Vigesimal System of Numeration as Prevailed in the Bārelā Tribe Dipak Jadhav Lecturer in Mathematics Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School, Anjad Distt. Barwani 451556 (M. P.) India
[email protected] Abstract Bārelā is a tribe. It resides in the western part of India. In Bārelā system of numeration other numbers stand in relation to twenty. This paper finds that no other vigesimal system whether it was in India or from abroad has been influential in shaping Bārelā system of numeration if their corresponding terms are taken into consideration. Gunnīsa, uganīsa, and oganīsa are the alternative terms used by Bārelās for 19. This paper also offers an insight into the formation of each of them. Key Words: Bārelā, Vigesimal system of numeration, Vīsa, Vīsu. Introduction Bārelā is an Indian tribe. Most of its population lives in Barwani District of State of Madhya Pradesh in India. The surrounding region, where as well Bārelās dwell, to this District encompasses the neighboring Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh and the three neighboring Districts, namely, Jalgoan, Dhule, and Nandurbar, of State of Maharashtra. The term used to identify Bārelā in Maharashtra is Pāvarā.1 The entire region of their dwelling, which is in the western part of India, falls in the forest of Satpura range. The dialect which Bārelās speak is called Bārelī. Their system of numeration is based on twenty. It is observed to be mostly practised in Pati and Barwani Blocks of Barwani District. Bārelās dealing with retailers in its terms can be seen in weekly haat bazars2 conducted in this region (Parihar et el 2000; Thakur 2005, p.