Page 39 - Journeys Through Society-7

Wow Fact Durgavati was a Chandella princess, who took over the
reins of the kingdom of Garha Mandla after the death
The Ahom kingdom was ruled by different of her husband. The Akbarnama by Abul Fazl makes a
rulers for 800 years.
reference to the kingdom of Garha Mandla which
Akbar wanted to bring under his control. The proud
Rani refused to accept the Mughal overlordship. She
AI Fact Technology Literacy put up a brave fight but the Mughals emerged
victorious.
Under a pact signed between the Tribal Affairs Ministry
and Microsoft, the AI curriculum will be made available The Gond chiefs often rebelled against the Mughals,
to tribal students in English and Hindi at the Eklavya and some regained independence after Aurangzeb’s
Model Residential Schools and Ashram schools across death. However, the Gond kingdoms were gradually
the country.
taken over by the Marathas and Bundelas, who
The Gonds became powerful in the Deccan.

The word ‘Gond’ is probably derived from the area Organisation of the Gond State
inhabited by them in the olden days referred to as the The Gond kingdom was divided into garhs, which
Gondwana land. The Gonds speak Gondi, an were further divided into smaller units called,
unwritten language of the Dravidian family. Gonds are chaurasis, which literally means eighty-four. Each
aboriginal people from central India inhabiting the chaurasi comprised 84 villages. A chaurasi was further
peninsular states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, divided into barhots.
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and parts of
Economy
Bihar. Bastar is the largest tribal district of
The Gond kingdom was rich and prosperous and relied
Chhattisgarh and the Gonds of Bastar are the most
both on agriculture and trade. The Gonds were
prominent among them.
traditionally agriculturists though some practised
Wow Fact shifting agriculture of jhum. The region was very rich
in mineral wealth. Elephants were the main item of
Chhattisgarh is known as the ‘Rice bowl of
India’. It is very well-known for its cultural export and their greatest buyer was the Mughal
heritage, attractive natural diversity and its Empire. It is because of the rich resources of the region
tribal community. The Gond tribes include that Akbar was lured into capturing the Gond kingdom
the Baiga, Korba, Abhuj Maria, Muria and of Garh Mandla.
Dhurwa tribes.
Society and Culture

Scholars believe that The Gonds followed Hinduism, though like all other
Gonds started settling tribes, they too believed in the cult of clan and
in the area from the ancestor worship. They also worshiped Pharsa Pen in
thirteenth century the form of a nail or a piece of iron chain, Mariai, the
onwards. Scholars goddess of plague and other diseases, and Bhimsen
mention the existence the Hindu God.
of a powerful Gond The Gond men wore dhoti. The women wore a soft
The Gond tribe of Chhattisgarh
state in the fourteenth saree that ended at the ankle and a choli, and adorned
century. The Gond state comprised primarily of four themselves with ornaments made of shells, cowries,
kingdoms—Garha Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda and bones, mixed metals, etc.
Kherla.
The Ahoms
The Gonds increased their influence by entering into
The Ahoms belonged to the Shan tribe of southern
matrimonial alliances in the region. We hear that the
China and South-East Asia. The word ‘Assam’ is
most prominent personality of the Gonds, Rani
probably derived from the word ‘Ahom’ who were the
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