Tharu Culture

THE CHANGING THARU CULTURE:
A Study of Indan Tribe in Socio-Cultural Dynamics

Subhash Chandra VermaTHE CHANGING THARU CULTURE:

A Study of Indan Tribe in Socio-Cultural DynamicsTHE CHANGING THARU CULTURE:

A Study of Indan Tribe in Socio-Cultural DynamicsTHE CHANGING THARU CULTURE:

A Study of Indan Tribe in Socio-Cultural Dynamics

Subhash Chandra VermaTHE CHANGING THARU CULTURE:

Abstract: The Tharu culture is very “eco-friendly”; all cultural activities of this tribe are deeply related with nature. Their residence, food, clothing, art, religion, economy and many other aspects of life are based on nature and maintaining an ecological balance. The Tharu people worship mainly their tribal Goddess, The Earth, called ‘Bhumsen’ in their folk language. There is a well-organized family system in this community. Women have a high status and considerable social and economic rights in the family system. Although this community has a paternal family organization, women have high position and sufficient rights - a remarkable fact. Tharu youth are fond of change; hence they are struggling for advancement. There are many other communities existing in the Tharu area due to industrialization and commerce, so a process of cultural exchange is taking place. Tharu youth are attracted to the new and modern lifestyle. They are ignoring their traditional tribal culture, and the identity of the old Tharu culture is endangered. They have to get an advanced education, in communication, technology etc. But care for the old culture is necessity too if they are to keep their identity.

1. Introduction

The Tharu tribe is one of the most populous tribes of India and Nepal. The Tharu are an indigenous people living in the Terai plains on the border of Nepal and India. The population of Nepal is 28,287,147 (July 2006 est.), of which the Tharu people make up 6.6%. A smaller number of Tharus live in India, mostly in Champaran District of Bihar and in Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttrakhand, Kheeri, Pilibhit, Gonda, Balrampur, Gorakhpur, Bahirayach of Uttar Pradesh. The population of these people is 83,544 in Uttar Pradesh and 85,665 in Uttrakhand State, making a total of about 169,209 in India. The Tharu are recognized as a scheduled tribe by the Government of India. The Constitution of India gives many special social, educational and economic rights to these scheduled tribes and castes because they are the primary victims of the backwardness. The Tharus are struggling for their rights and cultural protection.
India is a famous country for Multi-culturism and the Tharu tribe of this country is a good example of Multi-culturism. There are many ethnic sub groups existed in the Tharu tribe for example- Rana, Badbayak, Buksa, Jugia, Khunka, Dangora, Katheriya, Dahait, Sansa, Battha,Varatia, Mahato etc. Each sub-group has its own cultural specialties but after it all groups collectively known as a great ethnic group the Tharu tribe.
At present the Tharu tribe is suffering from cultural infections because there are many other people from various societies are existed in the Tharu area and some others also coming regularly, for example- Punjabis, Jaat, Paharis, Bangalis etc. The Tharu area has very good and more agricultural land and other natural resources for industry so many formaers, industrialist and others are existed in this area. This is why the Tharus are regularly in touch of other cultures and also accepting their specialties. There are many Religious missionaries are also working in the Tharu area for converting them in their religions. Mainly the Christian and Hindu missionaries are doing conversion of the Tharus in their faith. The Hindu missionaries are saying that the Tharus were Rajput Hindus in past so they should live as real Rajputs at present and Christian missionaries are saying that the Hindu society is avoiding the Tharus since a long time and they were treating very badly and poorly as low status group so they should not believe in the Hinduism. They will get more development and high status in the Christian religion. This is why the Christian missionaries are providing more facilities for education, health care and employment. At present some Tharus are accepting the Christian religion rapidly. These are many reasons for developing multi-cultureism in the Tharus.