TRIBE IN NEWS: PASHTUNS,B'NEI MENASHE

Context

The Pakistan government banned the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a group which fights for the rights of ethnic Pashtuns, citing it as a threat to national security.

Ethnic Group

Pashtuns (also known as Pathans, Pakhtuns)

Geographic Region

Reside between the Hindu Kush in northeastern Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan. 

In India: communities of the Pashtun diaspora exist in the northern region of Rohilkhand and major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.

Separation

Separated by the Durand Line, which divided the region between British India and Afghanistan

Population in Afghanistan

Largest ethnic group, constituting 40-50% of the population. (They are the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan and one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan)

Language

Pashto (official language of Afghanistan); also speak Farsi (Persian) for trade purposes.

Religion and Marriage

Sunni Islam. Although polygamy with up to four wives is permitted under Muslim law, monogamy is prevalent. Marriages are endogamous within the clan and largely within the subsection.

Social Code

Pashtunwali (code of conduct governing ethical behavior and customs)

Kinship System

Based on descent from a common tribal ancestor through the male bloodline

Tribal Structure

Tribes are divided into clans, subclans, and patriarchal families

Occupation

Sedentary farmers (cultivation and animal husbandry),Migratory herders and caravaners, Many serve in the military, some in political posts

Context

The B'nei Menashe community traces its origins to the Chin, Kuki and Mizo tribes, a small group from Manipur and Mizoram.

The Chin-Kuki-Mizo people are an ethnic group in the areas of India, Myanmar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

Origin

Bnei Menashe tribe, known as the ‘Sons of Manasseh’, is believed to be one of the lost tribes of Hebrew origin from Israel.

Religious Belief

The tribe follows Judaism, considering Israel as the ‘Promised Land’ according to Judaic beliefs.

Migration

Many Bnei Menashe have migrated from Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram to Israel.

Citizenship

They have been granted Israeli citizenship and received teudat zehut (identity cards) which serve as work permits and health insurance.

Ritual Training

Upon migrating, they undergo Hebrew religious training, learning the ordinances and laws of the Torah, Talmud, and Halaka.

Migration Statistics

So far, 2,500 members from Mizoram have permanently migrated to Israel, with another 500 expected next year. Of the total 11,000 Bnei Menashe Jews, 7,000 are yet to migrate.

Financial Support

The entire expenditure for migration (aliyah) is borne by the Israeli government.

Problem of Acceptance

The Bnei Menashe face significant discrimination and marginalization in Israeli society.

Discrimination

They are considered ‘impure’, face racial discrimination, and are often categorized as ‘Chinese’ due to their demographic background.

Location of Settlement

They are usually allocated unstable lands in the West Bank where issues like education, security, and employment are major concerns.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following information:

Which of the above-given pair/s is/are correctly matched?

(a) 2 and 4 only

(b) 1,3 and 4 only

(c) 1,2 and 3 only

(d) 2,3 and 4 only

Answer:  (a)

Explanation:

Pair 1 is incorrect: The Nomole are nomadic Arawak hunter-gatherers who inhabit Manú National Park in Peru.

Pair 2 is correct: Bnei Menashe tribe, known as the ‘Sons of Manasseh’, is believed to be one of the lost tribes of Hebrew origin from Israel.

Pair 3 is incorrect: The Mursi are a Surmic ethnic group in Ethiopia.

Pair 4 is correct: The Nuer people are a Nilotic ethnic group concentrated in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan.