What is Manki-Munda System?
- Adivasis of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand’s Kolhan protested against administrative interference in the hereditary Manki-Munda system.
Manki-Munda System
- The Manki-Munda system is an ancient self-governance structure of the Ho tribe.
- Structure: A Munda heads one village, while a Manki supervises a “pidh,” a cluster of 8–15 villages.
- Scope: The system addresses customary disputes but does not manage revenue, taxation, or land rights.
- British Codification: Captain Thomas Wilkinson codified the system between 1833 and 1837 under the “Wilkinson’s Rules”, integrating them into British administration.
- Current Status: The Patna High Court (2000) held the system to be customary, not formal law, but allowed its continuation; many Manki and Munda posts currently remain vacant.
Ho Tribe
- The Ho are an Adivasi (ST) group belonging to the Austroasiatic Munda language family.
- Distribution: Mainly inhabit Jharkhand, also parts of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
- Language: The Ho language is part of the Munda group; it uses Devanagari, Latin, & Warang Citi scripts.
- Historical Role: They led the Ho Revolt of 1821–22 and the Kol uprising of 1831–33 against the British.
- Culture & Religion: They follow Sarnaism (nature-worship), and celebrate festivals such as Mage Parab (festival of the creator) and Sohrai (harvest), Ba Parab (flowers), and Jomnama Parab (harvest).
