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The Bonda (also known as the Bondo, Bondo Poraja, Bhonda, or Remo) are an ancient tribe of people numbering approximately 12,000 (2011 census) who live in the isolated hill regions of the Malkangiri district of southwestern Odisha, India, near the junction of the three states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. ==Bonda culture== The Bonda people are known as one of India’s most primitive tribes who currently live in the hills of Odisha’s Malkangiri district. There are two different Bonda tribes: the Upper Bondas with a population of 6,700 who are the most primitive, and the Lower Bonda with a population of 17,000. Upper Bondas have almost no connection to the world other than themselves. Dambaru Sisha took the oath of office to become the first MLA to the Bonda tribe, to which he traces his ancestry. Sisha attempts to protect the traditions and culture of the people while providing them with educational opportunities. Only 6% of Bondas are literate. The life expectancy of the tribe is so low they are nearly extinct.〔Ranjan Sahu, Priya. "Bondas, a Primitive Tribe in Odisha Hills, Get Their First MLA." Points of View Reference Center. Hindustan Times, 24 May 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.〕 The bonded labor system, or Goti system in India is also known as Gufam by the Bonda people. According to Pati, a male bonded laborer is called "Gufam-Rem" whereas a female laborer is a "Gufam-Boy." Bonda people are often led to bondage through marriage, also known as “diosing.” Brides are paid for, which is a practice known as “Gining” In this practice items are used to determine how many arranged marriages will take place. For instance, the number of cows relies upon the social status of the girl. In addition, Bonda boys are expected to marry between the ages of 10 and 12. Although a man may pay the price of a bride to his brother, the brother must always return the amount owed.〔Pati, Rabindra Nath., and Jagannatha Dash. Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. New Delhi: A.P.H. Pub., 2002. Print.〕 Divorce, also known as “Lung SISI” is also an issue within the Bonda people. In some extreme circumstances, when a Bonda woman is divorced, usually for adultery, the husband demands double the price that was paid for their marriage.〔 The village council determines the severity of the case arrives at a decision based upon the number of cows given back. However, if a man is the one who caused the wrong which resulted in divorce, he can no longer get married through an arranged marriage system. Death, or, “MORA” on the other hand, is a significant practice among the Bonda people. When a death occurs, it is custom to sacrifice a cow on the tenth day, a practice also known as “Gaitang.”〔 Population growth in the Bonda Hills in India led to forest habitat decrease although there existed a well-balanced ecosystem. Poverty, however, became a fundamental issue among the Bonda people due to social customs regarding obligatory marriages and deaths, along with myriad other socio-religious practices. These customs did not improve health condition nor economic status, which later created much poverty for them. For instance, crop production has diminished drastically and can hardly feed the population for a month. In order to overcome starvation, the Bonda people, or “Kuduburu Remo” as the author notes, take out loans “Kalantar or Badi” in order to afford to eat. The loans are usually in cash and are taken from a community member or a figure that serves as a landlord “Sakar Remo.”〔 Roughly 62 out of 245 households in the Bonda hills are in debt. Loans taken even in cash are charged interest rates, and these funds usually provide payments for brides, fines for anti-social activities, performing secret or unofficial socio-religious rites. As a result, debt payment becomes impossible, with constant fines and interest rates being increased. Eventually, the Bonda people are led to bondage and are forced to transfer assets into cash, such as: land, trees, animals, etc.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bonda people」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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