Tribal Heritage in Western India- With Special Reference to Mavchis of Dangs

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About the Book Since prehistoric period Western India has been a settling soil for the various races, tribes and communities of the Old World on account of its straight and easily accessible routes from Central Asia on north western side and from South Easter Asia and Australia from south cistern side.

The Central Asian Communities, like, Indo-Iranians, Scythians, Turks etc, did come here from West. Therefore here we come across all kind of races. The Negros as Siddis of Junagadh, Kutch and Ratanpur of Bharuch, the Mongoloid Luhanas, Caucasoid Scythians as shepherds like, Rabaris and Ahiras and the Proto Australoids Bhils and other tribal aptly embody the mosaic of earth's all foremost races.

In this museum like land of racial variation, some of the communities for their cultural traditions stand very distinguish. They are the Rabaris of Kutch, Siddis of Junagadh, the Rathva Bhils of the Panch Mahals and the Mavchis of South Gujarat. They present divergent vista of ethnology.

The Tribal Heritage in Western India: with Special Reference to Mavchis of Dangs is an outcome of Dr. Raj Ratna Goswami's vast experience as an ethnologist and cultural enthusiast, being curator in the Dept. of Museums of Government of Gujarat since 1977.

In general, it touches most of the aspects of life of a tribal in Western India and the Mavchis of South Gujarat in particular, by reciting an unhindered saga which starts with prehistory and then taking a complete tour of social enigma, occupational activities, religion, art and literature ends at recreation and amusement. There is no much muddle of reference after references from erudite studies but rather it just interprets only fundamental first hand information collected from the deep forests, terrains of mountains and smoking shanties of the Dangs.

About the Author Dr. Raj Ratna Goswami: Born on September 5, Goswami passed his M. History from University Rajasthan. did his Graduate Diploma Muscology from Maharaja Sayajirao University of and Visharad Sanskrit Banaras. was awarded D. in History from Saurashtra, Rajkot. He by Research Institute of Numismatics, Nashik Picture Edinburgh institute, Holland.

He presented number of papers various national and international gatherings: has published papers and monographs, vernacular and languages has produced documentary films subjects History. Anthropology, Fine Museology, Vedic literature. Ecology and Archaeology. Since 1977 Museum Department Museums, Government of Gujarat.

Preface Since prehistoric period Western India has been a setting soil for the various races, tribes and communities of the old World on account of its straight and easily accessible routes from Cental Asta on north western side and from South Easter Asia and Austrilia from south eastern side.

The first Man In India appeared in Western India who migrated from The Black and Red ware user Neolithic Proto-Australoid Racial who come from south east too. settled in Western India, viz., at Ahad, of Rajasthan. Kutch and Banaskantha of Gujarat and then west up to Deccan Plateau. The Central Asian Communities. Like, Indo-Iranians. Scythians. Turks etc. did come here from west. Therefore here we come across all kind of races. the Negros as Siddis of Junagadh, Kutch and Ratanpur of Bharuch.

the Mongolid Luhanas, Caucasoid Seythinas as Shepherds like. Rabaris and Ahiras and the Proto Australoids Bhils and other tribal aptly embody the mosaic of earth's all foremost races.

In this museum like land of racial variation, some of the communities for their cultural traditions stand very distinguish. They are the Rabaris of Kutch, Siddis of Junagadh, the Rathva Bhils of the Panch Mahal and the Mavchis of South Gujarat. Tribal aptly embody the mosate of earth's all foremost races.

Introduction Among the prominent forest tracts of the western India in general and Gujarat in particular, the terrain to the cast of mainland Gujarat stretching from the Banaskantha district towards in the North through Sabarkantha. the Panchmahals. Vadodara and Bharuch Surat and the Dangs in the South-can be put at the top In rank. Among these the Dangs Forests are the best in dense canopy coverage and extension over the area. This small of Gujarat Sta district of State is full of varied vegetation and very rich in timber forest. This consists the best jungles of the state. The term Dangs itsell stand for the forest. The steep pointed hills reaching towards the northern fringes of the Sahyadris with a number of rivers and streams, its lush green vegetation and different wild animals are like a repository of the Dangs which have been sheltering a number of unrestrained and free-born tribes protecting their social and cultural traditions shielding behind the dense This geophysical phenomenon has made the inhabitants considerably aloof and unaffected of the changes took place beyond its frontiers during the long course of history as if the time has stopped here. The food gather Bhils and primitive cultivator Kunabis and Warlis have squeezed themselves in the jungle as the children do in the lap of their mother. Free from all artificial bewilderments and perplexity of civilized world, they have evolved a world of their own where an innocent intoxication of archivity roam contenting their needs merely to the food, protecton and reproduction.

No urban settlement is there in the Dangs. The largest part of population consists of the aboriginal tribes, almost 94%. Among these the Kunabis and the Bhils are two major ethnic groups (45% and 32% respectively), whereas the Warlis and the Mavchis are very meager (14% and 4% respectively). All these four groups are inhabiting the Dangs for centuries.

**Contents and Sample Pages**