Santals: Mystery of the Hill Tribes of India– Part 4

Written by London swaminathan

Post No.2917
Date –24 June 2016

“True Dravidians came from North West of India !!”

Foreigners who bluffed that the dark Dravidians were the original inhabitants of India never said that they were the sons of the soil. They told that the Dravidians came from outside India, but before the Aaryans. Since the foreign invaders wanted to colonise India and justify their occupation, they said that every one in India came from outside.
On the contrary Tamil literature and older Sanskrit literature said very clearly that the Hindus were the original inhabitants and sons of the soil. The Bhu Suktam of Atharva Veda says it unequivocally. They did not stop there . They also said Hindus went outside India and spread their culture. The Vedic inscriptions and Sanskrit inscriptions dated between 1400 BCE and 1000 BCE found in Turkey and Egypt stand as an indisputable proof.

Read the following piece about “true charcoal coloured Dravidians who came into India from north west” . Caldwell and others gave different countries for the origin of Dravidians . Some Tamil scholars said they came from Mongolia and China!

Here is what Sir Herbert Risley says in his The People of India:

” Santhal, Saontar, a large Dravidian Tribe, classed on linguistic grounds as Kolarian which is found in Western Bengal, Northern Orissa, Bhagalpur and the Santal Parganas. According to Mr Skrefsrud the name Santal is a corruption of Saaontaar. They adopted this term after living in that village. Before this, they were called Karwar. But they call themselves Maanjhi, literally village headman.

“In point of physical characteristics Santals may be regarded as typical examples of the pure Dravidian stock. Their complexion varies from very dark brown to a peculiar,almost charcoal like black. The proportions of the nose approach those of the Negro, the bridge being more depressed in relation to the orbits than is the case with Hindus.

(This author cunningly divide the Tribes and the Hindus. But all the tribal customs,names are based on Hindu customs. When the foreigners struggle to justify it, they simply say that after mixing with Hindus they got those things). This is their usual escape route.

“Santals mouths are large, lips are thick, hair is coarse, black,occasionally curly. Their skulls are dolico cephalic type. So they are not from Mongolia.

Santhal tradition traces back the origin of the Tribe to a wild goose (hasdak) which laid two eggs. From those spring Pichu Haram and Pilchu Burhi, the parents of the race, who begat the first seven sub tribes. (This is a typical Hindu Story. The human race came from seven rishis. Brahma had swan/goose as his vehicle. The egg is Hiranyagarbam/golden egg in Hindu Puranas).

“The Santals went westward and were destroyed by fire except one pair. They were saved on Mountain Hara. They went to many places and the Hindus drove them out and at last they settled in Saontar. (“Hindus drove them out ” are authors invention, because at that time Hindus were not called Hindus by the tribesmen).

“They wandered under a Raja called Hamibir Singh and then their Rajas/kings adopted Hindu religion.

“Mr Skrefsrud said that Santals entered from North West of India. Dalton said that they came from Assam. Another story about a Santal Raja is, he killed himself when he heard the invasion of Malik Baya, a general of Muhammad Tughlak in 1353.

“Santal Tribe is divided in to 12 exogamous groups. The first seven are believed to be the sons of Pilchu Haram and Pilchu Burhi. Five others were added later. When they meet they use passwords. Those words are the names of their original/Purveeka houses in Champa.

Hindu Gotra System
Orthodox Hindus, particularly Brahmins , never marry in the same Gotra. They have seven main rishis. Likewise Santals also never marry in the same seven group or the five sub tribes.

Sankaranti
At the time of the harvest festival in January the members of the Sidup Saren set up a sheaf of rice on end in the door way of their cattle sheds. Tamil Hindus do it even today. The Santals are anti red. They don’t use anything red.

Another sect use Sindhura /vermillion. Each sect follows something Hindu. Another sect has their own sacred grove. One of the sects won’t eat the eggs of babbler bird. One sect allows only males to eat the animals they sacrifice. It is amazing to see so many customs and taboos in a small group like this. Nothing is Aryan Or Dravidian here. Foreigners were unable to explain all these rituals or taboos. They pick one or two things and interpret it in their own ways. Surprising thing is no two foreigners agree on anything.

Girls are married as adults, mostly to men of their own choice. Sexual intercourse before marriage is tacitly recognised. Polygamy is not favoured.
Sindurdan, applying vermillion powder, on face and parting of hair is essential in marriage. This is a Hindu custom.

There are different types of marriages. Widow marriage is allowed.
Sons inherit the property in equal shares. In religion they have a supreme deity called Thakur. Some identity him with the sun.

All their customs and beliefs are based on Hinduism. They are not linked to other tribes . Whenever foreigners write about them they simply dub some customs as Dravidian custom. If the couldn’t find any explanation they will dub them as borrowed from Hindus . One can have a good laugh when one reads such bluffing.
Sub ham