International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of Humanities and Social Science. IJHSSI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Humanities and Social Science, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online.

1. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention
ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714
www.ijhssi.org Volume 4 Issue 1 ǁ January. 2015 ǁ PP.62-66
www.ijhssi.org 62 | Page
Ethnographic Profile of Gonads of Adilabad District
1,
N.Srinivasu, 2,
Pavani
1,
Lecturer, Educational Management, State Institute of educational management and Training
2,
Ph.D Scholar, Dept of Anthropology, Andhra University, Vishakaptnam
ABSTRACT:GondsarewidelyscatteredthroughoutIndia.Gondslivingindifferentgeographicallocationsdonotpossessth
esameculturalfeatures.Thelanguagethedifferentgroupsspeaktooisnotexactlythesame.ThemajorityoftheGondsarefoundt
odayinthestateofMadhyaPradesh.TheirmainstrongholdsaretheSatpuraplateauincludingthedistrictsofBetul,Chhindwar
aandSeoni.Until1947GondRaja'sruledoverthestatesofKawardar,Sakti,RaigarhandSarangh,andthenknownastheChattis
garhStates.ThedistrictofAdilabadoftheformerHyderabadStatewaslaterincorporatedinAndhraPradesh,andisthehomeof
asubstantialgroupofGondscloselyakintotheGondsofYeotmalandChanda.But,GondsofAdilabadhavetheirowncustomsan
dtraditions,whicharedistinctanduniqueinitsownway.
I. INTRODUCTION
TheGondsofAdilabadliveinthemidstofdeciduousforests.Theclimateoftheregionoftheirhabitatconformsclosel
ywiththatprevalentinmostpartsofthecentralDeccan.Threeseasonsarefeltduringayear:hotseasonlastingfromthemiddleof
FebruarytothebeginningofJune,therainyseasonthatfollowssummerandlaststilltheendofSeptember,andawinterextendin
gfromOctobertoFebruary.Thedaytemperatureduringthehotseasonwillbeupto46'Cintheplainsandabout40'Cinthehighe
rhills.Theaveragerainfallisabout100cm.Floraintheregionbasicallyincludestreesoftamarind,ppa,mango,teak,neem,bam
booetc.Themostcommonfaunaincludeswildpigs.Thepopulationoftigersisalmostnil.Deer'sandantelopesarealsodiminis
hinginnumber.Amongthebirdspeacock,duckarecommon,butavarietyofotherbirdsarealsopresent.
Study village:
Mankapur,thepresentstudyvillagefallsunderthejurisdictionofNarnoormandalofAdilabaddistrict.Thevillageis
around2kmsfromNarnoormandal.Itissurroundedbyhills.
Language: Invariably,allGondsspeaktheirownlanguage,thatis,Cond
ThislanguageisclassifiedasaDravidianlanguage.MostofthemarealsofamiliarwithTeluguandMarathi.
Physicalfeatures:Gondsarebasicallymediumstaturewithwell-
builtbodyanddarkbrowntolightercolorskincomplexion.Abroadface,highcheekbones,asmall,shortnose,widenostrilsanda
smallpointedchincharacterizethem.
Dressandornaments:Themenwearwhitecottondhoti.Aturbanofwhiteorcoloredclothisalsoamust.Womenwearthecott
onsariinauniquestyle.Oneendofthesareeisdrawnbetweenthelegsandtuckedinattheback.Theotherendisthrownovertherig
htshoulder.Womenwearornamentslikearmletsandankletsmadeofsilverandglassbanglesofdifferentcolors.Theirhands,ar
msandlegsareextensivelytattooed.
Housetypes:Mostofthehousesarerectangularandkutcha.However,about12%ofthehousesarepuccawithcementedwallsa
ndtiledroofs.Insomehouseswallsarealsomadeupofmud.Mostofthehousesaresingleordoubleroomedwithwoodendoorsan
dwindows.Foreachaneveryhousethereisfencingandinsidethecompoundofthehousetheymaintainakitchengardenwherev
egetablesandflowersareraised.
Foodhabits:Thetraditional staplefood ofGonds isjowari andrice.Consumption
ofdifferentvarietiesofcurrywithavailablevegetablesinthekitchengardenisalsohigh.Theyusuallyeattwiceaday.Specialfoo
ditemsarecookedatthetimeoffestivals.
SocialOrganization:SocialorganizationrelatestothefunctioningofdifferentsocialinstitutionsintheGondSociety.Theinst
itutionsareestablishednormsorconditionsofprocedurelinkedwithgroupaction.Thesocialunitsofclansandfamilyandtheins
titutionsofkinshipandmarriagearediscussedbelowforthedescriptionofsocialorganizationofGonds.Consequently,religion
,economicandpoliticalorganizationarealsodiscussed.

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Clans Socialgroupingsbasedonbloodareperhapsthemostimportantsocialunits
amongtheGonds.Thepersonsbelongingtotheseunitsgenerallyregardthemselvesasdescendantsofcommonancestorandcl
aimthatsamebloodrunsintheirveins.InMankapur,fourexogamouspatrilinealdescentgroupsknowninGondias"saga"wer
ereported..Allthefour"sagas"notonlyshareacommonmythicalhistory,tracedbacktotheirveryorigin,buttheirmemberssta
ndtoeachotherintherelationshipoftraditionalmarriagepartners.Eachphratryisdividedintoanumberofnamedclanscalled"
pari".Theclannameisalwaysplacedbeforethegivenname,thusamanofAtramclancalledLachu,isknownasAtramLachu.S
omeotherclansinthisvillageare:Mesram,Kotnaka,Atram,Kumraandsoon.
Family:Thefamilytypeispredominantlynuclear-
typewithextension.Buttherearealsofewbrokenandjointfamilies.Thefamilyispatrilineal,patrilocalandpatriarchal.Thatisa
mongGondsthefatherortheeldestmaleisrecognizedastheheadofthefamily.Thefamilyistheimportantbasisofday-to-
dayeconomicandsociallife.Thememberoffamilyproducefoodbyjointactionwithwelldefineddivisionoflabour.Thenumeri
calcompositionofthehouseholdsoftheGondslivinginthestudyvillageisasfollows:
Numberofhouseholdmembers
Single 2 - 3 4 -5 6 - 8 7 - 9 9 Plus Total
2 3.0% 13 19.7% 20 30.3% 28 42.4% 2 3.0% 1 1.5% 66
100.0%
Typesoffamilies:
a. Sub-Nuclearfamily:Asub-
nuclearfamilyconsistsofamarriedcouplewitho utchildren.Therearethreesuchfamiliesoutoftotal66familiesinthevill
age.
b. Sub-Nuclearfamilywith dependent:This isthe family consistsof married
coupleswithoutchildrenanddivorcedorwidowedparentsdependentonthem.Thereisonly2suchfamiliesinthevillage.
[1] Brokenfamily:Onceanuclearfamilybreaksdownduetothedeathordivorceofoneofthespouse's,itbecomesbroke
nfamily.Itconsistsofawidoworawidower,divorceordivorcewithunmarriedchildrenofeithersex.Thereare4fami
liesinthevillage
[2] Brokenfamilywithdependents:Thisfamilyconsistsofbrokenfamilywithsomedependents.Thedependentsare
widow,widoweddaughter,daughtershusbandormarriedgranddaughter.Thereare5familiesamongthevillagers.
[3] Nuclearfamily:Anuclearfamilyconsistsofahusband,wifealongwiththeirunmarriedchildren.Thereare30famili
esamong66familiesinthevillage.
[4] NuclearFamilywithdependents:Thenuclearfamilywhichincludesonedependentwhodonotconstitutethefami
lybythemselvesandbecomedependentonanuclearfamily.Tenfamiliesareobservedtobeofthistypeinthestudyvil
lage.
[5] Horizontalextendedfamily:whentwoormoremalesiblingslivetogetheralongwiththeirmatesandchildren,this
iscalledHorizontallyextendedfamily.Thereare8familiesfoundamongGond.
[6] Verticallyextendedfamily:whenacouplelivealongwiththeremarriedsonandhischildren,theyformaverticallye
xtendedfamily.Thereare2families.
[7] Polygamousfamily:APolygamousfamilyconsistsofamanandtwoormoreofhiswivesalongwiththeirchildren.T

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wofamilieswerefoundtobeofthistypeamongGonds.
Marriage:
MarriageisasignificantphaseofthelifeofbothmenandwomenamongtheGonds.Membersareconsideredasadultsonlyaftert
heirmarriage..Themostcommontypeofmarriageamonggondsismarriagebynegotiationcalledaskhajakhopramarming.Ma
rriagebyservice(lamsaremarming)andmarriagebycapture(pisiwatwalmarming)arealsoreported.Marriagebynegotiationi
sconsideredasprestigiousofalltypes,whilemarriagebyserviceisnotfavoured bymany.In caseofmarriagebynegotiation,a
formal proposal is first made bytheboy's side relatives.Oncethe
proposalisagreed,betrothalceremony(khaja)isarranged.Thisisfollowedbyanelaboratewedding(marming)inthebridegroo
m'svillage.Thekinsfolkofbothbrideandbride
groomparticipateintheweddingceremony.Marriageceremonyisheldatgroomhouseonly,andexpensesareexclusivelymetb
ythefamilyofthebridegroom.Monogamyisacceptednorm.
RarecasesofPloygynymayalsobefound.Gondwomendon'tobjectonprincipletoliveinpolygamousunionsandwecanfindma
nyinstancesofco-
wiveslivingamicablyinonehouse.TheabolitionofpolygamyimposedbytheGovernmentofIndiainthe1950'shashadnoeffec
tontheGondssofarandmostofthemareunawareofanylegallimitonthenumberofwivesamanmaymarry.Levirateandsororate
arealsopracticed.Marriagesysteminvolvespayment
ofbridepriceintheformofgoats,orevensometimescashatthetimeofmarriage.
ThefollowingrulesareobservedformarriageamongtheGonds.Theimportantrulethatinfluencestheselectionofmatesamon
gGondsisendogamyatthetribelevel.Ruleofexogamyisalsoobserved.Itisprohibitingmarriagewithinaspecifiedgroup.Am
ongGonds,thesocialgroupisusuallytheclan.ThemostpreferredcategoriesformarriagesareMBDandFZD.
Economicorganization:
ThemostpredominantoccupationforthemembersofMankapurvillageissettledagriculture.Somehouseholdsarealsoengag
edintailoring,wagelabor,serviceetc.Inthefollowingtable,distributionofthehouseholdsaccordingtotheoccupationoftheh
eadofthehouseholdispresented.
Occupationoftheheadofthehousehold Total
Agriculture Tailor Labour Service Pettybusin
ess
Others
42 2 12 7 1 2 66
63.6% 3.0% 18.2% 10.6% 1.5% 3.0% 100.0%
IncaseofsettledagricultureploughingusuallystartsinthemonthofDurarithatcorrespondstoFebruary-
MarchandcontinuestillthemonthofBhawe.FirstsowingtakesplaceinBur-
BhaweandthecropsareharvestedinSatithatcorrespondstoNovember-
December.Majorcropsthatarecultivatedare:jowar,soya,kapus,wanjg,nung,pesalketc.Soyaandcottonarebasicallycultiv
atedformarketingandnotfortheirconsumption.
ThetotalagriculturallandinMankapurvillageis543acres.ThelandownedbytheGondsisdrylandandtheyentirelydependon
rainfallforirrigation.MostoftheGondswhoownthelandhave1-
5acres.Thedistributionofhouseholdsbytheextentoflandownedispresentedinthefollowingtable.

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Extentofland
Landless 1-5
acres
6-10
acres
11-15
acres
16-20
acres
21-25
acres
26-40
acres
Total
31.8% 31.8% 22.7% 6.1% 6.1% 1.5% Nil 100
Differentkindsofimplementsareusedforagriculture.Mainagriculturalimplementisnangal(plough)whichisasimplewood
enstructureusedforploughing.Sickleslikesetada, kusaareused for harvestingcrops.
Politicalorganization:
AmongtheGondsweseeaninterminglingofbothtraditionalandmodernpoliticalorganizationworkingtogether.Traditional
politicalorganizationistheorganizationinwhichvillageheadman-anelderlyperson-
generallysolvesthedisputesthatmayoccurinthevillage.Modernpoliticalorganizationreferstotheparticipationinpoliticali
nstitutionsatPanchayat,Mandal,andDistrictlevelaspertheconstitutionofIndia.Participationinmodernpoliticalinstitution
sisthroughaffiliationswithpoliticalpartiesintheState.
Generally,thetraditionalpoliticalinstitutionofGondsfunctionsforresolvingthedisputesinthevillage.Thevillageheadman(
Patel)summonsmeetingofelderlypeopleforthispurpose.Theguiltypersonispunishedbyaskinghimtogivefeastorbyimpos
ingfine.Insomecasesthepersonisostracized.Patelactsasadministrativeheadandkeepsaneyeonthelawandordersituation.
OfficeofthePatelishereditaryandtransferredto
theeldestsonofthefamily.IfthedisputeisnotsolvedthenthelocalleadersgototheSarpanchtosolvethesame.
Religion:
Religionisthevitalpartofanysocietyanditplaysasignificantroleintribalsocietiesinparticular.Themostprominenttribalgod
samongGondsareBheemdevandPoochammaworshippedinthemonthofchaitthatcorrespondstoMarch-
April.Apartfromthesetwo,theyhavetheirownclangodslikePersaPenandvillagedeitieslikeAkiPenandAuwalPen.Thereli
giousspecialistsamongtheGondsare:thevillagepriest(devari),the clanpriest(katora),andthe
seerordiviner(bhaktal).Theyalsohaveancestralworship.Theyperformlifecycleritualsliketonsuring,puberty,marriage,an
ddeathinatraditionalmanner.Mostcommonfestivalsamonggondsareakhadipuja,polapanduga,nagobarite,holi,kamdevj
atraetc.
Communication
InMankapurvillagecommunicationandtransportfacilitiesarequitesignificant.Thevillageisconnectedtothemainroadand
within2Kmsthereisasmalltownwithtelephonebooths,groceryshops,hospital,medicalshopsetc.Villagers'commutetothis
townbyautorickshaws.
Medicalfacilities:
InMankapurvillagetherearelocalmedicinemen,providingherbalmedicinestothevillagers.Thesemedicinemenusevarious
herbsfortreatmentofvariousdiseaseslikeTyphoid,Jaundice,fever,cold,coughetc.IncaseofseriousillnesstheygototheNar
noorgovernmenthospital,whichis2kmsfarfromtheirsettlements.

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Interandintratribalrelations:
Gondsofthestudyvillagemaintainverycloseandintimaterelationshipwithmembersofothertribesandcastesinthevillagean
dalsooutsidethevillage.Thesorrows,happinessandallfeelingsareseentobesharedwitheachotherinthevillage.There
isexchange of laborand other agricultural implements.Anyconflicts and
tensionsthatmaycropupinbetweenarepeacefullyresolvedbytheheadofthevillage.
Literacyandeducation:
Majorityofthemembersinthevillageareilliterates.However,someoftheyouthhadtheireducationuptocollegelevel.Thefoll
owingtableshowstheeducationalattainmentsoftheheadsofthehouseholdsinthestudyvillage.
Educationoftheheadofthehousehold
Illiterate Primary Secondary Inter Degree Total
63.6% 9.2% 21.2% 4.5% 1.5% 100
II. CONCLUSION
TheGondsofAdilabadliveinthemidstofdeciduousforests.Theclimateoftheregionoftheirhabitatconformsclosely
withthatprevalentinmostpartsofthecentralDeccan.Invariably,allGondsspeaktheirownlanguage,thatis,Cond
.Themenwearwhitecottondhoti.Aturbanofwhiteorcoloredclothisalsoamust.Womenwearthecottonsariinauniquestyle.O
neendofthesareeisdrawnbetweenthelegsandtuckedinattheback.Thefamilytypeispredominantlynuclear-
typewithextension.Buttherearealsofewbrokenandjointfamilies.Thefamilyispatrilineal,patrilocalandpatriarchal.Majorit
yofthemembersinthevillageareilliterates.However,someoftheyouthhadtheireducationuptocollegelevel.
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