ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

Journal homepage: http://www.journalijar.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

OF ADVANCED RESEARCH

RESEARCH ARTICLE

“The Raji Tribe of Uttrakhand in Globalized World: In a Changing Perspective”

Karuna Shankar Pandey1 and Jokhan Sharma2
1. Research Associates (C), Anthropological Survey of India, North-West Regional Center, Dehradun.
2. Research Scholar, Dept. of Anthropology, Central University of Orissa, Koraput, Orissa.

Manuscript Info Abstract

Manuscript History: Impact of globalization is universal and its impact can be observed in all the
aspects of life viz. economic, social, cultural, political, finance, health,
Received: 18 October 2015
Final Accepted: 22 November 2015 nutrition and technological dimensions of the world. In present era of
Published Online: December 2015 scientific innovations the process of globalization has brought the Raji in
contact of outside society.
Key words: Raji is one of the five tribes (Raji, Bhotia, Tharu, Jaunsari and
Buxa) of Uttrakhand state in India and it possesses the status of PVTGs
Globalization, Socio-Economic (Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups) as declared by the government of
activities, vulnerable tribe,
Development.
India. The Raji tribe is one of the smallest tribes of India and is educationally
and economically backward tribe of Central Himalayan region of Pithoragarh
*Corresponding Author and Champawat districts in Uttarakhand. This tribal group constitutes around
679 individuals (0.27%) of the total Tribal population of Uttarakhand state.
Karuna Shankar Pandey They are in a transitional stage between hunter-gatherer and a pre-
agricultural economy.
The paper is the outcome of the field work conducted in the state of
Uttrakhand and the findings of the Workshop held on “Interaction between
Tribes and Anthropologists” organized by Anthropological Survey of India,
N.W. Regional Centre, Dehradun in March, 2012 among the Raji tribe. In
this paper the authors have tried to explore the impact of globalization on the
Raji tribe of Uttarakhand. Globalization has knocked at the life of Raji tribe
but it is in its initial stage and one can easily observe the impact of
Globalization on them. Altogether they have been affected by the impact of
globalization and they are interested much to adapt the impacts.
Copy Right, IJAR, 2015,. All rights reserved

INTRODUCTION
In India there are certain tribal communities among scheduled Tribes who have, even after the 65 years of India‘s
independence are still in most vulnerable, deplorable condition, despite the various schemes, plans strategies adopted by
the Government of India, State administration, Voluntary organization or social workers, towards the developments of
Tribal‘s in General and PTGs in particular. The Tribal areas and the tribal people lag woefully behind others in
development and the PTGs continue to be among the weakest and most exploited section of the society. Before and after
independence, particularly in the context of special provisions in the constitutions for the protection and promotion of
the scheduled tribes, various plans and programs were carved to promote their development, the Tribal Development
sector has been used as a laboratory for different experiment, different tests to treat their disease.
PTGs are the most backward communities in India and considered more traditional society in comparison to
other tribal communities in India. They are considered to have very low literacy rate, following traditional and primitive
tools for agriculture and also represent very small population size. The demography of this tribe suggested that the Raji
is an extremely small tribe (n=22) in according to 1901 census. Whereas Grierson G. A. estimated that there were 200
 ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

Raji during the course of his linguistic survey1, and in 1950–51 there were reported to be 312 Raji2.but in 1988 the Raji
population was 4563. According to 2003 Census the maximum population live in Kimkhola village of Dharchula Block
and minimum population live in Kadhyuli village of Didihat Block of Pithoragarh District. It is reported that their
population is said to be Out of 556 persons in nine villages in which is 257 are females and 299 are Male individuals 4.
Now the Raji tribe represents 679 individuals in ten villages.
The Raji is little known tribal community that was brought to light for the first time in 1823 by the
commissioner of Kumaun, C. W. Traill. It is said that the Raji or Banrawats are descendents of the prehistoric Kiratas,
who were comparatively earlier settlers of the region that the Nagas or the Khasas. 5 Raji is one of the five tribes in
Uttrakhand and one of the two PTGs in Uttrakhand. Their population is distributed in two districts of Uttrakhand
namely Pithoragarh and Champavat. Their population are scattered in ten villages on different the top of hills in both
the districts. In Pithoragarh there are 9 Raji villages which represent total 556 out of which 302 are males whereas 123
individuals live in Champavat district in a single village out of which 72 are males. Until a few decades ago they lived a
life typical of the Neolithic age, as cave dwellers and food gatherers – subsisting on hunting, fishing and jungle product 5.
Their traditional occupation was to collect the woods from jungles and giving different shapes to the woods and then
sold out to the people of the same village. By nature they were very shy and aloof in past and did not like to talk the
people other than their society. They left their selling things at the door of the people in evening and in very early
morning they collected their earnings from the homestead. But condition have changed in the last several decades now
they sell collected wood in the market directly without giving any shape to the woods, wage labourers, practice
agriculture or raise livestock to earn their livelihood.

Population distribution of Raji Tribe in the different villages is given below:

Table: 1 Distribution of the population in different villages:
Sl. Name of Blocks Name of the No of Total Males Females
No. Districts villages families Populaion
1 Dharchula Kimkhola 34 144 79 65
(Ratura)
2 Bhagtirwa 9 36 17 19
3 Ganagaon 16 67 33 34
4 Chipalthara 10 37 25 12
5 Pithoragarh Kanalichhina Jamtadi 20 78 42 36
6 Altadi 15 65 38 27
7 Didihat Madanpuri 10 39 19 20
8 Kutachaurani 19 75 40 35
9 Katula 3 15 06 09
10 Champavat Champavat Khiradwari 28 123 72 51
Total 164 679 374 305

Source: Base Line survey report conducted in 2003- 04.

Social structure:-
The Raji‘s social organization is based on both kinship and territorial principles. The Raji is also referred as Ban
Rawat, Ban Raji or Ban Manus. They were cave dwellers and nomadic hunter-gatherers. Raji society is represented by
nuclear family or Nucleo-joint family. Just after marriage new couple makes a new residence that is the prevalence of
neo-local residence among Raji tribe. Parents generally live with the elder son or in separate household. The nuclear
family dominates Raji society, who calls themselves Hindu by religion6. Social structure of the Raji society is very
simple and society is divided into several castes like, Kanyal, Rakal, Pachpaya, Badwal, Dayakori, and Galdiyar. All
castes are same and no superiority or inferiority i.e. social hierarchy is found among them at the caste level. At caste
level they are exogamous and during the negotiation on marriage the castes are taken under consideration. Each caste
has its own ‗Isht Devta (Isht means the God who is believed to care for caste).‘ The different Isht Devta with their
respective castes is given in the table below:-
Table: 2 Social structures in the Raji society
Sl. No. Castes Ishta Devta Villages
1 Kanyal Dhanelinag Kutachaurani,
Madanpuri
2 Rakal Ghurmal Ganagaon, Kimkhola,
Bhagtirwa, Nepal
3 Pachpaya Malkarjun Altari, Kimkhola,
 ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

Bhagtirwa
4 Badwal Betal Altari, Kimkhola
5 Dayakori Bhagwati Jamtari
6 Galdiyar Kedar Chipaltara, Kimkhola

Raji society is patri-lineal but economic leadership is done by the females of the family. Females collect woods
from the jungles in the evening and next early morning sell in the market. Males wait for their counterpart and as
females reach at home male ask for income and receive some amount for liquor from wives and then males come down
in the market to drink the liquor. After taking liquor they return to their homes. Now due to the impact of some working
agency in the villages they are attempting to get job in the nearest market. Parents are sending their children in the
schools. Some parents are sending their children in the private schools also for better education. One girl has given
examination of intermediate this year for Raji community and three boys are know who are studying in Pithoragarh
district headquarter. Thus, their interest is increasing in education. Some of the families from Kimkhola village are
doing job in Awasiya Janjatiya Vidyalaya (Tribal Residential School) on contractual basis. Yet they are economically
very poor in comparison to other families of other castes.
Table: 3 Sex Ratio in Different Villages
Sl. No. Name of the Villages Sex ratio
1 Kimkhola (Ratura) 823
2 Bhagtirwa 1117
3 Ganagaon 1030
4 Chipalthara 480
5 Jamtadi 857
6 Altadi 710
7 Madanpuri 1053
8 Kutachaurani 875
9 Katula 1500
10 Khiradwari 708
Over all Sex Ratio 815

At the level of community they are endogamous. Their various lineages are exogamous units with respect to
marriage. The marriage age for a girl is 14 to 18 where as it is lying between 20- 25 in case of males. Monogamy (a
husband will have only one wife and vice-versa throughout the life at the same time) is another feature of their culture.
In past the most popular mode of mate acquisition was by negotiation which was followed by Udal Viah. Exchange
marriage was also in vague but now they did not follow those customs but they the negotiation is started by the elders of
the family and process of marriage is completed by Hindu priest. Thus, they have been Hinduised and follow all the
ceremonial activities of Hindus during marriage ceremony. Married women were recognized by Bulaki (an ornament of
nose). At present married women like to keep vermillion on their forehead as a symbol of marriage. Dowry which was
absent from their custom has become a part of marriage ceremony but it is not followed strictly. Widow re-marriage
does not exist. Remarriage is also absent. Rajis have a peculiar death custom. Traditionally they neither burn nor bury
their dead but leave the body in the forest to be consumed by wild animals. But due to the process of Sanskritization,
now a day they either bury their dead or practice cremation.

Political Organization:-
Raji has adopted several cultures from nearby Hindu communities. They have not their traditional political
structured organization. They solved their problems and conflicts if arised with the direction of the elders the
community. As the informants told that the disputes were very rare and hence such political organization was
meaningless in past. At present also, the dispute in Raji community is rarely found and if it is found it is solved by the
outside people like the village head or the people who are found to be faithful to them along with the elders of the
community.

Economic Organization: -
The traditional hunting and gathering practices of the community are rarely observable in present situation. The
Raji tribe‘s livelihood pattern comes to wage labor in agriculture, fishery and quarrying. Some people may also be found
working on wood items. Primarily Raji are depending upon the collecting of woods from the jungles. They sell collected
woods in the local market daily. Thus they earn daily for their own daily expenditures. Their economy is very simple.
They also have agricultural land of very small size. They are depending for irrigation of the lands on Monsoon. Hence
they are not able to produce sufficient crops required for their livelihood. They produce wheat as the main crop because
 ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

it requires little water. For cultivation they use phawada and kudal as tools. Goats and cows are their domestic animals
which are reared for their own purpose. Each Raji village may be categorized with a special(s) economic activity as
given below in the table. The Raji population of the villages Jamtadi and Altadi collect woods for their own purposes not
for selling in the market. Their main source of livelihood is agricultural practices whereas the primary source of income
for the families of the Kimkhola, Bhagtirwa and Ganagaon villages is collecting woods and selling it to the market.

Table: 4 Primary Occupations of Raji in the visited villages

Sl. No. Name of the Villages Primary Occupation
1 Kimkhola (Ratyura) Wood collection and quarrying
2 Bhagtirwa
3 Ganagaon Wood collection and agriculture
4 Chipalthara Labour and wood collection
5 Jamtadi
6 Altadi Agriculture and labour

Health condition:-
Health is a pre-requisite for human development and is essentially concerned with the well being of common
man7. The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) comprises three components i.e. health, education and income
generating capacity. Health is a function, not only of medical care, but also of the overall integrated development of
society - cultural, economic, educational, social and political. The health status of a society is intimately related to its
value system, philosophical and cultural traditions, and social, economic and political organization. Every ecological
situation involves complex interactions between various components of environment 8. Lack of proper healthcare in the
area, some factors like irrational belief system is said to be aggravating the health and nutritional problems of these
people which needs special attention9. Lack of health awareness on healthy lifestyle and also they have no any idea
about healthy nutritious diet etc in Raji tribe. So they are not able to intake the nutritious substances (vitamins, proteins,
minerals etc) because the health status in this community directly proportional to the economic (financial) and Socio-
cultural conditions of these people. Therefore they are suffering from malnutrition, anemia, mental retardness and other
symptoms which are related to the blood disease. An attempt has been made to make some recommendations related to
their health and social development which might be helpful in their successful development 8.

Globalization and Raji Tribe:-

In this paper the author has attempted to understand how the common Hindu society has influenced the culture
and living pattern of Raji society and vice-versa. The influence of Hindu society on the Raji may be observed at each
and every aspect of life. The impact of local Hindu society is not limited to a single aspect of Raji life but it was found in
all the aspects of their life viz. in their food habits, dress pattern, marriage, etc. The first sphere of globalization for the
Raji is the local Hindu population and there after the globalization is which is in true sense. Hence, the impact of
globalization is discussed in two senses; impact of local Hindu society and then modern scientific world.
The Raji tribe was cave dweller and their life was limited to an area in Jungle. They were shy in nature and
feared of interacting with outside people. Since last few decades, they came in contact with outside people who
influenced the life style of Raji tribe. Starting from their food habits and dress pattern the impact may be observed in
marriage as well as in death ceremony. Initially they were non-vegetarian and collected food from the animals of jungles
directly. They hunted big as well as small animals for the purpose of food. Whereas presently maintaining their non-
vegetarianism they purchase meat of goats and chicken from the market and also they do not eat big animals like cows
and buffalos. Here the impact of Hindu communities on the Raji community is notable. Sometimes they go to jungles for
hunting of small animals like rabbit, deer etc at present but it is rare. There is no literature about their traditional dress
pattern but at present they look like other Hindu individuals. Males wear Pant and Shirt whereas females saree. Thus,
after coming in contact with outside society they accepted the cultural features of the Hindu society. When they were
cave dwellers, they hunted animals and enjoyed with other members of the family. Hunting might be a tool of
amusement among them. Literature explore that they were not liquor drinker in known past but when they came in
contact with outside people they stared to take wine. Females are very simple and are the major source income in the
family. Due to the impact of outside world they also have understood the importance of money and education. Now
males have also started to work as labour and are also attempting to get job in different organization and institution in
the tehsil and district. In Kimkhola village, one woman is also found who was working as maid in a block office and one
more was also reported working as maid in Tribal school located in the area. Thus, they are coming in contact with the
outside world and trying to make their life better. Initially, they were not very much interested in education, but now due
to some Raji individuals who have been provided contractual job in Raji tribal school of Kimkhola, they are sending
their children in school eagerly. One of the informants told that this year a female student has passed intermediate class
 ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

and it is first girl of this community who could do so. Presently, Kimkhola village has been listed in about 100% literate
village of Raji communities but the real picture of the community is different.
The society which was known as bashful society in past is now visit district headquarter in search of livelihood
and better education. The modern dresses and mobile phone have also been part of their life though very few members
have mobile phones. One of them has been selected as teacher in an intermediate college and one has been elected as
MLA for two five years tenures. These two events have also played very significant role in the changes in life style of
Raji. It has given a new thought to Raji to think about their future like other local population.
Now they have almost left the past practice of livelihood i.e. hunting and gathering. The respondent explored
two reasons behind it; one is the jungle where the population live is under state government and government does not
allow to hunt and another reason is the influence of local population. The hunting and gathering practice is replaced by
agricultural practice which has been an important mode of their livelihood. They work as wage labour on quarrying also
which may be considered as the most important source of their income. Another source of their income is collection of
wood from jungle and sells it to market.
Marriage ceremony was observed in presence of their community members only. They did not call priests for
the rituals in marriage. But now the scenario is change which might be due to the influence of Hindu community. Both
the bride and the groom are dressed up in wedding dresses and participants also join the procession in proper dresses.
Vediography and photography have also been the part of marriage ceremony. Varmala has also been introduced in the
marriage. The marriage ceremony is observed in the presence of priest. Priest is called Brahmin of Hindu community.
They believe in Hinduism and also worship Hindu gods and goddesses. They have their own community deity
or Isht devata also (viz. Dhanelinag, Ghurmal, Malkarjun etc). The Raji society is horizontally divided six castes. Each
cast is distinguished by an Isht Devta. The society is free off the hierarchy at the level of superiority or inferiority. Isht
Devta is referred during the marriage negotiation importantly.
Table: 5 Castes and respective Isht Devta in the Raji society
Sl. No. Castes Ishta Devta
1 Kanyal Dhanelinag
2 Rakal Ghurmal
3 Pachpaya Malkarjun
4 Badwal Betal
5 Dayakori Bhagwati
6 Galdiyar Kedar

In addition at technological level, TV and Radio were also observed in the some Raji families. It has brought
them in the contact of local as well as global sphere. It has brought them with the day to day activity occur in the world.
They like to see movies and serials also on Television.
Along with above adaptation with the outside world they have been major source of labour and wood vender in
the area. They are very simple and also not have eager to earn more. They need only sufficient amount which is required
for their livelihood daily to daily. It results the harassment by the some businessmen. They know this even they could
not oppose it. On other hand, some tea stall holders prefer to purchase the woods from Raji because they are very honest
and they provide woods on cheap rate. Altogether, such a relationship has brought them in contact of outside and they
are being influenced by their culture and society. They are learning from outside and understand the significance of
education as well as modern life system. Therefore, it may be hoped that this will bring them in main stream of country.

Conclusion:-
Altogether, Raji tribe is very much influenced of local communities. Since the local population lives a very
simple life, the simplicity reflects among Raji tribe too. As far as the technological development is concerned the Raji
use the mobile phones only. In this regard, they are entering in the world of modern technology but they are far from
other aspects of advanced technology like use of computers. Now the cell phone has become one of the most important
tools for their communication and also for their pity business. In past they were shy in nature but now the scenario is
changed and they are mixing up with outsiders and are exchanging views over various social, political and economic
issues concerned with them and their development. Now their world view is widening day by day and issues by issues.
Now the picture of social relations and social structure of the Raji‘s is changing its shape and frame as the attendance of
other neighboring communities in their traditional rituals, customs, and ceremonies is increasing and other members are
happily participating and shouldering with them in all the spheres of their ritualistic life. It seems the coming age, so
called modern age, would not be as astonishing as it was in past for the Raji‘s just because of their moving steps towards
the main stream of nation.

Reference
 ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), Volume 3, Issue 12, 84 – 89

1. Grierson G.A. (1909) Linguistic Survey of India. Government of India, New Delhi Gogoi G, Sengupta, S. Body mass
index among the Dibongiya Deoris of Assam, India. J Human Ecology 2002; 13: 271-273.

2. Tiwari S.C. (1980) Population structure and changing subsistence pattern of the Raji—a hunting gathering community
of the Indo-Tibetan Border: Singh I.P. and Tiwari S.C. (eds.), Man and his Environment. Concept Publishing
Company, New Delhi, pp. 251–259.

3. Bora, H. S. (1988): ―Cave dwellers of Himalayas-Raji a primitive tribal group of Uttar Pradesh‖. In the Seminar
Proceedings ‗Tribal Situation in Uttar Pradesh‘, Yojana Bhawan, Lucknow: February, p- 19–21.

4. Alam, A., R. Bimal and Harashawaradhana (2013) Anthropometric Characteristics and Nutritional Status of Raji: A
Tribal Population in Uttarakhand, India. Jr. Anth. Survey of India, 62(2): (179-186), 2013.

5. Rastogi, K. (2002) Linguistic of Tibeto-Burman Area, vol. 25.2, p 155-167.

6. Kapoor, A.K., R. Tyagi and Kapoor, S. (2009) ―Nutritional Status and cardio-respitarory function among adult Raji
male, a hunter and gatherer tribe of the Indian Himalayas‖ Anthropological Science, vol. 117 (1), page 1-7.

7. Basu.S. (2000): ―Dimensions of Tribal of Tribal Health in India‖ Health and Population Perspectives and Issues (J),
23(2): 61-70.

8. Alam, A. Rawat, B. Harashawaradhana et.al (2014). ―A Study of the basic and derived Anthropometric Indices
among the Healthy adults of Raji Tribe of Uttarakhand India‖. International journals of Public health Research (ISSN
Online 2120-3133) and managements. (An official publication of Karnataka kidney health foundation trust, Mysore,
vol (1) No.1 March 2014.

9. Pandey, K. & Pandey, S. (2010) ―Indigenous medicines of Raji tribes of Uttarakhand‖. Indian journal of Traditional
knowledge, vol.9 (1) pp 131-133.