Arup and Sushanta discuss their past anthropological field work on the Bhil tribe. They catch up on what they remember about the Bhil people, including that they are one of the largest tribal groups in India mainly found in western states. They converse about the Bhil language, places they live, cultural practices like folk dances, art, clothing, festivals, and religious beliefs. After talking for a while, Sushanta offers to get them tea and snacks.

2.  Mr. Arup Bhowmick works in a private
company in Kolkata. He had studied
anthropology and did field work on
Bhils or Bheels. He had met another friend
who had studied at Bangabasi College in
Kolkata. His friend, Sushanta Mullick also
studied anthropology and now working at
Writers Building in the Minority Affairs
Department in Kolkata. Sushanta had come
to Arup’s house on Monday evening. They
were talking about their field work on Bhils.

3.  Arup said, “Do you remember about our
field work on Bhils?”
 Sushanta said, “Yes! The Bhils are an ethnic
group from Western India. They
communicate using Bhil language and it
comes under Indo-Aryan languages.
 Arup asked, “ Do you know which the largest
tribal group in our country?”

4.  Sushanta said, “ As per 2013 report, the
Bhils.”
 Arup asked, “ Do you remember the places
where Bhil tribe is found?”
 Sushanta said, “ They are found in Gujarat,
Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
and Rajasthan. They are found in Tripura also
along with Bangladesh.”
 Arup asked, “ You are right! What languages
are they speaking right now?”

5.  Sushanta said, “ They can speak regional
languages like Maratho, Hindusthani dialect
and Gujarati also.”
 Arup said, “ Perfect! Have you heard about
their rebellion at Gujarat?”
 Sushanta said, “ Yes! They had rebelled at
the time of British rule in 1846, 1857-58 and
1868.”

6.  Arup asked, “Where do we find Bhils in
Madhya Pradesh?”
 Sushanta said, “ They are found in Dhar,
Jhabua, Khargone and Ratlam districts. In
terms of size, what is their rank?”
 Arup said, “ The Bhils are third largest on the
basis of population and it is followed by
Gonds and then the Santhals.”

7.  Sushanta asked, “ You are right! What are the
endogamous territorial divisions of Bhils?”
 Arup said, “ They are found in Rajasthan in the
form of Meena, Bhil Garasia, Dholi Bhil, Dungri
Garasia Mewasi Bhil, etc”
 Sushanta said, “Perfect! What is their language
known as per geographic distribution?”
 Arup replied, “It is Bhilli and it is important to
remember that there are 36 dialects of Bhili.
They have different pronunciation. There is a
Gujarati affinity of Bhili.”

8.  Sushanta asked, “What kind of painting is
prevalent among the Bhils?”
 Arup said, “It is pithora painting. Do you
know their folk dance?”
 Sushanta said, “It is Ghoomar. It symbolizes
womanhood where the young girls are the
participants.”
 Arup asked, “What kind of art is found
among the Bhils?”

9.  Sushanta said, “They apply dots of different
colors in the form of in-filling. Who is the
popular artist among the Bhils?”
 Arup replied, “Bhuri Bai first started painting
using paper and colors. What are the names
of reputed artists among Bhils?”
 Sushanta replied, “They are Dubu Bariya,
Ram Singh, Sher Singh, and Lado Bhai.”

10.  Arup asked, “What kind of foods are
cultivated by Bhils?”
 Sushanta said, “They are onion, maize, chilli,
garlic etc. Rice and wheat are utilized during
festivals. Do you have any idea about their
weapons?”

 Arup replied, “They use self-made bows and
arrows, swords, knives, axes. They are
associated with hunting. Did they produce
alcohol?”

11.  Sushanta said, “ Yes! They produce it from
Mahua flower. What kind of dresses does the
men and women wear?”
 Arup replied, “ The men wear Angarkha,
Gamcha, and Dhoti. The women wear Ghagra
Choli and Sari.”

12.  Sushanta said, “What kind of ornaments are
used by women and men?”
 Arup said, “The men use Bajuband, Kada, ear
rings, Chain, Kardhani. The ornaments of
women are ring, hansli, earring, zele-zumke,
narniyan which is actually bangle, nathni is
nose-jewel, etc.”

13.  Sushanta asked, “ What is their religious belief?”
 Arup said, “ They have gramdev or local diety.
They also have kuldev and kuldevi. They utilize
stones for their kuldev. They have serpent god
and they are Bhilat dev and Bhati dev. Village
god is represented by Baba dev. Crop god is
identified as karkulia dev. Pastoral god is Gopal
dev. Lion god is represented by Bag dev. Dog god
is represented by Bhairav dev. They have other
gods like Indel dev, Bada dev, Mahadevel, Tejaji,
Lotha mai, Techma, Orka Chichma and Kajal dev.

14.  Sushanta said, “That is really interesting!
What are the festivals of Bhil?”
 Arup said, “They are Navratri , Rakhi, Diwali,
Holi etc. They have certain traditional
festivals like Akhatij, Navmi, Howan Mata ki
Chalavani, Sawan Mata ki jatar, Diwasa,
Nawai, Bhagoria, Gal, Gar, Dhobi, Sanja,
Indel, Doha and others.”

15.  Sushanta said, “Let me arrange some tea and
snacks.”
 Arup replied, “Okay.”
 Then they played chess for 1 hour and then
Arup went home.

16.  Pratanu Banerjee is a writer
 Call 91-8017517171
 Email pratanubanerjee9@gmail.com
 Institute of performing art and mind power
development is affiliated under world art
organization
 Pratanu Banerjee had studied anthropology for 5
years from Narasinha Dutta College and
Bangabasi College. He had worked in tribal
development NGO named Khatra Adivasi Culture
and Development Center under Mr. Lakshmindra
Kumar Sarkar, a Bankura based NGO.