Structure of Family among the Baiga Tribe of Chhattisgarh, India

 

Jitendra Kumar Premi¹* and Mitashree Mitra²

¹Assistant Professor, School of Studies in Anthropology, Pt. Ravishankar Shula University,

Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India-492010

²Professor, School of Studies in Anthropology, Pt. Ravishankar Shula University,

Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India-492010

 

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Anthropological principles, in the study of the family certain paradigms provide the base. Among such paradigms, one that plays a key role is the number of members in that family. Baiga is one of the five identified primitive tribes of Chhattisgarh. They are mostly inhabited in Kabirdham and Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh. Baigas could consider themselves a Narotrias, Barotrias, Binjhwars, or Bhumias-all endogamous Baiga group names- Bhumia had other meanings. Baiga considered themselves Bhumia or “lords of the soil.

Objectives: Objectives of the present study were to explore the type of families on the various theoretical bases and to know how the families structure of the Baiga help their “primitive” aspects of life.

Methodology: The universe of our sample is 400 married Baiga males belonging to age 18-49 year from Bodla and Pandariya tehsils of Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh, India. In the present study multi-stage and stratified random sampling method were followed. Data were collected through structured interview schedule and focused group discussions. The results were analyzed using the 16.0 SPSS package.

Results: As per the findings the 400 respondents’ families, out of them the majority (90.2%) of families pertain to nuclear type. In a Baiga family the mean number of family members comes to 5.23 ± 1.955. The mean number of male members was 2.64 ± 1.360, whereas, the mean number of female members was 2.61±1.293. Between the two the estimated sex ratio was 988.66/1000. In Baiga, two main residential patterns are prominently noticed. Out of the two, the Neolocal residential pattern was the greater number (53.8%) whereas the second, patrilocal residential pattern was 43.8% - a lesser number.

Conclusion: The result makes the point clear that from structural perspective the Baiga families are nuclear families even  to this new millennium, which characterize ‘primitiveness’ as one of their  main features, as post marriage neolocal residence pattern is found. On the basis of number of family members, the Baigas’ families were found moderate size. The observation confirms that the sex ratio in Baiga family is good.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

According to anthropological principles, in the study of the family, certain paradigms provide the base. Among such paradigms, one that plays a key role is the number of members found in the family. This characterizes the nature of the family. Then, after marriage, the family’s residential status also serves as the base, whereby the family’s residential characters are decided. Similarly, on the basis of authority, on the basis of inheritance or succession, on the basis of heredity- on such different bases the nature of the family is worked out.

 

Also, on the basis of the institution of marriage, and the relation made through marriage, on such grounds, too, families are classified. Here in the present study, after classifying  the Baiga families on the basis of  aforesaid paradigms, their influence on the Baigas’ socio-economic  life, and families structure of the Baiga help to support their one of the “primitive” characteristic.

 

 

Table No. 1: Villages under study in the present research

Name of the villages	No. of Respondents under study	Percent n=400	No. of Baiga families in the village	No. of males in the village	No. of females in the village	Total population of the village
Aamanara	17	4.2	42	93	111	204
Badnapani	9	2.2	43	99	102	201
Bangoura	32	8.0	47	117	104	221
Bharatpur	5	1.2	26	76	72	148
Bharatpur(Navatola)	5	1.2	18	36	32	68
Chhirhapara	4	1.0	9	20	22	42
Chhirhapara (Ku)	6	1.5	11	27	29	56
Damgarh	26	6.5	45	120	123	243
Dhanwahi	5	1.2	27	57	53	110
Ghoghra	17	4.2	37	88	87	175
Ghoghrakhurd	13	3.2	40	94	95	179
Bhursipakari	18	4.5	68	140	151	291
Gudali	17	4.2	45	110	95	205
Hadahi	19	4.8	28	80	75	155
Indripani	8	2.0	27	73	59	132
Khariya (Navapara)	7	1.8	24	63	52	115
Kodhapara	2	.5	7	21	27	48
Kotnapani	11	2.8	34	75	79	154
Kukrapani	31	7.8	46	108	116	224
Kundapani	22	5.5	63	145	137	282
Liladadar	11	2.8	37	91	89	180
Nunbhatti	36	9.0	50	120	106	226
Pachrahi	11	2.8	10	25	21	46
Bantipathara(Padiyadharan)	6	1.5	41	105	107	212
Pakripani	9	2.2	49	102	93	195
Parsapani	11	2.8	47	100	114	214
Peeparkhunta	2	.5	49	113	132	245
Rokhani	40	10.0	116	244	251	495
Total	400	100.0	1086	2542	2534	5066

 

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To explore the types of families on various theoretical bases such as structural skeleton, number of members, residential pattern, and succession of authority of property among the Baiga tribe in the new millennium.

2. To know how the family structure of the Baiga help their “primitive” aspects of life.

 

METHODS:

Baiga is one of the five identified primitive tribes of Chhattisgarh. They are mostly inhabited in Kabirdham and Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. Baiga can be identified by their scanty dress and tangled hair (girda) on the head of male and ‘V’ shaped tattoo on the head of the female. Baiga is a tribe found in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh of India. In Chhattisgarh the largest number of Baigas is found in Kawardha (Kabirdham) district. Baigas could consider themselves a Narotrias, Barotrias, Binjhwars, or Bhumias-all endogamous Baiga group names- Bhumia had other meanings. Baiga considered themselves Bhumia or “lords of the soil. In addition, Bhumia and Baiga were both occupations titles of non-Hindu village priests in the area, even when the priests belonged to another tribe or caste. Binjhwar any other names might also refer to other tribes, separate from the Baiga (Russell 1916, and Elwin 1939). According to census (2001) their total population is 69,993 having 35,182 males and 34,811 females. Only 24.76% Baiga population are literate and 92.66% Baiga women are illiterate. Baiga tribe is considered to be one of the oldest tribes of India.

 

The universe of our sample is 400 married Baiga males belonging to age 18-49 year. In the present study multi-stage and stratified random sampling method were followed. Firstly selected Kabirdham (Kawardha) district of Chhattisgarh as a primary stage unit, then Bodla and Pandariya tehsils selected as a secondary stage units, after that 28 villages ( 19 villages from Bodala tehsil and 9 villages from Pandariya tehsil) selected as a tertiary stage units. Finally 400 married appropriate Baiga males i.e. 235 males from Bodla and 165 males from Pandariya tehsils were randomly selected as the respondents in the manner of stratification by age, education, occupation etc.

 

In the present study structured interview schedule was used for collection of data. Apart from these tools, several FGDs were conducted using interview guide in Chhattisgarhi dialect. The results were analyzed using the 16.0 SPSS package.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Villages under study

Observation of table no.1 makes the point clear: to make the present study comprehensive, total 400 respondents were selected from 28 villages of two tehsil - Bodla and Pandariya under Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh State. Out of these 28 villages, 19 villages were from Bodla tehsil and 9 from Pandariya tehsil. As per Baiga Development Authorities (2013), in the chosen 28 villages taken for study, the total number of families residing are 1086, which comprised a total population of 5076. Out of the total population, 2524 were male and 2534 were female. The 28 villages subjected to study, with 5076 population - according to 2001 census comprised 7.25% of the total Baiga population in Chhattisgarh region. The number of Baiga males residing in those 28 villages is 7.22% (35182) of the total number of Baiga males of Chhattisgarh state. The 400 Baiga (males) selected for the instant study, constitute 15.73% of the total make the Baiga inhabiting 28 villages. The main village, out of all 28 villages, focused was 'Rokhani' by mane. In this village 'Rokhani' was, 116 Baiga families having 495- men and women. The smallest of the 28 was 'Chhirahapara', were 9 Baiga families lived with 42 total numbers of members.

 

(a) Family type (on the basis of structural skeleton)

On the basis of structural skeleton, to classify the family from structural point of view, the numbers (of family members) provides the base. Thus, the nomenclatures- ‘nuclear’, ‘joint’, and ‘extended’ family/families - such appellation are structural in nature. On this basis, as per table no. 2, the 400 respondents’ families, out of them the majority (90.2%) of families pertain to nuclear type. Then followed, 9.5% Baiga families, which were joint families, whereas, there was only one family, which was an extended family.

 

Table No. 2: Type of Family among the Baiga

Type of Family	No. of families	Percent n=400
Extended Family	1	0.2
Joint Family	38	9.5
Nuclear Family	361	90.2
Total	400	100.0

 

(b)Family Size

On the basis of family members’ number, the families were found moderate in size. In a Baiga family the mean number of family members comes to 5.23 ± 1.955. If we see the distribution from the side of number of members, then 19% families had 5 members.

 

This is followed by 16.8% families with 3 members. In 15.8% families 6 members were found. 15.5% families had 4 members. On the other side, 8.5%, 5%, 0.8%, 0.2% families were such that had 8,9,10 and 11 members, each only 6.2% Baiga families  had 2 member, every family (table no. 3).

 

(c) A comparative status of numbers of male and female members in a family

What is the number of male and female members in a Baiga family, what is the ratio of gender difference; such statistics too was pulled up. The result found is placed in table no.4. According, out of 400 Baiga families brought under study, the mean number of male members was 2.64 ± 1.360, whereas, the mean number of female members was 2.61±1.293. Between the two the estimated sex ratio was 988.66/1000. The table also highlights that in the 400 Baiga families, subjected to study, the total members were 2100 in number, out of which the females were 1044 and the male 1056 in number. The table also endorses that in 26.42% families the male- female number was 3:3, whereas in 22.66% families, the female- male ratio was 4:4.

 

Table No. 3: Family size among the Baiga

Number of members	No. of families	Percent n=400
2	25	6.2
3	67	16.8
4	62	15.5
5	76	19.0
6	63	15.8
7	50	12.5
8	34	8.5
9	20	5.0
10	3	0.8
11	1	0.2
Total	400	100.0

Mean   -      5.25

Std. -      1.998.

 

(d)  On the basis of residence or pattern of residence

Residence pattern has direct influence over kinship relationship. The more close we stay to our kith and kins, the more will be the moral, economical, social, and psychological support and cooperation we get from them. And this mutual and reciprocal, and our demeanor and conduct will be more decent and dignified, balanced and sober. Such interpersonal relation will have a bracing effect not only on our economic and socio- cultural life but also prove a tonic for our mental and physical health, giving a fillip to our health seeking behaviour, which includes RCH and the male involvement in it. On this hypothesis we worked, rather put this hypothesis to an acid test by studying the residential pattern in Baiga community, after the marriage. The results obtained from such perspectives are given in table no. 5. According to this table after the marriage, in Baiga, two main patterns are prominently noticed. Out of the two, the Neolocal residential pattern had the greater number (53.8%) whereas the second, patrilocal residential pattern had 43.8% - a lesser number. The finding as conclusion is, the majority of Baiga males after their marriage, segregate themselves from their fathers residence and build a new residence to inhabit there. On in the same premises where his father lives, or in its vicinity, he builds his dwelling place to live in. However, 2% respondents’ residential place is avanculocal, and only 2 (0.5%) respondents lived as ‘Gharjamai’.

 

 

Table no. 4: A comparative status of numbers of male & female members in a family

Number of Members in a family	Male	Percent n=400	Female	Percent n=400	Total
1	83	20.8	90	22.5	173 x 1 = 173(8.23%)
2	132	33.0	117	29.2	249 x 2 = 498(23.7%)
3	89	22.2	96	24.0	185 x 3 = 555(26.42%)
4	58	14.5	61	15.2	119 x 4 = 476(22.66%)
5	23	5.8	30	7.5	53 x 5 = 265(12.61%)
6	12	3.0	5	1.2	17 x 6 = 102(4.9%)
7 8	2 -	0.5 -	- 1	- 0.2	2 x 7 = 14(0.67%) 1 x 8 = 8(0.38%)
9	1	0.2	-	-	1 x 9 = 9(0.42%)
Total	400	100.0	400	100.0	2100
Mean  Std.	2.64 1.360		2.61 1.293

 

 

Table No.5: Type of residence among the Baiga

 

(e) On the basis of Authority: Patriarchal family

In a way, the power of community or authority is invested in its male members. Thus, in a Baiga family, the eldest son enjoys somewhat greater power than the younger brothers. But as and when brothers get married, they, in every possibility, construct their own house and sever themselves from the main parental family. Thus, they emerge as a unit of the authority. All told, the transference of authority remains confined to male members.

 

CONCLUSION:

The results make the point clear that from structural perspective the Baiga families are nuclear type, which characterize ‘primitiveness’ as one of their  main features, as post marriage neolocal residence pattern is found among the Baiga. In that case, should they be called ‘primitive’ in there orientation and make up? In this context, it is in the fitness of things to make it clear that urban and rural both nontribal Indian societies were traditionally having the inherent trend of joint families. But the impact of industrialization, urbanization and globalization, coupled with quest for jobs- all of them together dealt a death blow to the fabric of  joint families, and they are crumbling, breaking down, dwindling. The number of nuclear families in tribal communities reflects the traditional neolocal residence pattern and the downsizing of dwelling places housing husband, wife, and children cramped together. The facts are an indication that such high prevalence of nuclear families is a sign of Baiga communities being a primitive tribe. The matter deserves greater deliberation. On the basis of number of family members, the Baigas’ families were found moderate size. The observation confirms that the sex ratio in Baiga family is good as compare to India and from other states in India.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The author express their sincere gratitude to the University Grant Commission, New Delhi, Government of India, for the financial assistance as the minor research project.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Baiga Development Authority. 2013. Information of village wise and family wise population of the Baiga tribe of Kabirdham district. Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Tribal development, Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh state, India.

2.       Census, India .2001. A – 11 State primary census abstract for individual schedule tribe – 2001.

3.       Elwin, Varrier .1939. The Baiga. London: John Murray.

4.       Russell, R.V. 1916. The tribe and castes of the central provinces of India, 4, no.2:77-91. Macmillan and Company: London.

 

Received on 05.09.2014       Modified on 14.09.2014

Accepted on 26.09.2014      © A&V Publication all right reserved