Category: Literature

Nimai Kumar Sardar

The Vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharat present for
specification about the people of ancient India. It is undeniable that the tribals took meja
role to develop the culture and civilization of this country. The Oraon culture and the
festivals like Karam, Jatra, Puna-Khani, Fagu, Soharai, Khaddi etc. and also their life and
livelihood are closely related with cultivation.

It is universally admitted from early times the Oraon tribes picked out the cultivation
as their main profession. As per historical fact the first cultivation started in 10000 B.C.
and subsequently appeared and discovered different civilization in India. Out of which the
civilization of Indus Valley in 3000-2000 B.C. considered as noble part to the historian
Though there are no historical record but as per Archaeological diagram the halls
discovered in the Harappa and Mohenjodaro are nothing but Oraon “DHUMKURIA
(Bachelor’s Dormitory) as per Jitu Oraon’s – ‘Sindhu Ghati Kurukh Sabhayata Janajatio
Bhumika’. The Kole, Bhill, Santal, Munda and Oraon tribes are an integral part of the
Indian civilization. It is known to us that there are four main races ( dialect families)

i) The Austro-Asiatics (Austric) are represented by Kols, Bhills,Santals, Mundas.
Koras etc.
i) The Indo-Mongoloid (Sino-Tibetan) are represented by Nagas, Kukis, Ravas,
Bodos, Mechs etc.
ii) The Dravidian dialect family members are Tamils, Telegus, Tulus, Maltos, Jatapus.
Konds, Kisans, Gonds, ORAONs etc.

iv) The Aryans – who are supposed to be the last to come to India.

Thus we see that the first three racial and cultural elements made a great contribution
to the formation of the Indian people. About the Dravidian tribe, namely, the Oraons, who
are also called Kurkher since their mother-language is Kurukh, their internal migration
perhaps starts from somewhere North-Western India to Southern India near Coorg in
Karnataka. Later the Oraons appear to have proceeded up the Narbada till they reach the
Sone valley. For a time, they appear to have live in places near Aramnagarh (Arra) and
Byaghra-Sara ( Buxar). Ultimately they took shelter in Ruidasgarh (Rohtasgarh).
Subsequently they moved North-Eastward and spread their habitation in West Bengal,
Assam and East Bengal ( at present Bangladesh). All those migrations happened due to
Geographical, Economical and Political reasons. This has reference to The Tribal Culture
of India of L.P.Vidyarthi and B.K.Rai).

There are forty castes marked as Schedule Tribe and Nine as their sub-divisional
tribe in West Bengal. They are Asur, Baiga, Bedia, Bhumij, Bhutia, Birhor, Birjia, Chakma,
Chero, Chik Baraik, Garo, Gond, Gorait, Hajang, Ho, Karmali, Kharwar, Khond, Kisan,
Kora, Korwa, Lepcha, Lodha, Lohar, Magh, Mahali, Mahli, Malpaharia, Mech, Mru,
Munda, Nagesia, ORAON, Parhaiya, Rabha, Santal, Sauria Paharia, Savar, Limbu and
Tamang. As per census of 2001 the population of santal-22,80,540, Oraon-6,17,138,
Munda-3,41,542, Bhumij-3,36,436, Kora-1,42,789 and all others are below the lac.
The Santals are in first position and second biggest tribe is Oraon. The Oraon population
shown as 6,17,138 is not correct. Due to ignorance and lack of education some of the
Oraon people introduce themselves as Kora, Dhangar, Mudi etc. for which their population
becomes smaller in number inspite of their genuine presence (about 15 lacs/1.5 Millions)
in the state of West Bengal.

The people of this community are deprived for a long time every where in all
respect. After 70 years of independence of our country (India) it is observed that the
people of Oraon communities are lagging behind in food-cloth-health-education as well as
in socio-economic condition. I invite all the Oraons of the world to be united in a platform
for upliftment of Kurukh language, development of their traditional culture and removal of
poverty of the people of this community.

Mr. Nimai Kumar Sardar (Minz)
President
Sara Bharat Oraon Kalyan Samity

निमाई कुमार सरदार (मिंज)
बोलपुर ( शांति निकेतन) पश्चिम बंगाल

खे़र चींखी घड़ी घड़ी अक्कु नुम मनो पईरी
होरमर नीम एजरा,
हरहुर्रा ख़द्दर चोअनर मदगी पेसा काआनर
धुन्धुर माखा़ मुंजरा।।
ई बेड़ा कुक्कोर उरुखनर अड्डो मेन्ता का:नर
अज्जी खेस्स पुखी,
पइरी पइरीम एम्बस नाल नु गोहला उइय्यस
अयो भेटांगो चुक्खी।।
टोंगए धरचस ददस कंके पलका केरास
सन्नी माई चींखी,
मण्डी एड़पा नु नासगो इरता लग्गी किसगो
दाई आसमा मुखी।।
खा़ड़ नु एमचस ख़ज्जरस अज्जोस टोंकन्ती किर्रीयस
नुड़का किचरी कुरियस,
लोटा नु अम्म होच्चस धरमे गुसन गोहरारस
पईरीन्ता बीड़ीन गोड़ लग्गियस
अड्डो खापुर किर्रोर अक्कुन लुरकुड़िया कालोर
टुड़ोर-पढ़ोर हेभरोर,
अजम चिहुट नानोर डक्टर इंजिनियर मानोर
कुँड़ुख भखान परदोर।।

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সোনার তরী – রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর
(কুড়ুখ ভাষায় অনূদিত – অনুবাদক – শ্রী নিমাই কুমার সরদার )

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