Kol-Loharas

Abstract

The Kol-Loharas constitute a section of the great and ancient Kolarian tribes who are called in various names like Munda, Kol, Kolha, Ho, LarkaKol etc. in different localities. They are also the Mundari tribes who inhabited the Kolhan region in Singbhum district of Bihar and in course of time migrated to the neighbouring districts of Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. In Odisha, they are numerically small tribe largely distributed in the Northern and Western districts namely, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundergarh. Traditionally they are distinguished as artisans who worked as village blacksmiths who served the local peasant community by way of manufacturing and supplying iron implements. "Lohar" or "Lohra" is a term derived from "LOHA"- the iron. So " Lohar" or "Lohra" means the man who works with iron.