Subject: tribal warrior
Culture: Khond
Setting: Chota Nagpur 19thc
Evolution:
Context (Event Photos, Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Field Notes)
"The Khonds are a hardy, war-like race of men, well accustomed to jungle life. They were also bold and fitfully laborious mountain peasantry of dignified manners, proud of their positions as landowners; and tenacious of their rights (E. Thurston, 2001). With only the slightest contact with the plains, the Khonds preserved their independence as a distinct nationality but they remained conservative and backward. Their vices were the indulgences in revenge, and occasionally of brutal passion. Drunkenness was universal."
* Uprising among the Khonds against the Government, 1817 online
"Invasion by the Pindari raiders was a common phenomenon in Odisha. However, a severe Pindari invasion shook the region of Ghumusar in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, in 1817-18 which was tackled by the British government in a very callous manner. This was coupled with the dissatisfaction of the tribal people over the exploitative policies of the administration.
"A tribal named Kamal Lochan acted as the guardian of the affairs of the area of Ghumusar as Rajapilla from 1815-18. He confronted the British over the forest policies and who responded by plotting against him and having him removed from the position. In retaliation, Lochan organised resistance by assembling the Khonds of the hills and the forests. On his insistence, the Paik rebellion received reinforcements from Khonds of Ghumusar making it count. Lochan was finally captured and put to death in Ooty in 1846.
"The event was one among the numerous attempts by the tribal people of Odisha to register their myriad grievances against the British policies that interfered with their way of life."
Ax
* Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery
"... The principal weapon of the Khond tribes was the two-handed axe. It is distinguished by its wide variety of often multiple-pointed blades. Tongi is the Hindi name for them; indigenously, they were called pharetri."
Costume
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