Description

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Context:

People belonging to the Birhor tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group in Jharkhand, have joined a movement against child marriage in Giridih for the first time.

About the Birhor tribe:

Primary Region	Indian state of Jharkhand; also found in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and West Bengal.
Name Meaning	Birhor means 'jungle people'; bir = 'jungle', hor = 'men'
Language	Birhor language belongs to the Munda group of languages of the Austroasiatic language family.
	Similarities with Santali, Mundari, and Ho languages.
Ethnology	Short stature, long head, wavy hair, broad nose.
	Claim descent from the Sun; consider Kharwars as their brothers.
	Similar ethnologically to Santals, Mundas, and Hos.
Economy	Primitive subsistence economy based on nomadic gathering and hunting, particularly for monkeys.
	Make ropes from a specific species of vine, sold in agricultural markets.
	Some have settled into stable agriculture.
Socio-economic Classification	Uthlus (wandering Birhors)
	Janghis (settled Birhors)
Beliefs	Follow a mixture of animism and Hinduism.

Tribes of Jharkhand:

Munda	One of the largest tribal communities in Jharkhand, known for their agricultural practices and traditional arts.
Oraon (Kurukh)	A significant tribe in Jharkhand, known for their distinct language and traditional beliefs, including worship of nature deities.
Santhal	The largest tribal group in Jharkhand, known for their unique culture, traditional dance, and the Santhal language.
Ho	An agrarian tribe, traditionally known for their worship of nature deities and cultural practices like the 'Sarhul' festival.
Kharia	One of the oldest tribal communities, practicing shifting cultivation and known for their rich cultural traditions.
Bhumij	Primarily found in Jharkhand, known for their agricultural practices and traditional crafts.
Paharia	Known as 'the mountain people,' they live in the hilly terrains of Jharkhand and are known for their distinct customs and traditions.
Asur	A small tribal community in Jharkhand, known for their agricultural practices and animistic beliefs.
Kora	A lesser-known tribe in Jharkhand, engaged in agriculture and known for their traditional practices.
Mahli	Primarily found in the eastern part of Jharkhand, known for their distinct music and dance forms.
Kisan (Mali)	A small tribal group in Jharkhand, traditionally engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.
Bedia	Known for their traditional dance 'Jhumar' and are primarily found in the rural areas of Jharkhand.
Koda	A small, yet distinct tribal community in Jharkhand, known for their agriculture and animal husbandry practices.
Uraon (Kurukh)	Similar to Oraons, but primarily found in the eastern part of Jharkhand, known for their distinct cultural practices and rituals.
Mankardha	Found in the Chotanagpur region of Jharkhand, known for their agricultural practices and traditional music.
Jharia	A smaller tribal group, primarily engaged in agriculture and known for their traditional songs and dances.
Karmali	A tribal community in Jharkhand known for their distinct social customs and traditional crafts.

Source:

Deccanherland

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statement regarding Birhor tribe:

They are known as 'jungle people'.
The Birhor tribe has joined a movement against child marriage in Giridih.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Birhor tribe is known as 'jungle people' and has traditionally practiced a subsistence economy through gathering and hunting.

Statement 2 is correct: The Birhor tribe has joined a movement against child marriage in Giridih marking a significant cultural reform.