Introduction / History
A crude gate on the mud road, the wooden poles on both the sides and the beam across it stands high enough for any one to enter. There are remains of bundles and ropes hung on it. Among them you may find a new bundle of shrinking animal skin. If you see these before a village, you can make sure; you are entering a Gondi village.

Gonds call themselves as Koytor. Gonds are tribals (native people) found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh states of India. Gonds in each of these regions have a language and culture of their own. The Gonds who live in the south eastern districts of Maharashtra viz, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Yavatmal- and the Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh have many similarities culturally and linguistically.

Though Gonds are listed as tribals today, they consider themselves as a higher race. They were the native rulers once. The eight centuries old fort still stands in Chandrapur town and the remains of the fort in Manikgarh are the surviving historic proofs of their kingdom. Some of the descendants of kings are still in the active politics of the state.

Gonds celebrate their legacy every year during the Dasara. In that occasion, all the living heirs of the crown in each generation are honored by carrying them on a pallak (royal cart carried on shoulders).

Gonds are agriculturists and choose to live on the riverbeds close to forests. Most of them possess agricultural land. Those who have a god portion of the land cultivate rice, javar (cereals) and green dal (pulses). Tending goats and cattle are also common. Poorer Gonds work in the fields of the richer Gonds. There is not much work available for them except in farming seasons. If at all there is any work, men get about Rs. 25 and women Rs.20 as a day's wage. They love hunting and wild meats are their favorites.

Southern Gonds live in clusters. Each village will have 25 to 30 huts and is surrounded by their fields. Villages will be two to four kilometers away from one another. From one village to another or to the near by town, they travel by bullock-carts. All farmers offer sacrifices at the end of each harvest. The size of the yield determines the size of the animal offered. A good harvest may demand a goat and poorer, a chicken. Pigs are also sacrificed for a moderate harvest. For them, monsoon not only brings showers but also sicknesses.

They believe that evil spirits are the causes for sicknesses. Sacrifices are believed to be powerful to keep away these evil spirits. Perumal, the high-priest, responsible for three or four villages together, offers these sacrifices for every village. The sacrifice will be followed by a social dinner. The sacrificial goat has to give permission for the sacrifice by nodding its head! The people will wait till the animal does it.

The sacrifice is witnessed by the whole of the village. But the dinner made by cooking the animal will be enjoyed only by the men. All the men gather at the riverside to prepare the dinner. White toddy from palm or the country liquor called, black toddy may supplement the diner. Drinking, in general, is not just the right of men. The sacrifice animal's skin is stuffed with hay and hung on the village gate. This is to frighten the evil spirits and give courage to the villagers. The Southern Gonds prefer witch doctors even when a Public Health Centre is accessible. They will have to carry a chicken along. Gonds think that enemies' witchcraft brings them ill health. Chanted herbs or water is given by the witch doctor as remedies.

A traditional drum with a single side of about 2 1/2 to 5 feet diameter, accompanies most of the important celebrations. An important festival beside Dasara is Pola. At Pola, the cows and bulls are honored. These animals are decorated and ornamented. These ornamented animals with painted horns are taken around the neighborhood. People give them sweets and fruits.

The schools are either Marathi medium or Telugu medium. Next to their heart language Gondi, people also speak Telugu or Marathi. But not many children are sent to schools beyond lower primary levels.

Girls are married of between the age of 13 and 15. Marriages will be in summer. A girl and a boy in love, running away is an accepted custom. Once they come back, the Panchayat meet together to discuss the terms and conditions of the marriage. Marriages are also arranged by the parents. Depending up on the financial conditions of the families the bride groom's parents have to give the bride's parents some amount of money.

Among the Southern Gond tribes, there are seven clans. Each clan has gods numbering form one to seven. They maintain their identity and distinguish one clan form another based on the number of gods each has. People of the same clan can not get married. When one meet someone, he asks, how many gods the other person has in his clan. This is how they know whether they belong to the same clan or not. Clans with the same number of gods will not get married together. This is observed strictly. If the financial condition permits, one is allowed to have more than one wife.

The once rulers of a kingdom tend sheep here today to make a living. The shepherd knows his sheep and calls them by name. Do the sheep here know who their master is?