A STUDY ABOUT MARRIAGE SYSTEM AMONG BHIL TRIBE: JHBUA

*Dr. Anoop Kumar Bhartiya

**Aradhana Goswami

AbstractThis study is basically based on research; during field work Researcher got some peculiarly thing and
marriage system is one of them. Marriage is a main ritual out of sixteen of Bhil Tribe. Mostly work
culture of their marriage are same as Hindus but besides these they organize their marriage function
as a large scale and spend more and more money through which sometimes Bhils are indebted labour.
A shocking thing is that, A women who got money to their marriage as a bride price (it is a great
amount) after marriage she also work as indebted labour. In this study researcher want to focus on
Bhil marriage system and how it is change through cultural contact with outer people.
Key Word- Bhil Tribe, Marriage, Culture
Introduction
Man and society has been the subject of study in India from time immemorial (Vidyarthy and Rai,
1976)1 Marriage is a universal social institution, which has been run in centuries our society. Marriage
has been considered as basic need of society when human being born. In present society marriage has
function, spiritual and social control for all persons. All types of the human physical, mental, social,
economic, and security cooperation received from the organization. After marriage the reunion of
husband and wife by acquiring legitimacy children get married, otherwise not. Before marriage if a
woman has a child, our society does not accept and assume illegal as well as the woman from her
children and her baby is detested. Thats why the marriage gives approval of gender work with respect
in living society. Therefore, marriage is a social institution as we have been extensive for years before
that spirit is present all and in the future is full of possibility.
Different types of marriage system under to see in the tribal society. Some Bhil are monogamous and
other polygamous in nature. Some tribe are did marriage within own community known endogamy and
other hand out of community known as exogamy. Bhil have endogamy marriage system. All have their
own recognition, culture. Each tribal community activated according to their culture. But change is
happening slowly in the universe, so why a tribal community are in back foot. Today all the Aboriginal
community that has been related with city changed slowly and reflect their activities. Thus, Bhils
1 Vidyarthy, L.P and B.K Rai, 1976. The Tribal Culture of India, Concept Publishing
Company, New Delhi,pp.3
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primary social institution has been changing. Bhil has been a tendency among the young generation to
ignore their cultural heritage. Bhil are more interested to copy the entire bad and good thing from outer
people and leave their traditional practices.
In a present research shows that, changing pattern of Bhil marriage system in Jhabua District Madhya
Pradesh. Bhil People prefer to marry in their own community. Polygamy exist in this society in little
bit amount and Bride Price is common among these.
Review of Literature
In the study of jhabua and Dhar district (Bhargava and kher 1960) got the number of males in the
sample population is 55%. The number of married female (42%) is more than of married males (35%).
No cases of divorce have been reported from among this sample population2
Banerjee and Dhar 1984, conduct a study and saw the proportion of males in this community is 53%.
Married males and females are 37and 41%, respectively. There is not a single case of divorce in this
sample population.3
Russels and Hiralal (1916) observe Bhil community and found clan or goatra exogamy. The most
prevelant modes of acquiring are elopement and service. Marriage are rarely arranged through
negotiation. Among Bhil, both monogamous and polygynyous marriages are permissible. Widowers
are allowed to remarry his wifes sister. Bride Price is paid in cash; in case a couple gets divorced, it is
to be refunded to the divorced husband. After divorce, the children are the liability of the father.
Divorcee, widow and widowers are allowed to remarry.4
Rational of the Study
Tribal are backward in his nature and they lived in an isolated place like forest and
hilly area. Their culture, belief and practices are so different and based on traditional things like bali
etc. But, after the initiation of excellent transportation and government scheme for the tribal area
people contacted with other people. Through contact with non- tribal people, tribal are also amend
2 Bhargava ,I. and G.A.Kher , An anthropometric study of central Inda; Bhil of Dhar
district of Madhya Pradesh ,Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 9,1960, pp.49-90.
3 Banerjee,M.K and P. Dhar , A note on Red green colour vision deficiency among the Bhil and Bhilala of
jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, Indian journal of physical Anthropology and Human Gentics,10
(1)1984,pp.61-3.
4 Russell, R.V. and Hiralal, The Tribes and castes of the central provinces of India
(London: Macmillan and company, 1916;rpt.1975, Delhi: Cosmo publication ), vol. I, pp.
247
2

their rituals and modernize own way. Here researcher wants to say Bhil Tribe are also a human and
vulnerable section of Free India their practices are as important as other group of people of India. So,
this study gives a direction to protect and promote study based on Tribal culture and their practices.
The rational of the present study is explored about marriage of Bhil in Jhabua District of Madhya
Pradesh
ObjectiveThe objectives of Present Study are as follows:
1. To find out the marriage pattern of Bhil tribe.
2. To analyze the changes of marriage institution of Bhil tribe.
Methodology
To fulfil the study researcher surveyed whole village collected data on the basis of random
sampling method.
The present study is located in Jhabua district limited to Petlawad Tahsil, sagadiya village
comprising select families of Bhil tribe through random sampling. As the study aim at to view
changes occurred in marriage pattern of Bhil tribe a descriptive research design is used.
The aim of descriptive research design is to analyze and explain the facts. After, finding a
proper research design, interview schedule tool is opted for data collection. For the interview
schedule random sample method is used through a lottery method and 50 families are selected
as specimen unit. After their interview whatever information collected than followed a
conclusion through the way classification tabulation and analysis
An identical geography of sagadiya villageMadhya Pradesh is a state where we find many tribal communities. Sagadiya is one of the most Bhil
populated Tribal village of Petlawad (Jhabua). It is situated to the northern side of Jhabua district in
Madhya Pradesh. The latitude and longitude of this area are 233 00987`N and 743 7974` respectively.
The people of this village are busy in agriculture specially tomato and cotton. Most of the Bhil now
earn their livelihood as an agricultural labour and migrated labour. Bhil are the only community and
ethnic group in this village (as dominant cast)5. Along with their traditional language Bhili they are
influent speaker of Hindi as well, with the outsider when they come to visit their village

5 Srinivas.M.N , The dominant cast of Rampura American anthropologist 1959 Volume 61, Issue 1, pages 1
16, February 1959

Sagadiya village- Study area of

Jhabua district Madhya Pradesh

Finding In this study some peculiar fact come out about Bhil Tribes and their marriage system,
As table -1 shows that all the fifty responses in favour of endogamy nobody in exogamy. Which means
Bhil marriages are within their community and their sub-group i.e. patella, Bhilala. The system under
which one is required to marry within the group is called endogamy. This system believed that purity
of blood can be maintained through endogamy.
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Table-2 Shows that the age of marriage in Bhil community of Sgadiya, maximum 50% Bhils are 15-20
age group, 44% are 21-25 age group and minimum 6 percentage are 25-30 age group. Generally
researcher saw that new generation trend to get late marriages in compression to old generation.
Table-3 shows that the marriage which is very interesting in Bhil community either now it is less
popularize due to government inceatives and copying the urban people culture of marriage. It is
polygamy that means one person have one or more wives / one women have one or more husband. But
in Bhils of sagadiya (Jhabua) Polyandry took place, 14%s Bhils has been done this type marriage, in
this a women have one or more husband. It is highly status symbol of Bhil women. But now the
maximum bhils has been done monogamy.
Table-4 shows that Bhil has permitted for remarriage, 20% Bhils are involve in remarriage out of 50
respondents. Table 4.1 shows that 6 are widow remarriage, 3 are divorcee remarriage, 1 is self do
remarriage out of 10 remarriage. In Bhil community no restriction for remarriage, and if a widow
person of younger age or without child than it has right to go with his choice man.
Table-5 shows the freedom of mate selection in Bhil Community, Bhil are 26% take self decision, 40%
take their decision of marriage by parents, 10% community head, and 18% parent and own both
decision play great role. There is no role of relatives in selection of groom and bride. This table define
autonomy and sovereignty of Bhils about their marriage. Because they believe that marriage is a bond
of birth to rebirth.
Table-6 shows a new culture enter their marriage system, it is dowery which is adopted by outer people
of tribal area and they think civilized people must take dowry so they also do same thing. 14% of bhils
took dowry sand other are took bride price as a traditional pattern of marriage gift by the side of groom
to bride. Minimum 1 kilogram silver and utensils, new clothes, sweets are in bride price it is must for
their marriage. But now a new thing for tribes, dowry takes place of bride price. They are opposite to
each other.
ConclusionHere it can be concluded in short, Marriage is most popular social institution but the customary
practices of Bhil marriage, changing slowly. Dowry, divorcee, late marriages, selection of partner, time
taken by marriage (main marriage ceremony converts their practice 3 days in the place of 15days) all
these things are coping of outer people. They use D.J music (but songs are folk of Jhabua) in before 7
days of marriages and Bhagoriya festival (Holi). Now they also uses some modern clothes (sari and
jama), and artificial jewellery in marriages. So, Marriage is a necessary and social controlling device
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of Bhil Tribe but as the time changes their total culture influence by outer society. It indicates a good
signal for some aspect and bad also in some aspects.

References

Bhargava ,I. and G.A.Kher , An anthropometric study of central India; Bhil of Dhar
district of Madhya Pradesh ,Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 9,1960,
pp.49-90.
Banerjee,M.K and P. Dhar , A note on Red green colour vision deficiency among the Bhil and Bhilala of
jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, Indian journal of physical Anthropology and Human Gentics,10
(1)1984,pp.61-3.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/madhyapradesh/ retrieved from 23/09/2014

Russell, R.V. and Hiralal, The Tribes and castes of the central provinces of India
(London: Macmillan and company, 1916;rpt.1975, Delhi: Cosmo publication ), vol.
I, pp. 247
Vidyarthy, L.P and B.K Rai, 1976. The Tribal Culture of India, Concept Publishing
Company, New Delhi,pp.3

Annexure
Table -1
Mode of Marriage

Sl.No
.
1

Marriage

Frequency

Percentage

Endogamy

50

100

Exogamy

Total

50

100

Table-2
Age of marriage
Sl.No

Age of marriage

Frequency

Percentage

.
1

(In Years)
15-20

25

50

21-25

22

44

3
4

25-30
Total
Mean age

3
50

6
100
20.3

Table-3
Type of Marriage
Sl.

Types

No
1.
2.

marriage
Monogamy
Polya
Polyg
amy

of

ndry
Polyg

Frequ

Percen

ency
43
7

tage
86
14

50

100

yny
Total

Table-4
Remarriage Occur
Sl.No.

Remarriage

Frequency

Percentage

1
2

Yes
No
Total

10
40
50

20
80
100

Table-4.1
Type of Remarriage
Sl.No.
1
2
3

Type of Remarriage
Widow Remarriage
Divorcee Remarriage
Self Remarriage
Total

Frequency
6
3
1
10

Percentage
60
30
10
100

Table-5
Mate Selection
Sl.No.
1

Marriage
Self

Frequency
13

Percentage
26

2
3
4
5
6

Parents
Elders of the family
Community Head
Parents and my self
Relatives
Total

20
3
5
9
50

40
6
10
18
100

Table-6
Took Bride Price
Sl.No.
1
2
3

Took Bride Price

Frequenc

Percentage

Bride Price
Dowry
Total

y
41
7
50

82
14
100

*Associate Professor, Deapartment of Social Work, University of Lucknow.

** Research Scholar, Department of Social Work, University of Lucknow.
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