Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities — AP Class 7 History

1. About the Chapter

While kings and empires fought over territory, another INDIA existed — the India of TRIBES. 'Tribal societies had their OWN rules, their OWN gods, and their OWN kings.' This chapter explores the diverse world of tribes, nomadic pastoralists, and how they interacted with settled, caste-based society.

Key Themes

• Who were the tribes? Characteristics of tribal society
• Major tribal groups: Gonds, Ahoms, Bhils, Khokhars
• Nomadic pastoralists: Banjaras, Gujars, Gaddis
• Social change and tribal uprisings
• AP focus: Banjara community in the Deccan, Yanadi and Chenchu tribes

2. Who Were the Tribes?

Characteristics of Tribal Societies

'Tribal societies did NOT follow the varna system. They were SEGMENTS — everyone was MORE or less equal.'

Where They Lived

Tribes lived in forested and hilly regions — away from the main river valleys where settled agriculture flourished. 'The forest was their HOME, their SHIELD, and their STOREHOUSE.'

Tribes in AP

3. The Gonds — A Powerful Tribal Kingdom

Gond Society

The Gonds were one of the LARGEST tribes in India. Spread across present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. 'The Gonds built a KINGDOM that rivaled the Mughals in SIZE.'

Garha Katanga (Gond Kingdom)

• Founded in the 15th century
• Capital: Garha (near Jabalpur)
• Famous queen: Rani Durgawati (1528–1564)

Rani Durgawati

'She fought the MUGHALS and DIED in battle — refusing to SURRENDER.'

The Gonds had four kingdoms by the 16th century. They practised shifting agriculture and collected forest produce (mahua flowers, tendu leaves). Gond rulers built FORTS and PATRONISED Brahmin culture.

4. The Ahoms — Building a Kingdom in the Northeast

Ahom Society

The Ahoms migrated from present-day MYANMAR to the Brahmaputra valley (Assam) in the 13th century. 'From a SMALL group of migrants, the Ahoms built a KINGDOM that lasted 600 YEARS (1228–1826).'

Key Features

• Paik system: Every Ahom male had to serve the state (military or labour)
• Buranjis: Historical chronicles written in Ahom language
• Resisted Mughals: Fought 17 battles with the Mughals — NEVER fully conquered
• Greatest ruler: Sukapha (founder, 1228) and Rudra Singh (1696–1714)

Social Change Among Ahoms

Ahoms converted to Hinduism over time — but kept their tribal identity. 'They became HINDUISED but NEVER forgot their Ahom roots.'

5. Nomadic Pastoralists

Who Were They?

'Nomads moved with THEIR ANIMALS — and sometimes with their ENTIRE VILLAGE.' They did not settle in ONE place. They followed seasonal patterns.

Major Pastoralist Groups

The Banjaras of AP

'The Banjaras were the GREATEST overland traders of medieval India — thousands of bullocks CARRYING goods from place to place.'

'Banjara women are famous for their MIRROR embroidery — called LAMBANI embroidery — known worldwide.'

Why Pastoralism Was Important

1. Supplied meat, milk, wool to settled villages
2. Transported goods between regions (Banjara bullock trains)
3. Brought salt, forest goods to towns
4. Supplied ARMIES with food and transport
5. 'Without the Banjaras, medieval India's SUPPLY CHAIN would have collapsed'

Tensions with Settled Communities

Nomads and villagers had CONFLICT:

• Crop damage by animals
• Forest use rights
• Different notions of property
• State often sided with SETTLED farmers

6. Social Change — How Tribes Interacted

Becoming 'Hinduised'

Some tribal chiefs and elites ADOPTED Hindu practices:

• Claimed Kshatriya status
• Hired Brahmins for rituals
• Married into Rajput families
• Built temples

'The GOND kings became HINDU kings — but their SUBJECTS remained tribal.'

Becoming Caste

Some tribal groups transformed into CASTES within the jati system:

• Some became landowning cultivators (like Reddys in AP)
• Others became 'untouchable' communities (like Mala/Madiga)
• 'The line between TRIBE and CASTE was sometimes BLURRY'

Impact of the State

States expanded into tribal areas. Forests were cleared for agriculture. 'The state saw FORESTS as WASTELAND — and tribal people as people who needed to be CIVILISED.'

Tribal communities RESISTED:

• Bhil uprisings in Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Santhal rebellion (1855–56, later period)
• Rampa Rebellion (1879–80, AP) led by Alluri Sitarama Raju — under British, but rooted in tribal resentment

7. Comparison Table: Gonds vs. Ahoms

8. Key Facts and Dates

• 1228: Sukapha founds Ahom kingdom
• 15th century: Garha Katanga (Gond kingdom) founded
• 1564: Rani Durgawati dies fighting Mughals
• 1660s: Ahoms fight prolonged wars with Mughals
• 17th century: Banjaras at their PEAK as overland traders

9. Common Mistakes

1. Thinking all tribes were 'primitive' — Gonds and Ahoms built powerful KINGDOMS.
2. Confusing Banjaras with Gujars — Banjaras = cattle TRADERS (overland trade). Gujars = pastoralists (dairy).
3. Believing tribal societies had no social hierarchy — They had CHIEFS and CLAN leaders — but less hierarchy than caste society.
4. Forgetting that most tribal women had MORE freedom — Less purdah, more economic participation.
5. Thinking tribe and caste are the same — Tribes are segmentary (equal). Castes are hierarchical.

10. Exam Focus

2 Marks

Q: Who was Rani Durgawati? A: A Gond queen who fought Akbar's army and died in battle (1564).

Q: What is the Paik system? A: The Ahom system where every male had to serve the state (military or labour).

4 Marks

Q: Describe the role of Banjaras in medieval India. A: Banjaras were nomadic pastoralists who traded cattle and transported goods. They operated in large groups (called 'tandas') using thousands of bullocks. They supplied food to armies, transported salt and grain, and connected markets. In AP, they are known as Lambani/Sugali and are famous for their mirror-work embroidery.

6 Marks

Q: Compare tribal societies with caste-based societies in medieval India. A: Tribal societies were more EQUALITARIAN — no varna system, common land ownership, and clan-based leadership. Caste societies had RIGID hierarchies (Brahmins at top, 'untouchables' at bottom). Tribal economies were based on hunting, gathering, and shifting agriculture — caste economies on settled agriculture. However, tribal chiefs sometimes adopted Hindu practices and became part of the caste system. Many tribes in AP (like Yanadi, Chenchu) retained their tribal identity while others (like some Gond communities) became 'hinduised'.

11. Quick Self-Test

1. Name the famous queen of the Gond kingdom. Answer: Rani Durgawati

2. What was the capital of the Gond kingdom Garha Katanga? Answer: Garha (near Jabalpur)

3. Which tribe migrated from Myanmar to Assam? Answer: Ahoms

4. What is a Banjara settlement called in their language? Answer: Tanda

5. Name two tribes found in Andhra Pradesh. Answer: Yanadi and Chenchu (also Koya, Sugali)

6. How did Rani Durgawati die? Answer: She stabbed herself — chose death over Mughal capture.

7. What are Buranjis? Answer: Historical chronicles of the Ahom kingdom.

8. What is Lambani embroidery famous for? Answer: Mirror work.

12. Conclusion

'Tribes and nomads were NOT 'outsiders' to Indian civilisation — they were an INTEGRAL part of it.' The forests, hills, and grasslands of India were home to diverse communities with their own vibrant cultures. The Gonds, Ahoms, and Banjaras built powerful kingdoms, trading networks, and artistic traditions. AP's tribal communities — the Yanadi, Chenchu, Koya, and Sugali (Banjara) — continue to preserve these traditions today.

Key takeaways:

• Tribal societies were egalitarian, clan-based, and forest-dwelling
• Gonds built powerful kingdoms (Rani Durgawati)
• Ahoms ruled Assam for 600 years
• Banjaras (AP's Sugali/Lambani) were overland traders
• Tribes interacted with caste society — some merged, some resisted
• Tribal cultures continue to enrich India's diversity