Oraon Tribe’s Governance System
The Oraons are one of the important and populous tribal communities of Jharkhand. Their social and political organization has a long tradition. When the Oraons settled in the Chhota Nagpur region, different families and clans selected suitable areas of forest, cleared the trees and prepared the land for cultivation. They built their houses and gradually established villages. The people associated with the first clearing of forests and settlement of agricultural land were known as Bhuinhar. The land brought under cultivation was called Bhuinhar Bhoomi. Later, Oraon cultivators were also known as Raiyat.
In the beginning, village administration and religious activities were closely connected. The person responsible for performing religious ceremonies and certain village functions was called the Pahan. The family or clan associated with him was known as the Pahan Khunt. With the development of village administration, another official, called the Mahto, was appointed to assist in managing the affairs of the village.
The Pahan continued to perform religious functions, while the Mahto became mainly responsible for the administrative management of the village. In earlier times, the duties of the village priest and its administrative head were also associated with the Baiga. The Mahto belonged to the Mahato Khunt. In this way, two important functionaries performed different duties in the village. The Pahan looked after religious matters, whereas the Mahto managed its administrative affairs.
As the population of villages increased, the need for an institution to settle disputes also became important. A village Panchayat was formed for this purpose. The senior members of the village participated as Panchs, and the Mahto generally acted as the head of the Panchayat. It dealt with disputes and other matters concerning the village community.
The village Panchayat settled disputes relating to the division of property, marriage, family matters, sexual offences, violations of customary rules, assault and theft. A person who had a complaint approached the Mahto and the Pahan. The senior members of the village then assembled at the Akhara or another suitable place. The complainant and the other party were heard, and witnesses were examined. The Panchs discussed the matter and generally reached a decision through mutual agreement.
Different penalties were prescribed according to the nature of the offence and the customs followed by the community. Historical descriptions of this system also mention social boycott and expulsion from the village in certain cases. Such practices formed part of the customary system of that period.
The need for cooperation among neighbouring villages was also recognized. Villages had to work together for their protection, welfare and other common purposes. As a result, the Parha organization developed as a union of several neighbouring villages. It provided a wider arrangement for cooperation and helped settle disputes between different villages. Its central council was known as the Parha Panch.
The Parha organization also performed several social and cultural functions. It helped in maintaining relations among neighbouring villages and organizing collective activities. Traditional practices such as group hunting and cultural celebrations were among the activities associated with this organization. Thus, the Parha extended the system of community administration beyond an individual village.
A traditional Padha was formed by combining seven, twelve, twenty-one or twenty-two villages. Its head was known as the Raja. However, the number of villages in these organizations gradually decreased in some areas because of changes in the traditional system. In certain cases, a Padha consisted of five, four or even three villages.
The villages within a Padha had different names and functions. One village was known as the Raja village, another as the Diwan village, and the third as the Panere village, also called the Chauth village. There was also a Kotwar village, while the remaining settlements were known as Praja villages. Each village occupied a particular position in the traditional organization.
Every village had its own customary arrangements for managing local affairs. The Mahto and the Panchayat played an important role in settling disputes within the village. The Pahan continued to perform religious ceremonies. The authority of village functionaries was closely connected with the customs and decisions accepted by the community.
Disputes between one village and another were settled through the Padha organization. It also dealt with matters concerning social relations and the readmission of people who had been excluded through customary decisions. In this way, the wider organization helped maintain relationships among the villages and provided a common institution for dealing with disputes.
Sometimes, a village left one customary grouping and became associated with another. Such a village was known as a Doodh-Bhaiya village. When these relationships resulted in a larger organization beyond an individual Padha, it was called AntarPadha. These arrangements show how the traditional system could adapt to changing relationships among villages.
Over time, the traditional Oraon villages also became part of the modern Gram Panchayat system. Their social and political organization has changed with the development of formal local administration. However, the traditional institutions remain important for understanding the history of tribal governance in Jharkhand.
Important Terms and Their Functions
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Bhuinhar | People associated with the original clearing and settlement of forest land |
| Bhuinhar Bhoomi | Land prepared for cultivation |
| Raiyat | Cultivator |
| Pahan | Person responsible for religious functions |
| Pahan Khunt | Clan associated with the Pahan |
| Mahto | Village administrative head |
| Mahato Khunt | Clan associated with the Mahto |
| Village Panchayat | Village council for settling disputes |
| Panchs | Senior members of the village council |
| Akhara | Traditional meeting place for community discussions |
| Parha Panch | Council of the wider Parha organization |
| Parha or Padha | Union of neighbouring villages |
| Raja | Head of the Padha |
| Raja village | Village associated with the head of the organization |
| Diwan village | Village with a designated position in the organization |
| Panere or Chauth village | Another designated village within the Padha |
| Kotwar village | Village assigned a particular customary function |
| Praja villages | Remaining villages of the organization |
| Doodh-Bhaiya village | Village associated with another customary grouping |
| AntarPadha | Larger organization formed through associations beyond a single Padha |
Conclusion
The traditional governance system of the Oraons was based on village administration, customary rules and cooperation among neighbouring settlements. The Pahan performed religious duties, while the Mahto managed administrative affairs. The village Panchayat settled local disputes, and the Parha organization dealt with matters involving several villages. The Padha system, under the leadership of the Raja, provided a wider structure for inter-village coordination. Together, these institutions formed an important part of the traditional social and political organization of the Oraon community in Jharkhand.
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