Chapter 2 Gamit Tribe

Chapter 2 Gamit Tribe Before we go to the genesis of Gamit tribe, the tribal community under research study, let us have a look at the cultural and political Gujarat, where Gamits are inhabiting in maximum numbers. Dr. Bhagwnlal Indraji, an Indian archeologist and scholar has s aid, “The richness of the mainland of Gujarat, the gift of Sabarmti, Mahi, Narmada and Tapi rivers and the goodliness of much of Saurashtra, the goodly-land, from the beginning of the history, continued to draw strangers to Gujarat, both as conquerors and refugees. Each of the incoming groups, castes, races, types, tribes or nationalities have materially affected the characteristics of the racial types of the country .” (2) Gujarat state is situated on the Western side of the country, having a coastline of 1600km. Gujarat is a cultural, social and linguistic unit which has acquired an independent political status since 1960. The modern map of Gujarat retains its classical shape in western India with sandy flat boundary towards the North with Cutch, Sind, Rajputana and Malwa, flanked on the coast also by the Malwa plateau and by the hilly forests of Khandesh and with a tapering cone caused by the ancient region of Kalyan and Thana pressing towards the sea. The eastern boundaries of Gujarat fixed by the mountain ranges of Aravalli, Satpura and Vindhya. Thus, protected by a long sea coastline on South and East, and on the West by regions of hilly and forest areas, on the North by sandy desert, Gujarat has become an unusual meeting ground of various cultures and peoples coming from over vast areas and long distance. (Shah 1) The word‘Gujarat’was not known until the inroads of the Gujjar tribe from the Punjab made the name more familiar. The Gujjars were supposed to be the sub tribe of Huns. The region was known in ancient time as Anarta,Surastra, Lata and Aparanta, which extended till Konkan region came to be known as ‘Gujartra ’ or the land of Gujjars, 61 only about the 6th century. Dr. K.M.Munshi had discovered linguistic affinities between the folk songs of Gujjar milkman found by him at Baisu-ran in Kashmir in 1945, and old Gujarati songs. From the ancient times Yadavas, Yavanas, Greeks, Bactrians, Parsis, Portuguese , Turks, Arabs, Africans, Armenians, Dutch, French and the British migrated to Gujarat. During the reign of the Chavdas, Chapotkatas and Chalukya dynasties, the foundation of modern Gujarat was laid down and Gujarat reached to the highest summit of its glory. During 13th century, a few Koli and Warli chiefs, one of them Paupera, came into Surat district from the Deccan with a handful of Mahadeo - kolis and established a ruling family with control over 22 forts. These tribal people were left undisturbed during the Musalman Period (1297 to 1403), by the Ahmedabad Sultans (1403-1573), the Mugal Viceroys (1573-1758), and by the Marathas (1760-1819). These outside rulers had no time to conquer the tribes or to reform them, unless their depredations became very heavy and disturbing. The hill forts of Bagwada in Pardi, Parnera in Bulsar and Dharampur were taken by the troops of Mahmud Begda when the tribes began to harass the population. The great rise of the Maratha power disturbed the quite economic life of the tribal and rural people of Gujarat. There is a record that fort Songad came into the hands of the tribal people in 1719, but finally went into the hands of the Maratha Rulers. (Shah 5,6) In India and Gujarat Bhil is a very ancient ethnic and original tribe, and the majority of the tribes found in Gujarat are believed to be the subtribes of the Bhils. The Bhils have at present spread themselves on the “Bhilwara” land situated on the hill bordering of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Central India, “Bhils are more ancient than Aryans or Dravidians for the name it self is derived from a Dravidian word ‘Bill’ for bow. The Bhils have therefore important claims to be regarded as one of the most ancient tribes of India” (Deliege 1985). The earliest traditional rulers of Gujarat were Bhils or Kolis namely ‘Asha Bhil’, the founder of Ashaval, Ashapalli; the oldest site of the modern city of Ahmedabad. 62 Merutangacharya in ‘PrabodhChitamani’ in 1306, has mentioned that Kar nadev I of Solanki Dyansty defated AshaBhil of Asha Palli and founded Karnavati. Dr. K. K. Shastri syas that, in 1411, after 162 years of establishment of Ahmedabad, two separate cities of Ashapalli and Karnavati were in existence (2013. my tran.). R.E.Enthoven, in ‘The Tribes and Castes of Bombay,’ says, ‘The Bhils, so contemptuously spoken in Sanskrit literature were however, at one time a powerful race owing considerable tracts of the country.’ Ex -Hod of History Department, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Emirates Professor and well known historian Dr.Makrand Maheta says that many scholars have mentioned it again and again that Karnadev defeated Asha Bhil and founded Karnavati, but they had nowhere discussed the role of Bhil rulers and the contribution they had made for the new capital of Gujarat, was neglected deliberately. Colonial historians referred to them as the predatory and criminal tribes. Historical evidence about Ashapalli is found in the verse, written in 1762 entitled ‘Amadavad Shaherni Lavani’ compiled by Ambalal Jain. According to this verse, Sultan Ahmadshah attacked on Ashapalli. Asha Bhil was not ready to surrender but his wife advised him not to fight with the powerful sultan and in the treaty Asha Bhil got his daughter Teja married to the Sultan. Scholar and historian S.C.Mishra says ‘Asawal was the junction of several important routes and was an important centre before Ahmedabad was founded a new capital thus affecting a break from the tradition of Patan. The erection of this new capital at a much strategic site indicates the sultan’s awareness of the new tasks in implementing his authority in new area and half subjected lands. There are records in the history that Rajput Rajas honoured Bhil chiefs by putting their figure in their emblem. Bhil chiefs used to be invited at the time of coronation of Rajput Rajas. The Rajputs recognized the tribal leaders as their allies and as the leaders-gameti- of their respective communities. There were both commensally and connubial relationship between Bhils and Rajputs. Identity of these tribal communities have undergone considerable change if we consider the census records. As per 1871 census, these tribes were considered out of the 63 Hindoo religion and were called aboriginals and animist tribes in Independent India. They got the status as the Scheduled Tribes. According to the census records of 1872, the aboriginal tribes, the dark rac es or ‘Kali Paraj’ numbered 166 565 souls or no less than 33.31 percent of the entire population of the district.(Surat) Though among these tribes marked difference and considerable variety in condition are to be found as compared with the fair cultivators, all of them are distinctly inferiors in mental and bodily power.(Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. XII) Gujarat houses 14.8% tribal population of the country. Central Indian tribal belt stretches from Gujarat to Assam in the East across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand encompassing the maximum tribal population. In Gujarat they are concentrated in the Eastern districts, from mount Abu in Rajasthan border in the North to Dahanu district, on the Maharashtra border in the South. The tribal populated area Constitutes Sabarkantha, Panchmahals and Baroda in the East,Surat Dang and Broach in the South and Ahmedabad, Mahesana and Banaskantha in the North. The tribal populated area constitutes 18% of the S tate’s geographical ar ea. There are 11 major tribes and 25 subtribes residing in Gujarat, the largest number is of Bhils constituting 47.89% of the state’s tribal population. Majority of tribals are concentrated in 14 districts of Gujarat where they have traditionally lived, constituting majority of forests, hills and undulating terrain rich in natural resources. SCHEDULED TRIBES OF GUJARAT: Ø Barada Ø Bavacha,Bamcha Ø Bharwad,Rabari Ø Bhil-Garasiya,Dungari,Mewasi,Tadvi,Bhilala,Pawara Ø Charan-Raval Ø Chaudhari Ø Dhanka-Tadvi,Tetariya,Valvi, Ø Dhodia, Dhodi Ø Gamit-Gamta,Gamot,Mavchi,Padvi Ø Gond-Raj Gond 64 Ø Halpati-DublaTalavia Ø Kathodi-Dhor,Son Ø Kokana Ø Koli-Dhor,Kolcha Ø Kunbi Ø Naikda Ø Padhar Ø Paradhi Ø Patelia Ø Pomla Ø Rathwa Ø Siddi Ø Vagher Ø Varali Ø Vitolia trti.gujarat.gov.in Warli Art 65 Table 1 Population in 2001 Proportion to the Name of Scheduled Total Sr.no Total ST Population Tribe Population All Sechduled 1 7481160 100 Tribes 2 Bhil 3441945 46.0 3 Dubla 596865 8.0 4 Dhodia 589108 7.9 5 Rathawa 535284 7.2 6 Naikda 393024 5.3 7 Gamit 354362 4.7 8 Kokna 329496 4.4 9 Chaudhri 282392 3.8 10 Varli 255271 3.4 11 Dhanka 252637 3.4 12 Patelia 109390 1.5 13 Koli 95655 1.3 Table 2 Population of Major STs v District wise Gamit Population – Gujarat State – Census 2011 ST DT FE STCOD DIST TOTA PERSO MAL COD COD MAL E NAME N E E E L E 24 1 511 Kachchh Total 62 29 33 66 BanasKanth 24 2 511 Total 126 63 63 a 24 3 511 Patan * Total 45 28 17 24 4 511 Mahesana Total 132 72 60 24 5 511 SabarKantha Total 226 128 98 24 6 511 Gandhinagar Total 598 321 277 24 7 511 Ahmadabad Total 396 224 172 Surendranag 24 8 511 Total 161 97 64 ar 24 9 511 Rajkot Total 121 67 54 24 10 511 Jamnagar Total 52 32 20 24 11 511 Porbandar * Total 14 11 3 24 12 511 Junagadh Total 208 109 99 24 13 511 Amreli Total 136 63 73 24 14 511 Bhavnagar Total 99 52 47 24 15 511 Anand * Total 155 82 73 24 16 511 Kheda Total 139 69 70 PanchMahal 24 17 511 Total 89 47 42 s 24 18 511 Dahod * Total 11 5 6 24 19 511 Vadodara Total 665 363 302 24 20 511 Narmada * Total 3598 1755 1843 67 24 21 511 Bharuch Total 3695 1918 1777 16204 16342 24 22 511 Surat Total 325461 1 0 24 23 511 The Dangs Total 7072 3535 3537 24 24 511 Navsari * Total 10391 5250 5141 24 25 511 Valsad Total 710 419 291 17678 17758 Total 354362 0 2 Source: trti.gujarat.gov.in/Assets/downloads/population_gamit.pdf Scheduled Tribes: While often clubbed under the same umbrella by the ill informed, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are quite different.

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