The Baiga are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. They have sub-castes: Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai maina and Kath maina. The name Baiga means “sorcerer-medicine man”. The Baiga do not plow the land, because they say it would be a sin to scratch the breast of their Mother, and they could never ask their Mother to produce food from the same patch of earth time and time again: she would have become weakened. The Baiga tribes practice shifting cultivation, called ‘bewar’ or ‘dahiya’.
Mysterious Baiga Tribe of Madhya Pradesh, India
The Baiga (who call themselves Bhumiaraja or Bhumijan) are a Munda or Kolarian people (part of the Bhuiya tribe) located in the central highlands of India. The name “Baiga” means “sorcerer, medicine man” and is applied in this sense to the priests of the Chota Nagpur tribe. The Bhuiyar of Mirzarpur are also called Baiga, as are any Individuals who serve in the capacity of village priest in this immediate region (cf. the usage of the Pardhan, Ghasiya, Kharwar, and Gond). The Kol and Gond consider the Baiga as priests having knowledge of the secrets of the region’s soil. They also recognize the Baiga as a more ancient people than themselves and respect their decisions in boundary disputes. It is believed that the Baiga migrated from Chhattisgarh into the Satpura Hills on the western borders of the plains, and were among the earliest residents of the Chhattisgarh Plains and the northern and eastern hill country. Baiga contact with other peoples and knowledge of regions beyond their own has been minimal. Many have never heard of major urban areas adjacent to their immediate environs, such as Nagpur, Delhi, and Bombay. Relations with the British during colonial rule were favorable overall; the only substantial point of contention between the two parties was limitations placed on bewar (shifting agriculture) by the British. As India sought independence from British rule, mythological traditions about Mahatma Gandhi began to emerge, superhuman status being ascribed to him by the Baiga. Nevertheless, Gandhi’s attitude toward alcohol prohibition did result in some negative Baiga sentiment. Christian missionary efforts have met with little success among the Baiga. Elwin observed that traditional village life had begun to decay (because of prohibitions against bewar and hunting, the effects of the Hindu caste system, and the pressures imposed by forced modernization) and that the Baiga no longer produced those items necessary for daily survival.
In the earliest of times there was no land but only water all around. One fine day, God created the earth. Immediately after, two ascetics emerged from the depths of the ground. One of the ascetics was the Brahmin and the other was the Nanga Baiga. To the Brahmin, God gave pen and paper for reading and writing. But to the Nanga Baiga, he gave an axe. Further, God instructed the Nanga Baiga to cultivate kodo and kutki. Since then the Baiga people have been practicing Bewar (swidden agriculture) by clearing trees in forests. The Baiga adivasis are a forest-dwelling indigenous tribal community of central India. In the local mythologies of the region, they are often recognized as the original inhabitants of the Earth. Identified as a primitive Dravidian tribe, the Baigas are known for their traditionally minimalistic ways of life. They lived in intimacy with the elements of nature, and even at present, their everyday lives and livelihoods continue to be closely intertwined with their forest ecologies. Erstwhile nomadic hunter-gatherers, who practised shifting agriculture, they are also known to be extremely knowledgeable about the medicinal and healing properties of the various species of flora and fauna found in the forests of central India. In fact, it is also believed that the word ‘Baiga’ probably originated from the Hindi word Vaidya (the healer). The Baigas continue to possess a keen knowledge of their environment and of the biodiversity of their region which they pass on through oral traditions from one generation to the next.
The mysterious Baiga Tribe of Madhya Pradesh, find first documented reference in a British army report of 1867. The report that was prepared by Captain W.B.Thomson refers to the Baiga tribe as, “the wildest of the tribes, inhabiting the most inaccessible hills and the remotest forests; living on what they can secure with their bows and arrows, in the use of which they are very skilful, and on forest produce, and the small crops which they grow on the hillside.” A later entry dating to 1912 in the Mandla Gazetteer describes the Baigas thus: “They are the most primitive and interesting of the forest tribes, but they have completely lost their language if they ever had one, their origin is obscure, but they are almost certainly older established than the Gonds.” The Baigas are actually believed to have originated as a sub-branch of the Bhumia tribe of Chhota Nagpur. The Baigas were essentially forest dwellers, living deep in the jungles in harmony with nature. However, over the years deforestation and the march of development has ensured that they migrate to places nearer the cities. Today the Baiga tribe is concentrated in the state of Madhya Pradesh, but can also be found inhabiting parts of Uttar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, and Jharkhand also.
The Baigas, since they are semi-nomadic backward tribe, still live in kaccha houses made of clay with thatched roofs. Their houses are typically rectangular in shape, with only one entrance and possibly a small verandah. There are two rooms in the house divided by a single wall of bamboo. The outer room contains water stands and a hearth where fire is kept burning for warmth. The inner room consists of the place where the food is cooked and the devsthan, or the place where the Gods are kept and worshiped. People, other than the family members are not allowed to enter the inner room. The verandah consists of the kitchen accessories such as the grindstone, pestle and rice husker. The pig houses, and cattle sheds are attached to each house and have the same kind of structure as the houses of the Biagas. Regarding their agricultural methods, you will find bounties of respect for Mother Earth, though it may raise the concern of environmentalists. They practice shifting cultivation instead of growing crops at the same piece of land again and again. The reason behind this is that they believe that growing crops at the same place would seem like offending Mother Earth and asking her to give more and more turning her sterile. Hence, after growing crops at one place they move from there. However, to grow the crops again they imply deforestation so that there is space for them to cultivate their crops.
The Baiga worship a plethora of deities. Their pantheon is fluid, the goal of Baiga theological education being to master knowledge of an ever-increasing number of deities. Supernaturals are divided into two categories: gods ( deo ), who are considered to be benevolent, and spirits ( bhut ), who are believed to be hostile. Some Hindu deities have been incorporated into the Baiga pantheon because of a sacerdotal role that the Baiga exercise on behalf of the Hindus. Some of the more important members of the Baiga pantheon include: Bhagavan (the creator-god who is benevolent and harmless); Bara Deo/Budha Deo (once chief deity of the pantheon, who has been reduced to the status of household god because of limitations placed on the practice of bewar); Thakur Deo (lord and headman of the village) ; Dharti Mata (mother earth); Bhimsen (rain giver); and Gansam Deo (protector against wild animal attacks). The Baiga also honor several household gods, the most important of which are the Aji-Dadi (ancestors) who live behind the family hearth. Magical-religious means are used to control both animals and weather conditions, to ensure fertility, to cure disease, and to guarantee personal protection. For the Baiga, most illness is traceable to the activity of one or more malevolent supernatural forces or to witchcraft. Little is known of the natural causes of disease, though the Baiga have developed a theory about venereal diseases (all of which they place within a single classification). The most frequent cure cited for the cure of sexually transmitted diseases is sexual intercourse with a virgin. Any Member of the Baiga pantheon may be held responsible for sending sickness, as may the mata, “mothers of disease,” who attack animals and humans. The gunia is charged with the responsibility of diagnosing disease and with the performance of those magical-religious ceremonies required to alleviate sickness.
The Baiga, also known as Panda, are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, where they inhabits the dense hilly forests in the eastern part. They have sub-castes – Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai Bhaina, and Kadh Bhaina. The 2011 Census of India reported they number 17.387. Courageous woodsman and hunters, the Baigas of Central India were reluctant to do work for others. They saw themselves as people of the forest, who could only live on the produce of the forest. It was below the dignity of a Baiga to become a labourer. Members of the Baiga tribe do not interact even with other tribals like the Gonds, as interaction with any other tribe is a crime for them. After a death in the family, the Baigas leave the house and build another one. Being dependent on the forest, they also do not engage in tendu patta collection, which is a major livelihood provider in Madhya Pradesh.
The Baiga have been the forest-dwelling aboriginals from central India who claim to be harbingers of the human race and history in India, as it emanated from the conjugation of the Nanga (nude) Baiga as the Indian Adam and the Nangi (nude) Baigin (female Baiga), as the Indian Eve, who were the rightful progenitors of Indians. Baigas always believed that they were the chosen few who were hand-crafted by the God Himself and hence were the kings and rulers of the whole earth. They called God the Bhagwan or Bada Dev (big deity). They may have lived in Central India at least for 20,000 years. They practiced Bewar, a shifting, slash and burn method of growing crops. And hence the non-Baigas called them Bewadias, the practitioners of Bewar. It seems over the years, by the medieval period, Bewadia got its name distorted and was called by its derogatory name of Baigadia — those people who destroy land and forest by burning. By latter medieval times Baigadia shed the last three letters and became Baiga — by which name this community is still addressed and identified. Seven sub-castes of the Baigas are: Narotias, Binjhwars, Barotias, Nahars, Rai Bhainas, Kadh Bhainas and Kath Bhainas. However the authors found that Narotias, Barotias and Bhainas account for 80% of all the Baigas from Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh states. In a small village, outside Baiga-Chak, authors found a few households of Dudh Bhainas and Kurka Bhainas also. Besides, there are at least 90 surnames that they use. Dhurve, Maravi, Rathudiya, Kohadiya, Kushram, Nadia, Nigunia and Nagvasia are their eight most common surnames.
The Baigas are one of the oldest tribes in India. Known for their role as sorcerers and their peculiar tribal traditions, they believe that all of humanity originated from them. Unfortunately, their culture is fading away due to pressures from the modern world. Thought to be the oldest original dwellers of India, the Baiga tribe consider themselves to be the people of the forest. They have inhabited dense woodlands for generations, living on what they can secure with their bows and arrows. As the subject of many written accounts, it is clear the early explorers found the Baigas’ unique traditions and mysterious spirituality fascinating. In today’s world, their traditional arts and elaborate rituals — including those for curing diseases and dispelling evil spirits — along with their extensive knowledge of nature, are a cultural treasure; yet these are all fading into obscurity.
The Baiga, also known as the Panda, are indeed an ethnicity located in central India, mostly in Madhya Pradesh, but also in minor numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. The greatest population of Baiga may be found in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, where people live in deep mountainous woods in the eastern section. Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai Bhaina, and Kadh Bhaina are sub-castes. According to the 2011 Indian Census, there are 17.387 of them. Pahari Korwas are an Especially Susceptible Tribal Group (PVTG) that is unaware of their rights and privileges and how to get them. There are various tribal castes in Chhattisgarh, with the Gonds of Bastar being the most prominent. Other significant tribes in the area are the Baiga tribes, Pahari korwa tribes, Abhuj Maria, BisonHorn Maria, Muria, Halbaa, birhors tribes, Bhatra, and Dhurvaa. It is advised that you go 140 kilometres from Raipur to Kawardha Palace to tour the landmark and learn about the region’s culture. Meet the Baiga people, the main indigenous forest tribe, who are peaceful and welcoming. Our country’s indigenous population is just another colourful feather in our country’s highly colourful cultural hat. There is a vast tribal population throughout the world, as well as a diversified and thriving indigenous community.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 
