Birhor Tribe Electrification
Nearly 550 residents of Fulwariya hamlet in Jharkhand’s Koderma district, mainly from the Birhor tribe, received electricity after almost 80 years of darkness. The installation of a 63 KVA transformer marked this milestone under the Ujjwala Yojana. The event symbolised a new era of opportunities in education, health, and livelihood. The initiative overcame challenges posed by forest laws protecting the reserved forest through which the access road passes. Strict conditions were imposed to safeguard forest wildlife.
About the Birhor Tribe
The Birhor are a semi-nomadic tribal community primarily in Jharkhand, with smaller populations in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. They are one of Jharkhand’s eight Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The name Birhor means people of the jungle. They belong to the Porto-Australoid racial stock and practice a blend of animism and Hinduism.
Language and Ethnolinguistic Identity
Birhor speak their own language, Birhor, part of the Munda subgroup within the Austroasiatic family. It shares similarities with Santali, Mundari, and Ho languages. Due to interaction with other communities, many Birhor are bilingual or trilingual, speaking Hindi, Bengali, or regional languages.
Physical and Ethnological Characteristics
Birhors are generally short-statured with broad noses and wavy hair. They claim descent from the Sun, linking them ethnologically to the Kharwars and showing affinity with Santals, Mundas, and Hos. Their physical and cultural traits reflect a long-standing forest-based existence.
Social Structure and Community Life
Birhor society is clan-based and kinship-oriented. Communities are small and close-knit, living in tandas—temporary huts made from leaves and branches. Each clan has a leader who resolves disputes and maintains harmony. Their social fabric emphasises cooperation and mutual support.
Economic Practices and Livelihood
Traditionally, Birhors rely on nomadic gathering, hunting, and rope-making from vine fibres for subsistence and trade. They hunt monkeys and collect forest products. Some have transitioned to settled agriculture. The community divides into Uthlus (nomadic) and Janghis (settled). They possess rich knowledge of medicinal plants used in traditional healing.
Challenges
Fulwariya’s electrification faced delays due to forest protection laws. Clearances required strict adherence to avoid disturbing wildlife, such as banning high-beam lights and loudspeakers. The arrival of electricity is expected to improve education, health care, and economic opportunities for the Birhor people, marking step in integrating vulnerable tribal groups into mainstream development.
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