2023-10-21T02:21:43Z

Kingsman3:

2022-11-14T12:20:21Z

Kingsman3:

{{Short description|Ethnic group of India}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Bhumij
| pop = 9,11,349<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>
| popplace = {{flag|India}}
| region2 = [[West Bengal]]
| pop2 = 3,76,296
| region3 = [[Odisha]]
| pop3 = 2,83,909
| region4 = [[Assam]]
| pop4 = 2,48,144
| region5 = [[Jharkhand]]
| pop5 = 2,09,448
| region6 = [[Bangladesh]]
| pop6 = 3,000
| languages = [[Bhumij language]]{{*}}Regional languages
| religions = [[Sarnaism]]{{*}}[[Hinduism]]
| related = [[Munda people|Munda]] {{•}}[[Kol people|Kol]] {{•}} [[Ho people|Ho]] {{•}} [[Santal]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| flag =
| flag_caption =
}}

'''Bhumij''' are a Munda ethnic group of India. They primarily live in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|states]] of [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], and [[Jharkhand]], mostly in the old [[Singhbhum district]], and can also be found in [[Bangladesh]]. They speak [[Bhumij language]]. The [[Ol Onal]] script,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://omniglot.com/writing/olonal.htm|title= Ol Onal}}omniglot</ref> invented by Ol Guru [[Mahendra Nath Sardar]], is used to write Bhumij language in some parts of [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Odisha]] and [[Assam]].

== Etymology ==
Bhumij means ''"one who is born from the soil"'' and it is derived from word ''bhūmi'' (a land or soil). According to N. Ramaswani, the word is etymologically ''Bhūm-jo'' meaning "people originating from Bhum areas, i.e. Singhbhum, Dhalbhum, Manbhum, Barabhum, etc.", E.T. Dalton also had claimed that Bhumijs were the original inhabitants of Dhalbhum, Barabhum, Patkum and Baghmundi.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.language.1596|last=Ramaswamy, N| date=1992|title=Bhumij Grammar}}</ref>

==History==
Bhumij means "one who is born from the soil". Herbert Hope Risley noted in 1890 that the Bhumij inhabit that tract of the country which lies on both sides of the Subarnarekha River. He claimed the eastern branch of Bhumij only spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. According to him, they were a group of [[Munda people|Munda]] who moved east and lost connection with other Mundas, and later adopted Hindu customs when non-tribals arrived in the area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Risley, Sir Herbert Hope 1851-1911|title=The tribes and castes of Bengal|date=1892|publisher=Bengal secretariat Press |oclc=68183872}}</ref>

While those living nearer to [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]] still retain linguistic links with [[Bhumij language]], those living further east have adopted [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as their language. In [[Dhalbhum]] they are completely Hinduized. During British rule, or sometimes even earlier, many of the Bhumij became [[zamindars]] and some even secured the title of [[Raja]]. Others were called [[Sardar]]. However, all of them, having climbed the social ladder, proclaimed themselves to be [[Kshatriyas]], in keeping with the trends in the region.<ref name="Ghosh">Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pp. 423-434, Prakash Bhaban</ref>

=== Geographic distribution ===
The Bhumijs are found in [[Jharkhand]], [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], [[Assam]], and [[Bihar]]. They are concentrated in the districts of Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and 24 Parganas in [[West Bengal]]. In [[Odisha]], they are thickly concentrated in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Balasore, and sporadically distributed in other parts. In [[Assam]], where they are very recent immigrants, their greatest concentration occurs in the Assam valley. In [[Jharkhand]], they are found in the districts of Singhbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Dhanbad.

The Bhumij people came to the [[Sylhet region]] from [[Bihar]] as tea-labourers. They can be found in [[Sreemangal Upazila|Srimangal]] with a population of 3000. They are divided into many clans such as Kaitra, Garur, Kasim, Bhugal, Baundra, Ban, Nag, Shona, Shar and Tresha. Their Bhumij dialect is less and less spoken and Bengali is more widely spoken among the community.<ref name="bpedia">{{cite book|last=Jengcham|first=Subhash|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh|publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]|chapter=Bhumij|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bhumij}}</ref>

==Culture==
The Bhumijs of [[Manbhum]] believe that their original occupation was military service. Subsequently, agriculture was taken as the sole activity by all the tribes, except the iron-smelting Shelo. A few were engaged in petty trade, and some immigrated to the tea districts of Assam. In [[Jharkhand]] and [[Bihar]], the Bhumij even today depend upon agriculture, fishing, hunting and forest produces. Thus, the Bhumijs who are mainly agriculturists also hunts and traps birds and animals in the jungles, and the landless among them work as labourers. Various seasonally available forest products are a subsidiary source of income for them. Marginal income from wage labour, minor non-forest products and animal husbandry are the main source of livelihood for the rural Bhumij.<ref name=":0" />

Rice is their staple food and is consumed throughout the year. They are non-vegetarians, but do not eat pork or beef. The Bhumijs also eat white-ants (termites) and insects. Drinks like rice beer and toddy are commonly consumed by them. Mahua liquor is used sumptuously during feasts and festivals.

As regards dress and ornaments, they follow their Hindu neighbours. Children of both the sexes go naked till the age of four or five years and after which they wear a towel or trouser till adolescence. The male dress consists of a shirt, a dhoti or lungi, and a towel. The women wear sari and blouse. Young girls are fond of ornaments such as nose-rings, earrings, bead necklaces, armlets and bangles made of brass. They put on flowers in their hair.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Scheduled tribes of West Bengal}}
{{Tribes of Jharkhand}}
[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Tribes of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social groups of Odisha]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]

Bhumij people

2022-11-14T12:11:35Z

Kingsman3: New

{{Short description|Ethnic group of India}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Bhumij
| pop = 9,11,349<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>
| popplace = {{flag|India}}
| region2 = [[West Bengal]]
| pop2 = 3,76,296
| region3 = [[Odisha]]
| pop3 = 2,83,909
| region4 = [[Assam]]
| pop4 = 2,48,144
| region5 = [[Jharkhand]]
| pop5 = 2,09,448
| region6 = [[Bangladesh]]
| pop6 = 3,000
| languages = [[Bhumij language]]{{*}}Regional languages
| religions = [[Sarnaism]]{{*}}[[Hinduism]]
| related = [[Munda people|Munda]] {{•}}[[Kol people|Kol]] {{•}} [[Ho people|Ho]] {{•}} [[Santal]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| flag =
| flag_caption =
}}

'''Bhumij''' are a Munda ethnic group of India. They primarily live in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|states]] of [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], and [[Jharkhand]], mostly in the old [[Singhbhum district]], and can also be found in [[Bangladesh]]. They speak [[Bhumij language]]. The [[Ol Onal]] script,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://omniglot.com/writing/olonal.htm|title= Ol Onal}}omniglot</ref> invented by Ol Guru [[Mahendra Nath Sardar]], is used to write Bhumij language in some parts of [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Odisha]] and [[Assam]].

==History==
Bhumij means "one who is born from the soil". Herbert Hope Risley noted in 1890 that the Bhumij inhabit that tract of the country which lies on both sides of the Subarnarekha River. He claimed the eastern branch of Bhumij only spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. According to him, they were a group of [[Munda people|Munda]] who moved east and lost connection with other Mundas, and later adopted Hindu customs when non-tribals arrived in the area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Risley, Sir Herbert Hope 1851-1911|title=The tribes and castes of Bengal|date=1892|publisher=Bengal secretariat Press |oclc=68183872}}</ref>

While those living nearer to [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]] still retain linguistic links with [[Bhumij language]], those living further east have adopted [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as their language. In [[Dhalbhum]] they are completely Hinduized. During British rule, or sometimes even earlier, many of the Bhumij became [[zamindars]] and some even secured the title of [[Raja]]. Others were called [[Sardar]]. However, all of them, having climbed the social ladder, proclaimed themselves to be [[Kshatriyas]], in keeping with the trends in the region.<ref name="Ghosh">Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pp. 423-434, Prakash Bhaban</ref>

=== Geographic distribution ===
The Bhumijs are found in [[Jharkhand]], [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], [[Assam]], and [[Bihar]]. They are concentrated in the districts of Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and 24 Parganas in [[West Bengal]]. In [[Odisha]], they are thickly concentrated in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Balasore, and sporadically distributed in other parts. In [[Assam]], where they are very recent immigrants, their greatest concentration occurs in the Assam valley. In [[Jharkhand]], they are found in the districts of Singhbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Dhanbad.

The Bhumij people came to the [[Sylhet region]] from [[Bihar]] as tea-labourers. They can be found in [[Sreemangal Upazila|Srimangal]] with a population of 3000. They are divided into many clans such as Kaitra, Garur, Kasim, Bhugal, Baundra, Ban, Nag, Shona, Shar and Tresha. Their Bhumij dialect is less and less spoken and Bengali is more widely spoken among the community.<ref name="bpedia">{{cite book|last=Jengcham|first=Subhash|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh|publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]|chapter=Bhumij|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bhumij}}</ref>

==Culture==
The Bhumijs of [[Manbhum]] believe that their original occupation was military service. Subsequently, agriculture was taken as the sole activity by all the tribes, except the iron-smelting Shelo. A few were engaged in petty trade, and some immigrated to the tea districts of Assam. In [[Jharkhand]] and [[Bihar]], the Bhumij even today depend upon agriculture, fishing, hunting and forest produces. Thus, the Bhumijs who are mainly agriculturists also hunts and traps birds and animals in the jungles, and the landless among them work as labourers. Various seasonally available forest products are a subsidiary source of income for them. Marginal income from wage labour, minor non-forest products and animal husbandry are the main source of livelihood for the rural Bhumij.<ref name=":0" />

Rice is their staple food and is consumed throughout the year. They are non-vegetarians, but do not eat pork or beef. The Bhumijs also eat white-ants (termites) and insects. Drinks like rice beer and toddy are commonly consumed by them. Mahua liquor is used sumptuously during feasts and festivals.

As regards dress and ornaments, they follow their Hindu neighbours. Children of both the sexes go naked till the age of four or five years and after which they wear a towel or trouser till adolescence. The male dress consists of a shirt, a dhoti or lungi, and a towel. The women wear sari and blouse. Young girls are fond of ornaments such as nose-rings, earrings, bead necklaces, armlets and bangles made of brass. They put on flowers in their hair.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Scheduled tribes of West Bengal}}
{{Tribes of Jharkhand}}
[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Tribes of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social groups of Odisha]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]