Barik, Bishnu Charan
Bonda highlanders: exploration into their habitat and social structure - Man in India - 105(1&2), 2025: p.91-121
This article explores the habitat and social organization of the Bonda Highlanders, one of the thirteen Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha. Residing in the Bonda Hills of Khairput Block in Malkangiri District, the Bondas inhabit an area of approximately 35.9 sq. km at elevations between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level. Their environment, rich in forest resources and natural beauty, has preserved their distinct way of life for centuries. The study highlights the Bondas’ settlement patterns across Gram Panchayats such as Mudulipada and Andrahal, and their unique socio-cultural practices that distinguish them from mainstream society. As an isolated Munda ethnic group, the Bondas maintain strong traditions of community organization, gender roles, and cultural identity. By situating the Bondas within broader anthropological debates on tribal resilience and vulnerability, the paper underscores the importance of documenting indigenous knowledge systems and addressing challenges to their survival in the face of modernization and external pressures.
Anthropology, Bonda Highlanders, Odisha, Malkangiri District, Habitat, Social Structure, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Tribal Studies, Indigenous Communities, Cultural Practices, Forest Resources
Bonda highlanders: exploration into their habitat and social structure - Man in India - 105(1&2), 2025: p.91-121
This article explores the habitat and social organization of the Bonda Highlanders, one of the thirteen Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha. Residing in the Bonda Hills of Khairput Block in Malkangiri District, the Bondas inhabit an area of approximately 35.9 sq. km at elevations between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level. Their environment, rich in forest resources and natural beauty, has preserved their distinct way of life for centuries. The study highlights the Bondas’ settlement patterns across Gram Panchayats such as Mudulipada and Andrahal, and their unique socio-cultural practices that distinguish them from mainstream society. As an isolated Munda ethnic group, the Bondas maintain strong traditions of community organization, gender roles, and cultural identity. By situating the Bondas within broader anthropological debates on tribal resilience and vulnerability, the paper underscores the importance of documenting indigenous knowledge systems and addressing challenges to their survival in the face of modernization and external pressures.
Anthropology, Bonda Highlanders, Odisha, Malkangiri District, Habitat, Social Structure, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Tribal Studies, Indigenous Communities, Cultural Practices, Forest Resources