2. KOKANA TRIBE The Kokana constitutes the principal tribe in Maharashtra state having the total population of 352, 932 as per 1981 census. Kokanas are also settled in Gujarat State. One third of the Kokans are living in South-eastern Gujarat and two thirds in North-West Maharashtra. The tribe is mainly spread over in the districts of Thane, Nashik and Dhule in Maharashtra and Dang and Surat districts in Gujarat. 2.1; ORIGIN OF THE TRIBE- There is no uniform view about the origin of the Kokana tribe but whatever opinions expressed is concentrated on two traditions. Which may have truth in them because both have a faith in the original tradition that "they had migrated to this region from the Konkan"!. (According to the Greisens their language was a Marathi dialect with north konkani elements. It had however, been modified by the language of whichever region they were living in (Marathi, Gujarathi, Khandeshi.) According to one account they were soldier's who had served in Shivaji's armies and who, after campaigning in these areas, decided to settle there. In another account the migration^north was caused by the terrible Durgadevi famine of 1396 -1408 which devasted the Konkan. 1- The coming of the Devi-Adivasi Assertion in Western India- David Hardiman- Oxford India Paper backs -1987. 113 Both traditions may have truth in them, for migration could have taken place in two waves. The traditional views of migration from Konkan are supporated by many historic and current references. In the early Sanskrit texts the "Kohkanas" have been described as the people of the Southern region and are said to have associated with the Abhirs, a well known tribe of the /Rajputana desert. The territory of the 'Kohkanas' has been identified with modern konkan, the maratha-speaking low-land strips between the Western Ghats and the sea from Bombay Southward. Kohkani is a territorial or linguistic term, meaning a dweller in the konkan (canara) country or a person speaking konkani dialect of Marathi. The modern konkanis, dwellers in the Konkan country (canara may therefore be supposed to be the descendants of the ancient 'Kohkanas'. Regarding their original habitat it is stated that they lived on the bank of the ancient river Saraswati, which is said to have lost its course in the sandy desert of Rajputana. 2. In the Mahabharata period 'Konkanah' is mentioned in 'geography' with "Cola". This is well known name of the country on Western Sea coast South of Bombay. The word 'Cola' occurs frequently in many forms in ancient literature 2. Encyclopedia of Indian Tribes Series. The Tribal World in Transition Padmashri S.S. Shashi-Anmol Publications, New Delhi-1995. 114 of India. Dr. Motichandra identifies it with Kodakai, an ancient Port near cape comorin. But as it is mentioned after Dandaka and before Murucipattana, it is probably the same as Kolavana, mentioned after surparaka in the western division of the puranas. This is identified with the 'Kalwan' taluka of Nashik district. 3. It is interesting to note the above description about the origin of Kokana tribe that it clearly shows the connection with geographical area which later named after the social group. Whereas Dr. D.H. Koppar, in his paper tried to describe the origin of Gujarat Kukna or Kunabi in different way which do not have any solid foundation. He stated that' the custom of wearing 'Baju- Band' (a round silver armlet with filigree type work) ornament might have originated among the kuknas. The original name of the tribe might have been 'kanknas' by virtue of their custom of wearing armlet called the Konkan. Kunkna, Konkna, Kokana are other variants of the word Kankna - which is the name of the armlet.^ Above view is not supported by any other scholar or oral tradition also. Therefore earlier tradition of 'migration from Konkan' is further strongly supporated by the foUowings - such as Nashik district Gazetteers quoted that, "Konknis are immigrants from Thano- a who spread into the Dangs and up the western Spurs of the 3. Tribes in the Maharashtra - A Socio- Cultural study - K.C. Mishra - National Publishing House New Delhi 1987. 4. Tribal art of Dan. gs - Dr. D.H. Koppar; Edited by V.P. Devkar - Deptt. Of Museums. Baroda-1971. lis Sahyadri ranges. They call themselves Konkan Kunbis, Choosing sparsely - peopled place which tracts of waste arable land, they often shift their wattle and daub huts and occasionally go to their native homes to renew their connections. They stand the feverish western climate better than Nashik kunbis and have almost monopolized all hill cultivation, excepf a few village headmen who hold hereditary grants, they are badly off. s. Enthoven (1922) supporated above view by saying that "Konkana is a primitive tribe and resemble the varlis of Thana in appearance. Their name indicates that they are a tribe from the Konkan, probably so named upon immigration and the inference is that they are one of the hill tribes from Thana. That they originally belonged to the konkan is clear from their dialect, which is a mixture of Gujarati and Marathi. It is said that they were driven northwards by the pressure of the Great Durga Devi famine (A.D. 1396 -1408).^ were also quoted the same tradition, stating that' "Konkanis' though often confounded with them, hold themselves separate form, and superior to, Bhils living in the same part of the country as the Gavits, they rank below them and unlike them, have no special dialect. They say that their ancestor's origineilly came from the Konkan, and this, their name and their appearance, which very closely resembles that of the Konkan Thakurs, bearry out. "^ 5. Ibid- Gazetteers of Bombay Presidency, Vol. XVI, "Nasik" (1883) P. 47 6. The Tribes and Castes of Bombay (1922) Vol. II- R.E. Enthoven. P- 265 -266. Cosmo Publications - Delhi. 1922 Contemporary Gazetteers of Khandesh (1880) and Thana (1982) 7. Gazetteer of the Bombay presidency: Vol. XII, KHANDESH' 1880, P. 105. 116 Thana Gazetteers is supporting by giving the clear evidence that, "they have a tradition that their forefathers were brought from Ratnagiri to garrison the hill fort of Gambhirgad''.^ The 1901 census, further indicate by stressing that, "Kokana people must have migrated to the forests from a Marathi speaking country." ^ Further this "migration from Konkan" tradition is supporated by succeeding census of 1911, 1921, and 1931. Konknas^ who were left out of the tribal count in 1931 and earlier censuses; it is hard to calculate their total population in pre- independent period; as they were spread over several different administrative areas and in many parts called themselves 'Kunbis', so that in the census repots many of them were counted as Maratha Kunbis. Grierson estimated that there were 2,32,613 Konkani Speakers in 1921. (Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. IX P. 130). This is probably an overestimate; David Hardiman is also believe, a more realistic figure i.e. 1,89,000 for the early 20^^ century. ^^ By looking at a wide range of census reports and Gazetteers it has put together the ofllowing rough population figures for the Konknas in 1921. 8. Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency Vol. XIII, Part I, "Thana" (1882) P. 174-175. 9. Census of India, 1901, Vol. XVIIl, Baroda, Part-I, Report by Jamshedhi Ardeshir Dalai (1902), P 505. 10. Ibid, The coming of the Devi- David Hrdiman -1987. 117 Table No. 2:1 Population of Kokanas in 1921 Sr. No. District /State Total Kokana Population (1921) 1. Nashik District 78,000 2. West Khandesh (Chiefly in the Navapur, Pimplner region) 21,000 3. The Dangs 12,000 4. Surgana State 10,000 5. Thane District 8,000 6. Jawhar State 8,000 7. Dharampur State 30,000 8. Vansda State 12,000 9. Navasari District (Chiefly in Vyara & Songadha talukas) 7,000 10. Surat District 3,000 Total 1,89,000 (David Hardimans' collection) The large majority of the Kokanas were settled in the fertile valleys of the Sahyadri ranges in the region in which these mountains divided Gujarat from Maharashtra. In those days Surgana, Jawahar, Dharampur and Vansda were the separate states or administrative regions conroUed by independent kings where the Kokanas were largely inhabited. As earlier stated this figures are more realistic because the present population (1981) of Kokana tribe in Maharashtra State is adjusting with the Kokana population in earlier period of the century. 118 Table No. 2.2 Table No. 2:2 shows the Kokana Population by its Urban and Rural inhabitation with literacy percentage -1981 census. Sr. Total Kokana Population No. 1. 2 3 4 5 Area Male Female Total 1. Rural 1,72,270 1,70,804 3,43,074 2. Urban 5,521 4,437 9,858 3. Total 1,77,691 1,75,241 3,52,932 Total Kokana Literature Kokana Literacy in % 6 7 8 9 10 11 Male Female Total Male Female Total 52,481 18,052 70,533 30 11 21 3,049 1,534 4,583 56 35 46 55,530 19,586 75,116 31 11 21 Source: Tribal Research and Traininjg institute, Maharashtra State, Pune- Statistical series No. 28- 1990. 2.2. HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF KOKANAS a) BIRTH: An experienced lady of the tribe called "Sooyin" is engaged for the duty of child birth. She attends the lady (mother) as well as the baby for five days. Cord is cut by the spear. On the fifth day "Pachvi" is observed. There is no special cermonies amongst Kokanas to celebrate the fact of pregnancy or birth. Kokanas are now more aware about the registration of birth, which is now compulsory under the law.