Tehrani, N H 2015 The Ethnographic Narration of Gadulia Lohar Tribe of Ancient Asia Udaipur, Rajasthan: With the Special Reference to the Ethnoarchaeological Perspective and Traditional Iron Tool Technology. Ancient Asia, 6: 2, pp. 1-11, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/aa.12321 RESEARCH ARTICLE The Ethnographic Narration of Gadulia Lohar Tribe of Udaipur, Rajasthan: With the Special Reference to the Ethnoarchaeological Perspective and Traditional Iron Tool Technology Neda Hossein Tehrani* The Gadulias are known by different names in regions, like: Gadulia Lohar in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, Gaddi Lohar in Maharashtra, Bhuvariya in Uttar Pradesh and Bhubalia Lohar in Haryana. In Rajasthan the Gadulia Lohar are locally called as Dhurkutia. They claim Rajput origin and Chittorgarh as their ances- tral home. This article is a documentation of the Gadulia Lohar’s lifestyle, their iron-tool making technol- ogy and dress and ornamentation. Ethnographic data grouped with archaeological evidence from Iron Age of this region has also been dealt to understand the mobility pattern of this particular tribe. Introduction research was undertaken keeping the following aims in Mobility and settlement are the two material conse- mind- first to document the traditional knowledge system quences of human behaviour. Sheena Panja (1996) states of iron tool making and iron objects made by the Gadulia that no community is sedentary and they have their indi- Lohars of Udaipur, Rajasthan; second to understand their vidual patterns of mobility. Mobility is not only limited mobility pattern, social organization and ritualistic belief with pastoralism, but mobility can also mean different systems; third to document lifestyle, and dress and orna- ways of human movement. In case of nomadic communi- mentation in general; and forth to understand ethno- ties, the mobility or migration is considered as an impor- graphic data in the light of reported archaeological data tant part of their life movement. Therefore, mobility is (Iron Age) of the region. Ethnographic field survey was multidimensional having influence on the culture and conducted by using systematic methods like interviewing the society. individuals and groups, case studies, and photographic There are a few ethnological studies on the Gadulia documentation. Village to village surveys were done in Lohars. Satyapal (1968) conducted fieldwork on the order to set mapping temporary settlements. Secondary Gadulia Lohar of Rajasthan during the years 1959 to 1964. sources of data are including relevant anthropological and The result of his study has come out that there is slightly archaeological literatures. Special focus is given on their difference among the tribal communities that had been mobility patterns, exchange and interaction with other earlier studied by Misra (1977). In his study, he has given communities in various places. more specific detail on religious aspects mostly related to ceremonies and festivals of the Gadulia Lohars. P.K. Gadulia Lohars: Settlement and Mobility Misra (1975, 1977) has studied Gadulia Lohar’s history, Pattern consequent movement patterns and also discusses their Over time, Gadulia Lohars originally from the state of iron working technology. The Gadulia Lohars themselves Rajasthan have scattered all over India now. Presently they claim that the Chittaurgarh, a famous fort in Rajasthan, inhabit the neighbouring states such as, Uttar Pradesh. was their home and used to make iron tools for the king Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, of Chittaurgarh. In 1568 A.D. they fled from the fort when Delhi (Singh 1998). They are variously known in different the Mughals took over. states; for example, in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi they are The present work is mainly concentrated on social called as Gadia Lohar, in Maharashtra they are known as changes that have been observed from the living pattern Gaddi Lohar while in Uttar Pradesh they are Bhuvariya. In of the Gadulia Lohars within the last 20 to 30 years. The Haryana they are called as Bhubalia Lohar and in Rajasthan itself they are known as Gadulia Lohar or Dhurkutia (Singh, 1998). In the same region, they get different titles depend- ing upon their movements and location, such as: Maliwi * Research Scholar, Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute, Pune, India Gadulia Lohar, Chittori Gadulia Lohar, Mewar Gadulia [email protected] Lohar and Malwa Gadulia Lohar (Misra 1975). Art. 2, page 2 of 11 Tehrani: The Ethnographic Narration of Gadulia Lohar Tribe of Udaipur, Rajasthan Their mother tongue is Indo-Aryan language, called Mewari, but many of them are conversant with Hindi as well. The Devanagari script is used for writing (Rahela 1975). The literary meaning of Gadulia is ‘bullock cart’ and Loha means ‘iron’. Gadulia Lohar means black-smith too (Singh 1998). They are able to work on and make any object out of any type of metal. In order to know their origin, one needs to turn over the pages of the history. As they narrated to the author, the story starts in centre of the district of Chittorgarh. The ancient town of Chittorgarh used to be the capital of Mewar and the kingdom of King Sisodia Rajput. The town of Chittorgarh is situated on the bank of river Gambhiri. The town is on a hill and has a huge fort. The Mughal rulers first attacked this town in the year 1303 A.D. and then the attacks continued. The Rajputs defended the Fig. 1: Gadulia Lohar Settlement at Vallabnagar village, fort strongly, until the Mughal army finally captured it Udaipur district (site 1). in 1568 A.D. The very same groups, which are known as the Gadulia Lohar, left Chittor at the time when it fell to more than a week. Those families, which go from village to the Mughal. On the entrance of the Chittorgarh fort, it is village in two or three days, do not construct any shelter written that the Rajput and Gadi Lohars before leaving the but they live below the cart itself (Misra 1977). fort swore an oath that until Chittor is liberated, they will follow a very simple lifestyle. They took following vows: The settlements of Gaduli Lohar Not to go up to the fort, Not to live in a house, Not to sleep Eight settlements of the Gadulia Lohars have been sur- on a bed (cot), Not to use lamps (light), Not to use ropes veyed in Udaipur, Rajasthan, which are termed here as for drawing water from wells (Misra 1977). They adopted a Site. very simple life style, used bullock carts and moved from place to place. For nearly 400 years they followed their Site 1: Gadulia Lohar Settlement at Vallabnagar vows and remained faithful to them. village, Udaipur district There are some folk tales that narrate their glorious This Gadulia Lohar settlement (Fig. 1) is located on the past and each member of the community is proud to talk left side of the road across the water pool. The site com- about them. Misra (1977), is of the opinion that the ances- prises of only the cart and the working area, the reason try detail is not mentioned clearly. In fact, the Gadulia being high mobility. The cooking hearth is present next to Lohars told the same story of them being Rajputs but inci- the cart. The cart was parked between the village houses dentally, the Rajputs do not accept the statement. They near the road. admit to having lived together on the fort but claim that the Gadulia Lohars worked for them and they were never Site 2: Gadulia Lohar Settlement at Dholekaipathi a part of the Rajput clan. In fact some of their practices village, Udaipur district are contrary to those of Rajputs. For example the Gadulia This Gadulia Lohar settlement is a permanent settlement. Lohars accept widow remarriages, they do not wear any The houses are built for year round occupation. Most of sacred thread and they do not follow the custom of bride the Lohars in this village have settled here since the last fif- price (Misra, 1977). teen years. The workshop is always located outside and just The Gadulia Lohars are always on the move and they use in front of the entrance to the house. The houses generally only bullock carts for transport. All their belongings are in have three rooms and a bathroom inside. The family cooks the cart and they consider the cart as their real home. They on the terraced rooftop and not in the kitchen. (Fig. 2). do construct tents on the roadside when they stay at a place. Traditionally in the early days each family had three Site 3: Abandoned Gadulia Lohar Settlement at carts but in recent times the number has gone down, gen- Chirwa village, Udaipur district erally less than three and sometimes two or three families This was an abandoned Gadulia Lohar settlement. They share the same cart. had already left for a new destination as the farming In permanent settlements they construct mud or brick land had been exhausted. No material evidence could be houses with proper roof. This is because of the economic observed except patches of burning area. changes coming to this nomadic group. When they settle at a place for more than six months they generally make Site 4: Gadulia Lohar Settlement at Hiranmagri low walls of mud bricks and then construct the roof of road, Udaipur shack or of plastic covering. When they live at a place for This small settlement consisting of one family was located less than six months they do not construct any walls but along the Hiranmagri road. The settlement is an open-air they use the plastic sheet for roof, supported by wooden settlement. The belongings were kept on the cart and the poles. They also have tents when they do not live at a place cooking hearth and resting area closer to it.