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Pardhi is a Hindu tribe inIndia. The tribe is found mostly inMaharashtra and parts ofMadhya Pradesh however small numbers can be found inGujarat andAndhra Pradesh. The word Pardhi is derived from theMarathi word ‘Paradh’ which means hunting andSanskrit word ‘papardhi’ which means hunting or the game to be hunted. In some parts of India Pardhis are known asMeywarees. They also have various other names like Advichincher, Phans Pardhi, Phanse Pardhi, Langoli Pardhi,Bahelia, Bahellia, Chita Pardhi, Shikari, Takankar, Takia Pardhi. Pardhi tribe is divided in groups like Vaghri Pardhi and Phase Pardhi. These are further divided into subgroups like Pal Pardhi, Gav Pardhi, Takankar, Takari. Widely found surnames among them includeChauhan (Chavan), Rathod and Solanki.[1]
The Pardhis claim to be descendants of theRajputs, although this origin is not supported by verifiable historical evidence. They reportedly speak a dialect ofRajasthani among themselves, and their names often end with the suffix "-singh". It is also claimed that the Pardhis have adopted Rajput surnames such as Salunkhe, Rathod, Sindiya, and Chauhan (Chavan) in an effort to assert higher social status. Additionally, they are said to have adopted Maratha surnames such as Pawar, Shinde, and Dabhade. According to some accounts, the Pardhis originated inRajasthan and migrated toMaharashtra and other states throughGujarat.[2]
While in Gujarat, they took up Gujarati culture. They intermixed withGujarati community and started speaking their language and also started worshippingKhodiyar Mata as their Kuldevi.[citation needed]
According to the1901 census in British India, the total number of Pardhi population was 12,214 of which 6,320 men and 5,894 women. During the same period in the state of Madhya Pradesh in the cities ofBhopal,Raisen andSehore the total population of Pardhis were 1831. In the same state Bahelias and Chitas are also grouped with Pardhis. According to the 1981 census their number is 8,066. In Gujarat in 1981 census, Pardhi population is 814. In Maharashtra the Pardhi population is 95,115 (census data, 1981). According to 2001 census the total population of Pardhis in Maharashtra is 159,875. They are mainly spread over the districts ofAmravati (20,568)Akola (17,578)Buldhana (16428)Jalgaon (16,849)Yavatmal (8,129)Osmanabad (9,959)Pune (7,230) and the other districts they are scattered. The Pardhi population data o fMumbai is not available in the census record.[2]
Pardhis speak mixed dialects of Rajasthani and Gujarati mainlyWagdi language andPardhi language. These languages are grouped in Bhil languages of western Indo-Aryan language group. The Bhil languages form a link midway between theGujarati language and theRajasthani–Marwari languages. Pardhi language is a spoken language which is North Bareli dialect of Bhil languages. It is an important language of the community. Apart from Pardhi language they speakGujarati, Rajasthani,Kanarese,Telugu,Marathi, Marwari,Ahirani languages depending on their location.[2]
Pardhi culture is very similar to Rajasthani culture due to their Rajasthani ancestry. However, their culture is a blend of Gujarati & Rajasthani culture. The marriage procession is of Rajasthani & Gujarati style. They follow theShaktism sect ofHinduism and have certain Kuldevis similar to Rajputs.[citation needed] They worship Mauli Mata, Kalika Mata, Saptashrungi Mata, Vadekhan Mata and Khodiyar Mata as their Kuldevis. Dussehra is an important festival.[citation needed] They sacrifice a sheep or a goat to please the Kuldevis which is then distributed among the villagers. Animal sacrifice has been an integral part of Rajasthani culture since ancient times. However, the method of animal sacrifice is different in Pardhis than in Rajasthani Hindus. Rajasthani Hindus use theJhatka method of sacrifice while the Pardhis use a method similar toHalal method, which is generally associated with Muslims.[citation needed]
In 2018, Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra, a noted tribal folklorist, documented the Pardhi Ramkatha from a noted Singer Smt Kumari Devi fromBelsonda village ofMahasamund District ofChhattisgarh. Besides, they have abundant knowledge of forest ecology culture and the local technology represented in their first narratives. Pardhi people are still waiting for their land rights and are still depending on fast-vanishing forests.[citation needed]
Pardhis were prolific hunters. They were experts in ancient weaponry like Bows & arrows, swords and hunting traps. This made them highly efficient in guerrilla warfare. They were a nuisance for the British Empire along with other 150 Tribes ofIndia who participated in1857 revolt. There were numerous other revolts against British by these tribal communities. To keep these tribal communities in check,British Brought theCriminal Tribes Act and branded these tribes as criminals from birth. The criminal branding of the tribe goes back to 1871 after theBritish passed the "Criminal Tribes Act". About a hundred and fifty tribes were branded as criminal, and the police were given sweeping powers to arrest them and watch over their movements.
T. V. Stephens, a British officer at that time quoted:
"... people from time immemorial have been pursuing the caste system defined job-positions: weaving, carpentry and such were hereditary jobs. So there must have been hereditary criminals also who pursued their forefathers’ profession."
Volume XII of the 1880 Bombay Presidency Gazette has further comments about the group stating:
"They are still fond of hunting and poaching and have not got rid of their turn for thieving.... The Phase Pardhi [a sub-tribe] is nearly always ragged and dirty, walking with a sneaking gait."
In 1952, the tribe wasdenotified as "criminal" and named as anomadic tribe. However this has not changed the public perception of the tribe, and they continue to be stigmatized and live as outcasts, further aggravating their economic hardships.[3][4]
Another Paradhi tribe called theGav-Paradhi, settled primarily in theAmravati DistrictMaharashtra, escaped the label of 'criminal tribe' as they were mostlyagriculturalists.[citation needed]
Public pressure often prevents thenomadic community from settling in villages.[citation needed]
Nowadays,[timeframe?] most of the settled Pardhis practice agriculture due to the strict imposition of the ban on hunting and poaching. The nomads go door to door to sell inexpensive items, handicrafts, or food items. A major portion of the child beggars ofMumbai belong to the Pardhi community. Stigma coupled with the lack of education has essentially crippled the community.[citation needed]
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