Question

Which of the following represents a tribe in Rajasthan?
A. Asur
B. Garasia
C. Munda
D. Santhal

Answer 1

Hint: They constitute only 2.7 percent of the tribal population of Rajasthan.
- The Rajput belong to a higher caste (social class) and dislike being referred to as a Bhil tribe, even though they are connected to the Bhil.
- The tribe speaks a language that is a combination of Bhili, Marwari and Gujarati, three distinct languages. The language, which is from the Indo-Aryan language family, is known as the Dungri language and the dialect is called the Nyar dialect.

Complete Answer:
Garasia is a tribe that inhabits the Rajasthan and Gujarat Indian states. Garasiya settlements are located in the Pali, Sirohi, Udaipur and Dungarpur districts of Rajasthan, and the Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts of Gujarat.

Several social classes with well-defined relationships characterise present-day Garasias. These distinctions arise from circumstances of interaction and acculturation with community. In addition, a stratified order is also supported by group heterogeneity. Constant interaction with others such as Bhils and Hindus led to many changes in this tribe's social order. Rajput Garasia, Dungri Garasia and Bhil Garasia are split into today's Garasias.

Women in the Garasia group hold a superior role to men, unlike the rest of India, putting the onus on the man to bear all the wedding expenses.

The following are the options given:
- The Asur people are an Austro-Asian ethnic group living mainly in the Jharkhand and Bihar states of India. Therefore, Option A is wrong.
- In Rajasthan, Garasia represents a tribe. Option 2 is the proper answer.
- In the northern regions of eastern India, concentrated in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, the Munda are present. Therefore, option C is incorrect.
- In terms of population, the Santals are the largest tribe in India's Jharkhand province. Option D is indeed incorrect, too.

Hence option B is therefore the right answer.

Note: The descendants of the Rajput who married the women of Bhil are the Rajput Garasia. They are said to have originally been chiefs who were driven by invaders from their wealth. In one-room houses built with mud and bamboo walls, the Rajput Garasia traditionally live. Even before marriage, the Garasia tribe enables live-in relationships among its members.