Bonda Tribe

Bonda Tribe Latest News

The Odisha Governor recently underscored the need for comprehensive development of Bondaghati, home to the Bonda tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

About Bonda Tribe

• The Bondas are exclusively found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha and are mostly concentrated in the Khairaput block of the district.
• It is a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) and one of the oldest tribes of India.
• They are also known as Bondo, Bondas, Bonda Paraja, and Bhonda.
• They are considered one of the first settlers in India, with their lineage tracing back to the Austroasiatic race. 
• Language: 
  • The Bonda people speak Remo, a language belonging to the Austroasiatic linguistic family.  
  • This is distinct from mainstream Indian languages, making it difficult for outsiders to communicate with them. 
• The Bondas are divided into two groups because of their distinct cultural practices:
  • The Lower Bondas, who live in the Malkangiri district in south Odisha and border Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and
  • The Upper Bondas, who live in the remote villages of the district’s hilly terrain.
• The social organization is hierarchical, with a council of elders that makes important decisions for the community, ensuring the transmission of their traditions and cultural norms.
• The Bonda people live in small villages organized around communal spaces where ceremonies and meetings take place.
• Bonda architecture is characterized by mud and thatched roof houses, designed to adapt to the mountainous environment and climatic conditions. 
• The art of the Bonda is expressed mainly through the creation of decorative tools and utensils, in addition to their colorful fabrics and jewelry.
• They have an interesting dressing style – ladies are semiclad and wear different sorts of rings and pieces of jewelry around their bodies, while the men convey deadly attires.
• Religion: The religion of the Bonda people is animistic, focused on the worship of nature and ancestral spirits. 
• Occupation: Their economy is based mainly on subsistence agriculture, hunting, and gathering.
• Only 6% of Bondas are literate. The life expectancy of the tribe is so low they are nearly extinct.

Source: TOI

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