Jaunsari<	Bhotia	Garhwali	Kumaoni	Buksha	Tharu	Raji

Caste Stratification of Garhwalis and Kumaonis

Garhwali and Kumaoni Rajputs are generally the main cultivators of Uttarakhand, although Brahmins may also farm. Kols or Doms, (collective name for indigenous low-caste groups) generally have little or no land and engage in little agricultural activity, while the artisan castes create traditional implements that farmers use. Most villages are dominated by Rajput cultivator families (45-60% of population) with artisan and low caste groups providing a diverse array of services to the entire community (e.g., barber, blacksmith, carpenter-mason, weaver, drummer - "Bajgi" or "Auji" - also engage in shamanism, singing, tailoring, and basketmaking). Unlike the plains, the Rajput (Thakur and Khasi) farmers do no usually employ sharecroppers or tenant farmers as their lands are small and cultivated by single families. As such, the problems of landlordism have not arisen to the extent it has a short stone throw away in the Terai.

There is no indigenous trader class, which also sets Uttarakhand culture apart from those of the plain. However, all Uttarakhand castes and especially the Bhotiyas migrants (Tibetan-speaking Buddhists) may engage in commerce.

BHOTIA Bhotias traditionally lived in the high Himalayan region, close to the Tibetan border. The term Bhotia comes from "Bo" which is the native Tibetan word for Tibet. In the winter, they migrate to southern climes, although recently, many have begun settling permanently in the mid-Himalayas. Bhotias are subdivided into three main categories: The Jadhs of Uttarkashi, the Marchas (once mainly traders) and Tolchas (farmers) of Chamoli, and the Shaukas of Pithoragarh (near Dharchula). Apart from cultural differences, the three Bhotia groups resemble one another in their distinctive Tibetan-like physical appearance. Furthermore, the Jadhs are followers of Buddhism and the Shaukas hold to their own Hindu-Buddhist faith, although both rely on Lamas to conduct ceremonies and rituals. The central Marcha/Tolcha group are the most Hinduized, sharing Rajput septs (family names) with their Garhwali neighbours. Bhotias observe some aspects of the caste system as they, like their Garhwali and Kumaoni counterparts, depend on lower castes (Doms) for many services. Since the closing of the Tibetan frontier and militarization of the border, the traditional Bhotia trade routes have also been closed, leading to social and economic dislocation. The north-south trade across the Himalayas has given way to a strictly downward relationship, impacting the cultural life of the Bhotias.

An elderly Shauka woman Marcha family

Bhotiya Encampment	Market at Purang (Just beyond border with Tibet and Nepal)	Goats transporting wool (Hoon, 1996)

BUKSHA

The Bukshas are inhabitants of the Terai, although their locality falls in the Western fringes of Nainital (now Udham Singh Nagar) and borders that of the Tharus. Although they claim descent from Rajputs (like the Tharus they are of Tibetan descent), the Bukshas have merged all their castes and even today, observe only septs (family names) among their people. Bukshas still worship Hindu gods, though also accept the existence of spirits and eat meat. In addition, a Seyana (literally, "Wise One") also administers to their medical/spirit needs.

Bukshas build their houses in two rows, with the space in between serving as a courtyard. As shifting cultivators, the Bukshas made the best of the protection afforded them by the inhospitable and malarial marshes of the Terai. However, since the coming of migrants from other states throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Bukshas have lost much of their land. Many have ended up as labourers for the new masters who gained their land through foul and unlawful means.

THARU

The Tharus are a tribal Tibetan-related people that originally inhabited the eastern zone of the Terai, along the border with Nepal. They are subdivided into many sub-tribes, although a majority of them live in Nainital (now Udham Singh Nagar). As agriculuralists, Tharus tend to have large families that live communally, and it is traditional for brothers to live under one roof. Tharus observe ancient beliefs and like others in the hills, subscribe to shamanism, but also worship Hindu gods. Tharu women, in claiming they descend from Rajput Ranis of Chittor, enjoy a high position in their society, as they tend to play a dominant role in family affairs.

RAJI

The Rajis, also know as Vanrawats (forest lords) are few in number and live in the forest. They inhabit the woods around Ascot in southern Pithoragarh (now Champawat district), and hold to a tradition of saluting no one except the Ascot Raja. They once practiced shifting cultivation until it was banned by the forest department. Although their agriculture was never well developed, they subsisted on the products of the forests, from edible roots to fruits to the crafting of wooden utensils to trade for other commodities.

The Raji religion also reflects their unique world view, that keeps them aloof from most others around them. For their own gods and some adopted Hindu ones, the Raji construct simple open-air altars with prayer flags and cloth swaying in nearby trees. Their marriage rites are also simple, without Brahmin or priest.

With the acceleration of development and communication with the outside world, the Raji have struggled to maintain a way of life they greatly value. Onerous forest laws have also made life difficult. 

Unfortunately, this is only an incomplete ethnologic survey of some of the peoples of Uttarakhand. The following books should shed more light on the subject:

A Bunch of Wild Flowers and Other Articles / A. Hasan. Lucknow : Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society, U.P., 1971.

Saili, G. "The Flower Children of Garhwal." Probe India September 1993: 3-5.

Hindus of the Himalayas / G. Berreman. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1963.

Living on the move : Bhotiyas of the Kumaon Himalaya / V. Hoon. Walnut Creek, CA : Sage Pub., 1996.

Kumaun Himalayas: A geographic perspective on resource development / S.C. Joshi, D.R. Joshi, D.R. and D.D. Dani. Naini Tal : Gyanodaya Prakashan, 1983.

Uttarakhand : land and people / S.S. Negi. New Delhi : MD Pub., 1995. 

Harijans of Himalaya : with special reference to the Harijans of Kumaun Hills / H.C. Upadhyay. Nainital : Gyanodaya Prakashan, 1990.

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