Culture of Bhil Tribal People

Location and population

There are around 580 groups of 10 crore tribal people living in India. “The third biggest group is the Bhil Tribe” They live in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. There are around 1 crore Bhil people.

 Bow and Arrow

‘Bhil is a word from Dravidian ‘Vil which means ‘bow’. Every Bhil family has a bow and arrow and a sword not for hunting but for looting, fighting and protecting themselves. During summer when they have no work on the fields, they take their bows and arrows and go to plunder in groups.

 Food:

 Bhil people live in small villages in hilly regions. They construct small huts and around their huts they sow maize. They eat rotis roasted without oil and  along with ginger, chillies and garlic. There is a certain mow a flower available in their area. Women at home and men at riversides prepare an alcoholic drink from the flower. Every one consumes it including women and children

 Dress and Ornaments

When we go to the interior of the Bhil village, we can find that the people are half – naked. People who are a bit civilized wear a shawl. Men wear a turban which is 5 m long. Children usually do not wear anything. The Bhil people are fond of silver jewels. Even men wear ornaments made of silver.

 Language

 The Bhil people in Gujarat speak Bhilodi, those in Rajasthan speak Vohudi bhil and those in Madhya Pradesh speak Bhili. Those languages are spoken languages. They speak Gujarati and Hindi Bible and preach the word to the Bhils in a language which they can understand. Moreover they compose songs in the tribal language on the miracles sermons and parables of Christ and the ten commandments and sing it to them. Through these songs, the Bhil people are able to realize God.

 Evil Practices

Tribal people worship the spirits of the dead. They consider magicians as gods. They sacrifice goats, hens as per the suggestions given by the magicians. Since they do this in every house there are evil spirits. They know how to effect witchcraft to destroy other people’s lives . Older women teach the younger ones how to put into effect the witchcraft. Therefore all the families are in the clutches of evil spirits and are being destroyed not knowing how to be redeemed.

Socio –economic Status

 Bhil people rely on rains for their livelihood. Without rains, they cannot reap harvest. If they work as coolies in towns, they will be cheated. If they get money for interest, they suffer all the more. One Ramsingh, a Bhil says that he borrowed Rs.2000/- and has paid almost Rs.14,000/- interest. Even now he has not paid his debts. Some are forced to lose their fields because of debts.

 Education

 The Bhils are very poorly educated. They have schools but there are no good teachers. The Bhils do not know even to count.

 Medical Facility

 In villages, there is no medical facility. In taluk, there are hospitals but those who treat the sick are not trained doctors. They work only for money. They do not administer polio drops or vaccines for children

 Transport

 Transport facility is also not proper in the villages. Since the people do not know to read and write, buses ply with no name boards. Around 60 travel by jeeps ad 12 in auto rickshaws.

 Electricity

 Government records says that many villages have been given power supply but it is not the fact. When villages are offered power supply connection, they refuse it saying that they cannot pay the bill.

 Water Facility

Water is scarcely available in these areas. When there are no rains, they dig near the river side and use the water which animals drink. So they fall sick often. Moreover, there is a worm called ‘wallow’ which if it enters our stomach causes sickness and sore in the legs.

 Living under such abject conditions, would not these Bhil people yearn for people who would care for them in this world?