{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}} {{for|the town in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China whose Pinyin spelling is Báigā|Paingar}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Baiga | image = Young Baiga women, India.jpg | caption = Baiga women in traditional dress | population = 552,495 | total_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistical profile of scheduled tribes in India 2013 |url=http://www.tribal.nic.in/ST/StatisticalProfileofSTs2013.pdf |website=tribal.nic.in |publisher=Minister of tribal affairs: statistics division, Govt of India}}</ref><ref name="census">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2017-11-18}}</ref> | total_source = census | total_year = 2011 | popplace = {{flag|India}} | region1 = Madhya Pradesh | pop1 = 414,526 | region2 = Chhattisgarh | pop2 = 89,744 | region3 = Uttar Pradesh | pop3 = 47,393 <!-- 30,006 ST + 17,387 SC = 47,393 TOTAL --> | region4 = West Bengal | pop4 = 13,423 {{notetag|The Baiga population in West Bengal was almost negligible during the colonial era but has experienced substantial growth since independence, especially after removal of area restrictions by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976. As census data indicates, there were 4 individuals in 1961,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gupta |first=J. Datta |title=Tables on Scheduled Tribes, Part V-A (ii), Vol-XVI, West Bengal & Sikkim - Census 1961 |year=1967 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/32455/download/35636/21541_1961_ST.pdf}}<br>Note: The Baigas were Scheduled only in the Purulia district and the territories transferred from the Purnea district of Bihar as per The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists (Modification) Order, 1956 and their population was only 4.</ref> 0 in 1971,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4guAQAAIAAJ |title=Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute |series=Special series (22–24)|year=1978 |publisher=Tribal Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal |pages=28 |language=en |quote=In this connection it may be mentioned that as Birjia and Chik Baraik had no population in 1961 and Birhor and Baiga in 1971, ..}}</ref> 1,606 in 1981,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FL0MMQAACAAJ |title=The Scheduled Tribes |publisher=Oxford University Press in collaboration with the Anthropological Survey of India |volume=III|year=1994 |isbn=978-0-19-563255-2 |pages=81 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Census1981>{{cite web |title=Census of India 1981, Series-23, West Bengal |series=Special Tables For Scheduled Tribes, Part IX- (iii) |year=1981 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |url=https://new.census.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/32123/download/35304/28963_1981_SPE.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 7,624 in 1991,<ref name=Census1991>{{cite book| title=Census of India 1991, Series – 26, West Bengal |series=Part– VII(II), Special tables on Scheduled Tribes |volume= V |year=1901 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |url= http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5349/1/39762_1991_SBE.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615024803/http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5349/1/39762_1991_SBE.pdf |archive-date=June 15, 2023 }}</ref> 11,681 in 2001,<ref name=Census2001>{{cite web| title=PCA-IND (ST): Primary Census Abstract (PCA) - Individual Scheduled Tribe [2001] |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/21381/download/24513/PC01_PCA_IND_ST_19.xls |website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref> and 13,423 in 2011.<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web|title=A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix) [2011] |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43018/download/46686/ST-19-PCA-A11-APPENDIX.xlsx |website=censusindia.gov.in }}</ref> According to the 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 district-specific census breakdown shows that the Baigas are predominantly concentrated in the undivided Paschim Medinipur district, with 987,<ref name=Census1981/> 6000,<ref name=Census1991/> 11205<ref name=Census2001/> and 12845<ref name=Census2011/> individuals respectively. This notable population increase is attributed to members of the Bagal community, who have been identifying themselves as Baiga in order to avail constitutional benefits as a Scheduled Tribe.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Stratification, hierarchy, and ethnicity in North-east India|date=1991|publisher=Daya Pub. House|isbn=978-81-7035-086-6|editor-last=Bhadra|editor-first=Ranjit K|location=Delhi|pages=19|language=English|chapter=Ethnicity, Ethnic groups and Survival Strategy|oclc=26858289|editor-last2=Mondal|editor-first2=S. R |quote= In West Bengal, there is a group of people who are popularly known as Bagal, which means 'cattle herding'.{{nbsp}}[...]{{nbsp}}this group have greater tribal attributes in them. But they do not belong to Scheduled Caste or tribe. As a result, they are trying to rename themselves as 'Baiga', because the Baigas are Scheduled tribe and are getting all Constitutional benefits.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Administrative Report 2011–12 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/428388118/annual-report-bcw-2011-2012-pdf |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Scribd |language=en |pages=66 |publisher=Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal}}</ref><ref>Cultural Research Institute Meeting report - 2019. Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal</ref>}} | region5 = Jharkhand | pop5 = 3,583 | region6 = Bihar | pop6 = 544 | region7 = Odisha | pop7 = 338 | region8 = Maharashtra | pop8 = 333 | languages = Chhattisgarhi{{*}}Hindi{{*}}Regional languages | religions = Hinduism{{*}}Islam<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Samiuddin |first1=Abida |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qEXFxCK-ulUC&dq=global+encyclopaedic+ethnography+of+indian+muslim+by+abida+samiuddin%2C+r.+khanam+volume+0&pg=RA1-PA361 |title=Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim |last2=Khanam |first2=R. |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8220-299-3 |language=en}}</ref> {{*}}Tribal religion | related = | footnotes = }} {{Short description|Ethnic group of India}} The '''Baiga''' are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. They have sub-castes: Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai maina and Kath maina. The name Baiga means "'''sorcerer-medicine man'''".
== Demographics ==
thumb|Distribution of Baiga tribe in India The Baiga tribe is officially recognized among Scheduled Tribes in eight states: Madhya Pradesh (414,526), Chhattisgarh (89,744), Uttar Pradesh (30,006), West Bengal (13,423), Jharkhand (3,583), Bihar (544), Odisha (338), and Maharashtra (333). In Uttar Pradesh, the Baiga population totals 47,393. Among them, the Baigas of Sonbhadra district are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe, numbering 30,006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/CMS/Documents/201212010356439267578File1068.pdf|title=State wise Scheduled Tribes — Uttar Pradesh|publisher=Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123041643/http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/CMS/Documents/201212010356439267578File1068.pdf|archive-date=2016-11-23|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref> while in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, they are categorized as Scheduled Caste, with a population of 17,387.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42890/download/46558/SC-09-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx|title=A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh|publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref>
== Livelihood == The Baiga do not plow the land, because they say it would be a sin to scratch the breast of their Mother, and they could never ask their Mother to produce food from the same patch of earth time and time again: she would have become weakened. The Baiga tribes practice shifting cultivation, called "bewar" or "dahiya."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/baiga-tribals-become-india-s-first-community-to-get-habitat-rights-52452|title=Baiga tribals become India's first community to get habitat rights|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en}}</ref>
Live-in relationships are common among the Baiga. If marriage does take place, the man compensates the woman's family for the loss of a working member. This reverse dowry either involves footing the bill of the marriage celebration or offering the woman's family mahua liquor. If the bride is divorced, the new husband must compensate the old one for the dowry amount. If the divorced couple have children, the wife has the first right to take custody, followed by the husband. If neither wants to raise the child, the community will allot a guardian to the child until age 15. thumb| Baiga tribe woman with tattoos
The Baigas in Chhattisgarh are classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) by the government of India due to their declining population and low level of literacy. The government of India has noted 75 PVTG which reside in 18 states and in one UT, which are classified on the basis of five criteria. In Chhattisgarh, Baigas, Abhujmaria, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa, and Birhor are included in this group. The women of these tribes were previously not provided reproductive rights, but in 2018, a Public Interest Litigation at the Chhattisgarh High Court allowed them to have access to contraceptives. The Baigas were found to be highly focused on family planning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/pvtg-chhattisgarh-contraception-high-court|title=Tribal Women in Chhattisgarh Win Right to Access Contraception|first=Anoo|last=Bhuyan|website=The wire|access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref>
==Culture== ===Language=== [[File:Art of Tattooing.jpg|thumb| Baiga tribe women in India is known for their art of tattooing or ''Godna'']]
thumb|Baiga leg tattoos It is believed that the ancestors of the Baigas spoke an Austroasiatic language, however no trace of it is left now.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} Some Baigas (specifically those from the Mandla district) have mentioned "Baigani" as their mother tongue in the past: Baigani is now recognised as a variety of Chhattisgarhi influenced by Gondi.<ref>Linguistic survey of India, Volume 6 by George Abraham Grierson. Page 241.</ref> Most Baigas speak Hindi, and some of them also know a few local languages such as Gondi and Marathi depending on the region where they live.<ref name="The Tribune: Sunday, April 25, 1999">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99apr25/sunday/head2.htm|title=The Tribune...Sunday Reading|website=www.tribuneindia.com|access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref> thumb|Baiga tribe's Karam dance
===Cuisine=== thumb|Kodo millet, a primary food of the Baiga|alt=Baiga cuisine primarily consists of coarse grains, such as kodo millet and kutki, and involves very little flour. Another staple food of the baiga is ''pej'', a drink that can be made from ground macca or from the water left from boiling rice. They supplement this diet with food from the forest, including many fruits and vegetables. They hunt, primarily fish and small mammals.
=== Religion and mythology === The Baiga believe their mythical ancestors were Nanga Baiga, the male ancestor, and Nanga Baigin, the female ancestor.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Philip |title=The Mythology Book |last2=Carroll |first2=Georgie |last3=Faulkner |first3=Mark |last4=Field |first4=Jacob F. |last5=Haywood |first5=John |last6=Kerrigan |first6=Michael |last7=Philip |first7=Neil |last8=Pumphrey |first8=Nicholaus |last9=Tocino-Smith |first9=Juliette |publisher=DK |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-4654-7337-0 |edition=First American |location=New York |chapter=The Origins of the Baiga |author-link1=Philip Wilkinson (author) |author-link4=Jacob F. Field}}</ref> They were born from the goddess Dharti Mata, and Nanga Baiga had "great" magic power.<ref name=":3" />
They helped Bhagavan create the world and serve as its guardians.<ref name=":3" /> thumb|Baiga tribe man in their traditional wear
==Forced evictions== Since the 1960s, the Baiga have been the victims of forced evictions at the hands of the Indian authorities.<ref>http://www.galli.in/2011/08/out-of-junglethe-baigas-sayantan-bera.html, 'the village Bhanpur Khera was relocated from inside the Khana National Park (a critical tiger habitat) way back in 1968.'</ref> These are often carried out in the name of conservation, in an attempt to protect the tiger populations,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.survivalinternational.org//about/tigers|title=Tiger Reserves, India|last=International|first=Survival|website=www.survivalinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-13}}</ref> but have disastrous consequences for the displaced communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/relocation-plan-to-nowhere-land/article3709718.ece|title=Relocation plan to nowhere land|first1=Meena|last1=Menon|newspaper=The Hindu |date=1 August 2012|access-date=21 April 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
==Notable people== * Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, tribal artist<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baiga tribal labourer debuts as international painter in Milan, Paris |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2019/oct/04/baiga-tribal-labourer-debuts-as-international-painter-in-milan-paris-2042860.html |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=The New Indian Express |date=5 October 2019 }}</ref>
==Notes== {{notefoot}}
==References== {{reflist}}
===Journals=== * {{Cite journal |date=2015-06-05 |first=Devendra Prasad |last=Pandey|title=An Empirical Study of the Socio-economic Status of Baiga Tribe of Central India |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2022/31/commentary/empirical-study-socio-economic-status-baiga-tribe.html |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |language=en |volume=57 |issue=31 |pages=7–8 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802121635/https://www.epw.in/journal/2022/31/commentary/empirical-study-socio-economic-status-baiga-tribe.html |archive-date=2 August 2022 |issn=0012-9976 |eissn=2349-8846}} *{{Cite journal |last1=Reddy |first1=P. H. |last2=Modell |first2=B. |year=1997 |title=The Baigas of Madhya Pradesh: a demographic study |journal=Journal of Biosocial Science |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=19–31 |doi=10.1017/s0021932097000199 |issn=0021-9320 |pmid=9881117|s2cid=32432904 }} *{{cite journal |title=The Baiga: Survival strategies and local economy in the Central Provinces |first=Archana |last=Prasad |journal=Studies in History |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=325–348 |year=1998 |doi=10.1177/025764309801400209|s2cid=154166992 }}
===Bibliography=== *{{Cite book |last=Elwin |first=Verrier |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/baiga-0 |title=The Baiga |publisher=Great Britain |year=1938 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204150512/https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/baiga-0 |url-status=live |archive-date=4 December 2022 |location=London |access-date=24 April 2022 |ol=OL19663593M}} *{{Cite thesis |title=Colonial Administration and Social Developments in Middle India: The Central Provinces, 1861-1921 |chapter=The threatened tribal : The Baigas |year=1980 |publisher=University of Virginia |doi=10.18130/v3b04x |first=Philip F. |last=McEldowney|doi-access=free }}
==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last1=Minz |first1=Diwakar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W5dVaq4_cLoC |title=Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand |last2=Hansda |first2=Delo Mai |chapter= Baiga |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |year=2010 |isbn=978-81-7835-121-6 |pages=17–26 |language=en}} *{{Cite book |editor-last1= Ota |editor-first1=A. B. |editor-last2= Mohanty |editor-first2=S. C. |editor-last3= Turk |editor-first3=Khirod Kumar |editor-last4= Nayak |editor-first4=Moushumi |editor-last5=Pattnaik |editor-first5=Kabita |title=Baiga (a little known tribe of Odisha) |others=Photo handbook|publisher=Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) |publication-place=Bhubaneswar |year=2021 |isbn=9789380705767 |url=https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/75245/1/SCST_2021_handbook_0490.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509140123/https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/75245/1/SCST_2021_handbook_0490.pdf |archive-date=May 9, 2023}}
==External links== {{commons category|Baiga people}} *[http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/Ideas/CP/ch09baiga.html THE THREATENED TRIBAL:THE BAIGAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124224005/http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/Ideas/CP/ch09baiga.html |date=24 January 2011 }} *http://www.tribalphoto.com/pages/tribes/india,madhya_pradesh_baiga.html *[http://www.galli.in/2011/08/out-of-junglethe-baigas-sayantan-bera.html Photo essay on the Baiga tribe, Galli Magazine] *[https://the-shooting-star.com/tribes-of-chhattisgarh/ Ideas of Life and Love from the Tribes of Chhattisgarh]
{{Scheduled tribes of India}} {{Tribes of Jharkhand}} {{Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh}} {{Tribes of Uttar Pradesh}}
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Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh Category:Tribes of Jharkhand Category:Scheduled Tribes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Tribes of Chhattisgarh Category:Scheduled Tribes of Bihar Category:Muslim communities of India