Charan

Brief Details of Charan

The Charan is a small tribe in the state, their total population in year 2001 was 2481 (0.035), 1299 male and 1182 female. They are also called Gadhvi. According to Enthoven (1920) the name Charan is derived from the word char which means grazing. The Charans were bards attached to royal courts to spread royal fame by singing praises. As they use to look after Gadh's (forts) in golden days, they are also known as Gadhvi. They are distributed in all districts of Gujarat. The population of Charan, notified as Scheduled Tribe in the areas of Barda, Gir and Alech records 2481, according to 2001 census. They speak Gujarati and use Gujarati script. The traditional man's dress consists of a pair of trousers, a waist cloth, a jacket, a loose short cotton coat and turban around the head. Women wear a petticoat, a jacket, a robe and a black woolen blanket over the head. The male wear a silver anklet in the left foot, a gold finger ring, a necklace and a gold ear ring while females wear silver bracelets, silver anklets, gold necklace, a gold nose ring and a gold or silver ear rings.

The Charan are strictly vegetarian and their staple food is Jawar or barjri roti with tur, moong and moth and occasionally seasonal vegetables. They drink milk and are in the habit of smoking bidi and chewing tobacco.

There are four endogamous groups among the Charans known as Prajia, Seva, Agarvacha and Tumbel. Hierarchical order does exist between these groups. Most of the Charans belongs to Prajia group. The first three groups are cattle breeders, whereas the fourth work as agricultural laborer, contract labourer and also cattle breeders. Each group has a number of clans. Pralias have the clans like Bavada, Bati, Gaganiar, Raba, Gagoria, Karnal, Jaysar, Takeria; Seva has clans like Bada, Talia, Basodia, Heykadia, Giga, Gujaria; Agarvacha has clans like Taperia, Hangaria, Kerwa and Dhanjog. The main function of these clans is to regulate marriage alliances.

The Charans marry within their community. All the marriages are arranged. Marriage alliances called- Sagai, generally used to be fixed at the age of one to five years, but now it is fixed at higher age and sometimes it is done on the wishes of boy and girl. Age at marriage of a boy is 20-22 years and for girls 18-20 years. Cross-cousin marriages are quite common i.e. father's sister's daughter and mother's brother's daughter. They practice monogamy. Marriages by exchange are also taking place. They have the custom of paying bride-price, minimum of which is rupees 116. Marriages are performed during the month of Maha (March to April). The Brahmin fixes 3, 5, 8 or 12 days depending upon the horoscope of the bride and groom for performing marriages. Both patrilocal and neolocal types of residence are prevalent among the Charans. Divorce is discouraged. Although under special circumstances such as maladjustment and adultery divorce can be obtained. Both male and female remarriages are allowed. Junior levirate and junior sorrorate exist among the Charans. In case of widow remarriage no ceremony is performed.

Both nuclear and extended types of families are common. A few cases of nascent as well as broken type of families are also reported. Daughter-in-law has to observe purdah (veil) in front of father-in-law and husband's elder brothers. Joking relationships exist between husband and wife's younger sister. They follow the Hindu law of inheritance. Only sons inherit the ancestral property. In the absence of male children, daughter or daughter's son inherits the property. The eldest son takes up the responsibilities after the father’s death. The males have a dominant position. Women are confined to domestic work.

The Charan do not observe any pre-delivery ritual. First delivery is arranged at the girl's parent's house. She is taken to her parent's house during her seventh month of pregnancy. She is not allowed to do any hard work during this period. A local dai (mid/wife) assists in the delivery. The mother is given special diet prepared out or dried ginger, ajwan, turmeric mixed with flour and molasses for a few days after delivery. The child is named on the sixth day by the father's sister (ful), new clothes are presented to the child by the father's sister. After five weeks of delivery the mother and child are brought back to her in-law's house. First feeding of cereals to the child takes place after one year. Haldilagana (applying turmeric paste) ceremony is performed on the eve of the actual marriage date. Marriage mandap is erected on the day of marriage at the girl's house where the groom goes in procession accompanied by a band (sahnai). All the rituals connected with marriages are performed according to Hindu customs and ceremony is completed by going around the sacred fire four times. The first three rounds are led by the groom and the last by the bride. A feast is given to all those attending the marriage. The next day the bride is brought to her-in-law's house where she stays for ten days and then returns to her parent's house.

The dead are cremated but children below ten years are buried. The dead body is bathed and wrapped up in new clothes and then kept on a floor newly plastered with cow-dung. A bamboo bier is prepared and after placing the dead body on it, it is carried by close relatives. As a rule women do not join the funeral procession. The funeral pyre is lit by the son of the deceased. The mourners take a bath before returning home. Mourning is observed for twelve days. On the twelfth day, vidhi is performed by a Brahman and on this day water is sprinkled in the house and on the roof to purify. This marks the end of the pollution period. The priest is paid cash besides which a pair of new clothes as well as articles such as Umbrella, suparee (arecanut) cutter, cot, gedera (bed) etc. of the deceased is also given to him. The death anniversary is performed in Bhadra month every year by the deceased family in which all the kutumb (relatives) are given a feast.

The Charans are traditionally cattle breeders. They have also adopted agriculture as their secondary occupation after they were driven out of Gir forest and rehabilitated at the places near by the Gir forest. They sell milk in the nearby market. The medium of exchange is cash.

Nat (caste) Panchayat or traditional community panchayat exist to settle their disputes. It consists of three to four agyavans who are elder and respectable persons of the community. Defaulters are fined according to the nature of the crime committed. Suitable compensation in the form of money is rewarded to the aggrieved party. There exist a gram panchayat comprising of eight members belonging to various communities headed by a sarpanch, for settling their disputes.

They profess Hinduism. The main deity of the Charan is Pithorai Mata located at Pathrama village in Mendarda taluka of Junagadh. She is their chief as well as regional deity. Every year she is worshipped during Dussehra by their Brahman priest. They also worship Aodai Mata besides other Hindu gods and goddesses like Vishnu, Shankar, Hanuman, Bhavani. They make frequent pilgrimages to Appa Giga at Sathadhra village followed by Somnathjee and Dwarka temples. Dussehra is their major festival. Diwali and Holi are also celebrated by them. They do not have any special art or craft of their own but women sing folk songs during marriages or on festive occasions.

Traditionally, they accept water and cooked food from Bharwad, Rabari but not from Muslims and Harijans. They share the well and crematorium with Bharwad and Rabari and visit the same religious shrines and participate in their traditional festivals and festivities. Patron-client relationship exists among the Charans. There are scholars, teachers and service men.

The level of literacy is low among the Charans inhabiting Saurashtra region of Gujarat whereas Charans inhabiting regions other than Saurashtra show a favorable attitude towards education among both boys and girls. In 2001 literate male were 399 and female were 210 total 609. Their attitude towards family planning is favorable and they make use of both indigenous and modern medicines. The main source of drinking water is well and tube wells. They listen to radio, watch, television and visit cinema. Roads, railway and post office exist in their settled areas. They use both organic manure and chemical fertilizers. Children avail of the mid-day meal scheme. Of late saving has become a positive trend among the Charans.

Charan is small community and scattered in the state. Their relationship has remained with literate and powerful caste. As they remained closer to traditional power hence they adopted new trends of education quickly. Their consciousness towards health has kept them aware about medicines, safe drinking water and cleanliness. After independence they adopted new jobs rather than traditional occupations. But Charans who lived in villages and closer to Gir forest like to smoke and use tobacco. Habits die hard. They have adopted modern equipments like refrigerators, cookers, steel vessels and other domestic equipments. Traditionally they were close to literacy –reading and writing so many of them continued to write poems and local history. But drinks are their favorite liking. Though most of Charans are urbanized but those who are attached with land still prefer to live in rural area. Culturally they are well developed and like to sing, dance, and participate in festivals and community activities. Some songs are given here.