exterminated game in Kolhan. They organise great battues, in which thousands of people join. They beat their drums in a huge circle, and gradually close in over hills and across forests, driving the wild animals on to a central point, on to which lines of hunters converge until the animals are surrounded and slaughtered.[15]

Literacy

At the 2001 census, Hos had an overall literacy rate of 39.2% and a female literacy rate of 23.9%.[5] This is against the overall literacy rate of 53.56% in Jharkhand, and a women’s literacy rate of 38.87% in Jharkhand. Both are amongst the lowest literacy rates in India.[23]

The percentage of school-going children in the age group 5 –14 years was 37.6.[5] This is a far cry from UNESCO’s call of education for all by 2015.[24]

Among the Hos, 19.7% have completed schooling and 3.1% are graduates.[5]

Notable Ho people


References

  1. ^ "Ho: A Language of India". SIL International. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Adivasi Tribal Group". jharkhand Tribal Group. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. ^ ,Representing Tribe: The Ho of Singhbhum Under Colonial Rule by Asoka Kumar Sen
  4. ^ Tribal struggle for freedom : Singhbhum 1820-1858 by Sunil Kumar Sen
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jharkhand: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  6. ^ "Orissa: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  7. ^ "West Bengal: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. (also Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam). Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  8. ^ Houlton, Sir John, Bihar: The Heart of India, 1949, pp. 132, 138-139, 166-169, Orient Longmans, Kolkata.
  9. ^ Houlton, Sir John, Bihar: The Heart of India, 1949, pp. 132, 138-139, 166-169, Orient Longmans, Kolkata.
  10. ^ Chaubey, G.; et al. (2010), "Population Genetic Structure in Indian Austroasiatic Speakers: The Role of Landscape Barriers and Sex-Specific Admixture", Mol Biol Evol, 28: 1013–1024, doi:10.1093/molbev/msq288, PMC 3355372, PMID 20978040
  11. ^ Riccio et al. (2011), The Austroasiatic Munda population from India and Its enigmatic origin: a HLA diversity study.
  12. ^ Arunkumar et al. (2015), A late Neolithic expansion of Y chromosomal haplogroup O2a1-M95 from east to west.
  13. ^ Sidwell, Paul, and Roger Blench. 2011. "The Austroasiatic Urheimat: the Southeastern Riverine Hypothesis." Enfield, NJ (ed.) Dynamics of Human Diversity, 317-345. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. http://rogerblench.info/Archaeology/SE%20Asia/SR09/Sidwell%20Blench%20offprint.pdf
  14. ^ a b Ancient History by R.S Sharma, pp 1-4
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Houlton, Sir John, Bihar: The Heart of India, 1949, pp. 132, 138-139, 166-169, Orient Longmans, Kolkata.
  16. ^ a b c d e Prasad, Hem Chandra. Bihar. 1983/2003, pp. 36, 67, 159, 162, 184. National Book Trust, New Delhi. ISBN 81-237-0151-9
  17. ^ The Ho Tribe of Singhbhum by C.P.Singh
  18. ^ Pal, T (December 2016). "Sacred Grove in Jharkhand" (PDF). Indian International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science Research. I (I). ISSN 2456-4389. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Ho". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  20. ^ "TATA STEEL COMMEMORATES THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF PT. GURU KOL LAKO BODRA". www.tatasteelindia.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  21. ^ a b c Prasad, Hem Chandra, Bihar, pp. 13, 34, 179, 194.
  22. ^ Srinivasan, N.R., History of The Indian Iron and Steel Company, 1983, p. 137
  23. ^ Table 1.5: Ranking of States/ UTs by literacy rate among Persons, Males, Females, 2001 census, in India 2005, pp. 12-13, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India
  24. ^ "Education for All Goals". UNESCO. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  25. ^ http://www.avenuemail.in/region/tata-steel-celebrated-international-day-worlds-indigenous-peoples/96675/
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