Ho Tribe
The Ho tribe is one of the major tribes of Jharkhand and is considered the fourth largest tribe of the state in terms of population. They are generally placed in the Proto-Australoid category. Some scholars consider the Ho to be a part or branch of the Munda tribe. The traditional cluster area of the Ho is known as Kolhan, and their social and political system has a distinct identity. Their language is called Ho, which is very similar to Mundari and Santhali. In the present period, the Ho have developed their own script known as Baranchiti. They mainly reside in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand.
Ho Village
Ho villages are generally settled on agricultural land. Akhara is an important place found in the middle of some villages. The general assembly or Gram Panchayat traditionally meets at Akhara. It is also used for entertainment, social interaction and training through dance, songs and narratives. In some villages, Geeti Oda is also found, where traditional weapons and instruments are kept. Jaher is situated at the end of the village and is regarded as a sacred place. In one corner of the kitchen of some Ho households, there is a sacred place called Adig, which is associated with the worship of ancestors.
The villages of Kolhan were traditionally divided into 26 bodies. Generally, there were about 5–10 villages in each body, although some bodies could have more villages and more than one traditional head. Each body had a Standard as its head. The traditional Standard system was also recognised by the British.
Agriculture and Land
The main source of livelihood of the Ho is agriculture. Their traditional land is divided into three major categories. Bedo refers to low-lying and fertile land. Wadi is mainly associated with Dhan Kheti or paddy cultivation. Goda Bhoomi is comparatively less fertile land where coarse grains are grown. Agriculture is closely connected with the social and cultural life of the Ho. Their festivals are also largely related to agriculture, nature and the seasonal cycle.
Ho Family and Gotras
The Ho family system is traditionally patriarchal and ancestral. The community is divided into several gotras. Important gotras include Bodara, Birua, Pigwa, Boyopai, Biruli, Balmuchu, Baghe, Badai, Gagarai, Jamuda, Lugun and Laguri, among others.
The Ho traditionally follow several forms of marriage. The main types mentioned are Andi Bapala, Diku Andi, Opartipi and Raji-Khushi marriage. Apart from these, a few examples of Seva-vivah or Gola(t) marriage are also found. Ghar-Janwai marriage is comparatively rare, while Andi marriage is considered very popular.
The bride price is called Gonong or Pon. Marriage with a person from outside the tribe is referred to as Diku. Traditional accounts state that interracial marriage was prohibited in Ho society. Marriage proposals are traditionally made from the groom's side. The normal tradition is one-wife marriage, although instances of polygamy are also found. There is no traditional restriction on widow or widower remarriage.
Ho Religious System
The Ho worship different deities connected with the village, earth, nature and other aspects of traditional religious life. Important deities include Desauli or Pahui Bonga, regarded as a village god; Oti Bodom, associated with the earth; Marang Buru; and Naga-Bonga. The Ho also worship Durga, Kali and Hanuman, along with natural elements such as the Sun, Moon, rivers and mountains. Ili is considered the favourite and sacred drink of the Ho. It is also offered to their deities during religious practices.
Festivals
The major festivals of the Ho include Maghe, Baha, Here, Batauli, Damurai (Dhanrupi), Jomnama and Kolobh, among others. Almost all these festivals are closely connected with agriculture and nature. Among them, Maghe is considered the main festival of the Ho.
Traditional Ho Panchayat System
The Ho have a traditional system of village and inter-village self-government. At the village level, there is a Panchayat which deals with village matters and settles disputes. The head of the village is called Munda, while his assistant is known as Dakua. The Munda represents the village and performs an important role in maintaining the traditional administrative system.
Several villages together form an inter-village Panchayat called Peed. The Peed is headed by a Manki. Normally, about 5–10 villages form one Peed, although some Peeds may contain more villages and more than one Standard.
The Panchayat deals with family disputes, village disputes and property matters. Serious allegations are brought before the Gram Panchayat. The heads of families participate in the decision-making process at the village level, while the Munda of different villages participate in the inter-village Panchayat. The traditional Panchayat decisions were considered important and generally valid within the community. Even today, government Panchayats also function in the Ho region.
Social Rules and Punishments
The traditional Ho Panchayat also maintains social discipline through customary rules. Sexual relations between close blood relatives are considered a serious offence. A person found guilty could face social exclusion.
Traditional accounts also mention the practice of witchcraft beliefs in Ho society. If a woman was strongly accused of being a witch and the community considered the evidence sufficient, severe punishment could be imposed. The accused person could be excluded from the gotra, and restrictions could be placed on food and social relations with other groups. However, such a person could still be included in certain community feasts according to traditional practices. For ordinary offences, the Panchayat could impose cash or material penalties. The collected penalties could be used for community or mass celebrations.
British Period in Kolhan
After the decline of Mughal rule, the British brought the Singhbhum region under their control and declared the area part of the Bengal administrative system. The administration of Singhbhum was operated from Lohardaga in present-day Jharkhand. However, the British administration faced difficulty in recovering taxes from Singhbhum. In 1830–32, a Kol Rebellion took place against British tax collection and administrative arbitrariness. The Ho tribe is also referred to as a Kol tribe in this historical context. After the rebellion was suppressed, an agreement was reached between the British East India Company and the tribal communities. This settlement resulted in the administrative arrangement known as the Wilkinson Rule in 1837 AD.
Wilkinson Rule
Captain Thomas Wilkinson was the British officer associated with this system. He was the commissioner at that time. In 1837, Wilkinson recognised the traditional village administration of Kolhan. The Governor was declared the agent of the Munda, the village heads of Kolhan, and the traditional position of the Munda and Manki was retained as before. The arrangement recognised the traditional leadership and self-government of the tribal villages instead of completely replacing them with an external administrative structure. The Manki and Munda positions remained hereditary.
Tax System under Wilkinson Rule
After the British established their authority over Singhbhum, a tax arrangement was introduced under which the Munda people collected one rupee from their village, with twelve annas being deposited as tax according to the arrangement described in the source. The Manki deposited the tax collected from the subordinate Munda villages into the government treasury.
The Manki and Munda were also allowed to keep two or three Dakua/Dakuas as assistants or peons to help them in their administrative work. Half of the punishment amount was given to the Dakua as remuneration, while the remaining half was used for the welfare of the Haatu (Gram/Village).
Manki-Munda Mahasabha
The success of the Manki-Munda Mahasabha strengthened the traditional administrative arrangement. Captain Thomas Wilkinson prepared rules concerning the penal system, cultural traditions and new tax system prevailing in Kolhan.
A matter which the Munda could not resolve was referred to the Manki. The Manki also supervised the Munda people and villages under his authority. Captain Thomas Wilkinson prepared a legal system containing 32 provisions. It was approved by the then Governor of Bengal and implemented in the Kolhan region. This legal system came to be known as the Wilkinson Rule.
Features of Wilkinson Rule
The Wilkinson Rule recognised and regulated several aspects of traditional Ho administration. It recognised the authority of Munda and Manki, maintained their hereditary positions and provided a framework for the traditional penal, cultural and tax systems of Kolhan. Small criminal cases were also included under the Wilkinson Rule, while serious crimes such as murder and robbery were kept outside its scope.
The system became comparatively successful because the Munda and Ho people had a good understanding of their traditional justice system, and the general public had confidence in the local system.
Ho Self-Government
The history of the Ho people of Kolhan is closely associated with their struggle to preserve their identity and traditional self-government. Historical British officers observed that the people of Kolhan could not easily be controlled through force and that matters could be settled more effectively through consent and agreement. Through the Wilkinson Rule, the British recognised important elements of the traditional Ho self-government system. The traditional Munda-Manki-Peed Panchayat structure continued to play an important role in local social and administrative affairs.
At present, government Panchayats also exist in the Ho region. However, the traditional institutions remain an important part of the historical and cultural identity of the Kolhan tribal region. Thus, the Munda-Manki-Peed system and Wilkinson Rule are important features of the traditional governance and administrative history of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand.
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