Holva

Abstract

This illustrative monograph on the Holva tribe is a part of the series of photo handbooks on the tribes of Odisha. Briefly it narrates the lifestyle and culture of Holva. Besides citing the socio-cultural identity of the Holva people, this short ethnographic handbook describes their settlement pattern, economic life, social life, religious life, political life, and their process of change and development.

The tribe's name Holva originates from the word holo, meaning plough. It has synonyms like Halva, Holwa, and Holbi. The tribe has several local divisions, such as Bastaria, Chhatisgarhia, and Marethia. In Odisha, the Holva claim to belong to the Bastaria division. These Bastaria Holva form a separate sub-caste and do not have any relationship with the other divisions. The Holvas are largely found in the Southern part of Odisha and Northern part of Andhra Pradesh. Their population in Odisha as per the 2011 census is little more than twenty-eight thousand and the total literacy rate is 48.90 percent. Their mother tongue is called 'Halbi' which is an Indo-Aryan language. Primarily, the Holvas are cultivators. They supplement their income from agriculture by allied activities such as sharecropping, forest collection, basketry, hunting and fishing mat making etc. Their economic life is based upon production, consumption, distribution and exchange simply and fairly centering on family and lineage. In Holva community, every individual is skilled in some kinds of crafts and is traditionally trained in making several utility items to meet their needs. Some of the male members are very good bamboo and woodcarvers and they do it as per the demand of tribesmen. A lot of utility items are made by them out of wood, bamboo, gourds, horns, leaves, stone, etc. for their own use. Their fascinating bead necklaces and excellent tobacco containers are vanishing crafts that need immediate attention for their preservation and promotion. The Holvas are energetic sober people and faithful who keep their words. They are very hardworking and responsive to planned change and development. Since development and change are inevitable, the Holva are no exception to it and they have exhibited growth positive characteristics.