FAQ re Bhils
Who are the Bhils?
One of India’s oldest and largest tribes, the Bhils are considered the original inhabitants of western India who have lived in the region for at least 4000 years. The Bhil people now primarily live in the belt extending across contemporary Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Though there are approximately 10 million Bhils in India today only the ±7% residing in the Mewar region practice Gavari.
The Bhil name is said to come from ''bil'', the Dravidian word for bow as they were initially forest dwelling hunter-gatherers and superlative archers. Though the historic Bhil culture is now officially characterized as "chivalrous, robust and virile" the rise of Hindu hegemony over the last two millennia relegated Bhils and other indigenous tribes to the very bottom of the social hierarchy, even below the Dalit/Untouchable communities. The British Raj even worsened their lot in the mid-1800s by designating Bhils a "criminal tribe" for resisting British occupation and massacring them with impunity well into the 20th century.
The Mewari Bhils are known to have used their archery skills, forest lore and guerrilla tactics to defend their lands and autonomy up until the 7th century when they forged an amicable enduring alliance with the Rajput Medapata Guhilas who went on to found and rule the princely state of Mewar. Due to this entente, Mewar's Bhils fought many defensive campaigns alongside their Rajput allies, and taught them the guerrilla warfare tactics that eventually ousted all occupying forces and kept Mewar free.
In grateful recognition of their role, a symbolic Bhil warrior was given an honoured place on Mewar's official seal as a protector of the realm with status equal to the ruling Rajput prince. Subsequently Bhils were also awarded large tracts of farming land. Bhil/Rajput intermarriages were frequently allowed and until the modern era at least they faced few discriminatory indignities.
Socially and spiritually, the Bhils have been a matrilineal, Goddess-worshiping people for most of their known history, and Bhil women enjoyed the same rights and status as men. Recently however, patriarchal Hindutva ideology and Sanskritisation have visibly restricted their freedoms and eroded their standing, especially among those exposed to government education and modern urban culture.
One of India’s oldest and largest tribes, the Bhils are considered the original inhabitants of western India who have lived in the region for at least 4000 years. The Bhil people now primarily live in the belt extending across contemporary Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Though there are approximately 10 million Bhils in India today only the ±7% residing in the Mewar region practice Gavari.
The Bhil name is said to come from ''bil'', the Dravidian word for bow as they were initially forest dwelling hunter-gatherers and superlative archers. Though the historic Bhil culture is now officially characterized as "chivalrous, robust and virile" the rise of Hindu hegemony over the last two millennia relegated Bhils and other indigenous tribes to the very bottom of the social hierarchy, even below the Dalit/Untouchable communities. The British Raj even worsened their lot in the mid-1800s by designating Bhils a "criminal tribe" for resisting British occupation and massacring them with impunity well into the 20th century.
The Mewari Bhils are known to have used their archery skills, forest lore and guerrilla tactics to defend their lands and autonomy up until the 7th century when they forged an amicable enduring alliance with the Rajput Medapata Guhilas who went on to found and rule the princely state of Mewar. Due to this entente, Mewar's Bhils fought many defensive campaigns alongside their Rajput allies, and taught them the guerrilla warfare tactics that eventually ousted all occupying forces and kept Mewar free.
In grateful recognition of their role, a symbolic Bhil warrior was given an honoured place on Mewar's official seal as a protector of the realm with status equal to the ruling Rajput prince. Subsequently Bhils were also awarded large tracts of farming land. Bhil/Rajput intermarriages were frequently allowed and until the modern era at least they faced few discriminatory indignities.Socially and spiritually, the Bhils have been a matrilineal, Goddess-worshiping people for most of their known history, and Bhil women enjoyed the same rights and status as men. Recently however, patriarchal Hindutva ideology and Sanskritisation have visibly restricted their freedoms and eroded their standing, especially among those exposed to government education and modern urban culture.
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