http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/60530 2025-12-14T07:12:09Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/60638 Title: Paudi Bhuyan Editor/Author: AB Ota; AC Sahoo Abstract: The Bhuyan is one of the most prominent and numerically preponderant tribe widely distributed in different parts of Odisha. This historically well-known community represents varying socio-cultural stages of development. The Paudi Bhuyan is one of the major sections of the Bhuyan tribe which has been identified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the state.This photo handbook is an account reflecting Paudi Bhuyan's environment, lifestyle and culture. The Paudi Bhuyans are very simple, sober and hardworking people mostly found in Bhuyan Pirha of Keonjhar district and Bonai mountainous areas of Sundergarh and Angul districts. They eke out their living by slash and burn type of cultivation and also paddy cultivation.They have an established social control system and always devoted to their innumerable gods,goddess, deities, spirits and unseen power. According to them one can lead happy life by keeping good relation with benevolent and malevolent spirits. The Paudi Bhuyan maintains symbiotic relationship with the environment and neighboring ethno-cultural groups. They have greater confidence on their hard work and will-power.They don't work solely for economic benefits rather enjoy their work and derive pleasure out of it. Even today shifting cultivation' provides them minimum food security and their knowledge and skill in this regard is more scientific.They observe a series of annual feasts and festivals prescribed by their forefathers. Low yield, population pressure, depletion of forest, fluctuation in the environment and natural calamities are some of the main factors which hinder their holistic development. They have strong hold on their natural and human resource potential; however,there is distinctive division of labour. Paudi Bhuyan village is a closely knit social entity with huge measure of cohesion and continuity. The village in Paudi Bhuyan society is never an isolated entity rather it forms a segment of wider inter village organization called Pirha. Now, youths of present generation and educated ones are very much conscious of their democratic rights and responsibilities. Their customary laws and traditional council are strong enough for resolving disputes ensuring right justice. There is continuous approach to bring sustainable development to Paudi Bhuyan through PBDA Khuntgaon in Sundergarh district, PBDA Jamardih in Angul district and PBDA Rugudakudar in Deogardh district. It is hoped that this book would be of immense help to the Paudi Bhuinya lovers, tourists, researchers as well as general readers. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/60637 Title: Mankirdia Editor/Author: AB Ota; SC Mohanty Abstract: In the remote wilderness of Similipal National Park and its periphery one finds small groups of nomads living in an archaic age of hunting and food gathering. They are traditionally skilled in catching monkey and rope making out of the bark of siali fiber. They wander from place to place in small bands in search of rope making materials and monkey. They live in temporary makeshift leaf huts raised in forest clearings and village outskirts. People call them â Mankidiâ or â Mankirdiaâ i.e., the people who live on monkey catching but they identify themselves as â Birhorâ (bir â Jungle and hor- people) meaning â the denizens of forestâ . In fact they constitute a semi nomadic section of the Birhor tribe. Besides the Similipal forests of Mayurbhanj district, small wandering bands of Mankirdia are also found in neighbouring districts of Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Balasore. The tribe represents a slowly changing primitive society with ancient tribal cultural characteristics. They speak a language of their own that belongs to the â Mundaâ branch of Austro-Asiatic language group. Some of them can also speak the local language, Odia. Though few in numbers, the tribe has successfully retained its distinctive cultural features as well as cultural identity.To eke out a living, they shuttle between forests and the local markets for collecting siali fibers and selling or bartering their products such as ropes, slings, oil press baskets etc. In the present times, they lead a life of relative deprivation because their forest dependent subsistence activities have been checked by the injunctions of forest and biosphere rules. The Mankirdia has been identified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha. A Micro Project named â Hill-Kharia and Mankirdia Development Agencyâ headquartered at Jashipur in Mayurbhanj district is working for bringing about their all-round development since 1987. It has set up two Mankirdia settlement colonies to rehabilitate the nomads. The community has shown a good response to their development programmes and changes are visible in their life style. Yet there are many other wandering bands left to be covered.This photographic documentation of the tradition and change in the life style of this tribe will be useful to students, academicians, inquisitive tourists, laymen and development functionaries. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/60631 Title: Dongria Kandha Editor/Author: AB Ota; SC Mohanty Abstract: In the remote mountainous wilderness of the Eastern Ghats region of South Odisha lives a fascinating Kuvi-speaking tribe called, the Dongria Kandha who are a primitive section of the Kandha â numerically the most preponderant tribe of Odisha. They inhabit the lofty Niyamgiri hill ranges in the districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi. Endowed with rich cultural distinctions, they occupy a very special place in the heart of Anthropologists. One can see in the Niyamgiri hills vast stretches of land in the hill slopes under banana and pineapple plantations amidst jackfruit trees which the master hands of the Dongria Kandha have grown. Expert horticulturists as they are, the Dongria Kandha have proved that the skill, ingenuity and perseverance of Man can tame any rugged terrain without the application of any improved technology. To a stranger the Dongria Kandha strike as a very important tribal community for their simplicity, quickness in observation and sensibility. In almost all activities the tribesmen reveal a corporate life. They help each other in economic activities, and drink, dance and sing all in congregation. Religious ceremonies and festivals are performed communally. Crime is rare and adultery is uncommon and the individual behaviour is marked by honesty and truthfulness. Ideally hospitable, exceptionally candid and remarkably simple, the Dongrias live amidst Nature. To the Dongria the nature is the greatest impeller, the scenery around forming the grand arena where the human drama of vicissitudes of the mortal life is staged.They have been identified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and two Micro Projects are functioning for their development. Changes are taking place in their traditional life style after development interventions being made by the Micro Projects and other agencies.A photographic presentation of the life and work of this important tribal community will not only serve the academic interest but also the curiosity of inquisitive tourists, laymen and development practitioners concerned for development of the tribe. In this book both aesthetic and humanistic interests have been interwoven to present the thought-ways and work-ways of a people who lead a life of indigence and relative deprivation in the midst of plenty. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/60636 Title: Lodha Editor/Author: AB Ota; AC Sahoo Abstract: This photo handbook on the Lodha tribe is based on anthropological study highlighting their life style, and culture. The Lodha were formerly designated as criminal tribes and persecuted and looked down upon with suspicion and aversion by their neighbours. Criminality is not hereditary, and the criminal propensity of the Lodha is more due to the integration of their social moorings under economic and territorial displacement due to unavoidable reasons. In the present century, we find a new outlook has developed in the mindset of this community. They are today identified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of Odisha. Of course they have undergone profound changes in the pattern of their livelihood and culture. However, government is trying its best and finding adequate means for fitting them into the general social fabric so that they could develop a progressive life. Special plans are being formulated and implemented for their uplift. Such efforts have resulted into development of new inter-ethnic relationship which could help the process of integration with neighbouring groups.The Lodha depend on agriculture for their sustenance. However, their traditional occupation is collection of forest produce, such as cocoons, lac, resin, honey, wax, etc. Even today they depend on food gathering and are in great demand for agricultural labour by the local land holders. There is also a shift towards other occupations like leaf plate making, Sabai grass rope making and bamboo craft. Moreover, hunting and fishing are two other important economic pursuits of the Lodha people.The Lodha are basically an endogamous community and they have frequent interaction with other tribal communities and Hindu castes who live adjoining their habitat. Some of the elderly Lodha people are the treasure house of traditional folk tales and oral literature.Clan organization is an important feature of the Lodha community. Their magico-religious life is associated with gods, goddess, deities, benevolent and malevolent spirits as well as ceremonies and festivals. They struggle hard to survive amidst frustration and lack of self-reliance.SCSTRTI has endeavored a photographic documentation of this PVTG. Hopefully, learned readers will get benefit from this work