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Bhils

 
 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Bhils
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Bhils (bēlz), people, numbering about 3 million, who inhabit portions of Pakistan and of W central India, especially S Rajasthan and Gujarat states. They speak an Indo-European language, Bhili, and retain a distinctive culture, much affected by, but not absorbed into, Hinduism. They were traditional enemies of the Rajputs and allies of the Mughals.

Bibliography

See S. M. Doshi, Bhils (1971).

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Wikipedia: Bhil
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You may be looking for Bheel or Bil.
Bhil
Regions with significant populations
 India
              Gujarat 3,441,945[1]
              Madhya Pradesh 4,619,068[2]
              Maharashtra 1,818,792[3]
              Rajasthan 2,805,948[4]
Languages

Bhil languages

Bhils are a tribal people of Central India. They speak Bhil languages, a group of Indic languages.

Bhils are a scheduled tribe in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in western and central India, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh.

Bhils are also settled in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan.

The Ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture.

In feudal and colonial times, many Bhils were employed by the ruling Rajputs in various capacities, e.g. as Shikaris because of their knowledge of the terrain. Many had even become warriors in armies. They were in the Mewar army of Maharana Pratap Singh and like Chhatrapati Shivaji, were experts in guerilla warfare which the Mughals had so much trouble handling. Today, there is a Mewar Bhil Corps.'[5]

In Hindu Mythology, popular Bhil figures are Shabari, who offered Rama and Laxmana half-eaten Ber (berries) fruit when they were searching for Sita Devi in the forest. Maharishi Matanga was another Hindu Bhil sage who became a Brahmana.

It is noteworthy that Lord Rama appears in a Bhil myth where there has been a flood that wiped out humanity and Rama suggests how it can be repopulated.[6]

Contents

Images

Bhil tribal girls in Jhabua

A Bhil tribe in Jhabua forests

See also

References

Search Wikisource Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bhils.
  1. ^ "Gujarat: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_gujarat.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  2. ^ "Madhya Pradesh: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_madhya_pradesh.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-06. 
  3. ^ "Maharashtra: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_maha.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  4. ^ "Rajasthan: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_rajasthan.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  5. ^ "The Mewar Encyclopedia". http://web.archive.org/web/20080306023323/http://www.mewarindia.com/ency/bhe.html. Retrieved 2008-03-20. 
  6. ^ "Food stories from around the World". http://www.poee.org/documents/Other_Religions/Cult_of_the_One_God/Flood.htm#Bhil. Retrieved 2008-03-20. 

External links


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Scheduled tribes of India

Asur · Baiga · Bharia · Bhil  · Bhumij · Bhutia · Birhor · Bodo · Bodo-Kachari · Boksa · Bonda · Chakma · Chenchu  · Dimasa  · Garo  · Gondi · Hmar · Ho · Karbi · Khasi  · Khonds · Kol · Korwa · Kuki · Lepcha · Lodha · Mahli · Mara · Mech · Mishing · Mizo · Mog · Munda · Mudugar · Naga · Oraon · Rabari · Rabha · Reang · Santals · Sora  · Tripuri
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Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
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