The Raji Tribe: A Fragile Fight For Survival

In Khetar Kanyal, a village dominated by the Raji tribe in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, the absence of a female candidate for the village head (pradhan) reveals a deeper crisis. Under Uttarakhand’s three-tier Panchayat Act, candidates must have at least an eighth-grade education, a requirement no woman in this Raji community meets. This led to the postponement of local elections, highlighting the tribe’s severe educational, social, economic, and political marginalisation.

As one of India’s most critically endangered indigenous groups, the Raji’s struggle underscores a broader challenge for the nation’s vanishing tribes.

A Historic Victory Amid Complex Dynamics

In 2002, Gagan Singh Rajwar, a Raji, achieved a historic victory in Uttarakhand’s first assembly election, winning the Dharchula constituency despite the tribe’s mere 700 voters. His success stemmed from upper-caste resentment toward Bhotia tribal candidates, revealing intricate inter-tribal and caste dynamics.

The Bhotia, a socio-economically advanced scheduled tribe, boast notable achievements, including two chief secretaries, two chief information commissioners, and numerous IAS officers, doctors, and engineers. In contrast, the Raji remain profoundly disadvantaged, grappling with systemic barriers.

A Tribe On The Brink

Historically known as Van Rawat or Van Manush, the Raji are among India’s 18 most endangered human groups, with a population below 1,000. In Uttarakhand, their vulnerability rivals that of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ most threatened tribes. Historical records paint a grim picture of their demographic decline:

·      1823: A settlement survey by Traill recorded just 20 Raji families.

·      Late 19^th century: The number of families grew to 30-40.

·      1969: The Uttar Pradesh Harijan Welfare Department noted a population of 254.

·      1971: A 10.23 per cent decline reduced their numbers to 228.

·      1975: A survey counted 297 individuals; the Census 1981 recorded 371.

·      2001: The Census reported 592 Rajis, with a recent Anthropological Survey of India estimating 622.

Though the population decline has slowed, a mere 30-person increase over a decade remains alarming. Cross-border migration to Nepal and high mortality rates—70 per cent of Raji children die before the age of five due to malnutrition, hunger, and exposure to natural disasters—exacerbate their plight. Remote settlements in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts, which lack electricity, clean water, roads, and healthcare, further isolate the tribe.

Cultural Traditions Under Threat

Once a nomadic, hunter-gatherer tribe, the Raji relied on forests for sustenance, foraging roots, fruits, and other produce. Their reluctance to adopt agriculture perpetuated a transient lifestyle, moving between forests and caves. This isolation, coupled with intermarriage within the community, has led to genetic issues and low population growth.

The Raji’s unique 'silent trade' system, documented by anthropologist Majumdar in 1944, involved exchanging wooden utensils for goods like grain or clothes without direct interaction.

They leave items at a villager’s doorstep at night with a note specifying desired goods, collecting the exchange the next night. This practice, rooted in their extreme shyness, has nearly vanished due to strict forest laws limiting access to raw materials like sandalwood and genthia.

Today, the Rajis craft ploughs, yokes, chairs, tables, and cots for Kumaoni communities, but raw material scarcity persists as a challenge.

Stark Educational And Social Disparities

The 2001 Census reveals glaring disparities among Uttarakhand’s tribes. The Bhotia lead with a 79.9 per cent literacy rate, while the Rajis lag at 35.8 per cent.

Among children aged between five and 14, about 76.6 per cent of tribal children attend school―86.4 per cent from the Bhotia, but only 50 per cent from the Raji.

Higher education is rare, with just 4.3 per cent of tribal individuals reaching graduate or postgraduate levels; Bhotia account for 11.6 per cent, while no Raji has achieved this.

The Raji’s sex ratio, at 833 females per 1,000 males, is the lowest among Uttarakhand’s tribes, compared to the Bhotia’s 1,049. Child marriage, though rare overall (1.9 per cent), is highest among the Rajis, at 3.9 per cent.

Among Uttarakhand’s five scheduled tribes, the Tharu are the largest, while the Raji make up less than one per cent of the tribal population. The Bhotia dominate in literacy, education, and employment (41.1 per cent are workers), while the Raji trail in every metric.

The Buksa, with 0.7 per cent graduates, fare slightly better than the Raji. The extinct Mihir or Mehar tribe has either vanished or merged with other groups, underscoring the Raji’s precarious existence.

Barriers To Progress

The Raji’s forest-based lifestyle is increasingly untenable due to restricted forest access. Over 100 forest villages lack land ownership, and demands to convert these into revenue villages for property rights remain stalled by the bureaucratic and the forest department’s inaction.

Jawaharlal Nehru advocated for development that respects indigenous traditions, leveraging local knowledge for progress. Yet, the Raji’s isolation and lack of land rights hinder such efforts, leaving them vulnerable as their forest-dependent culture erodes.

A Call For Action

With a population of just 622, the Raji teeter on the edge of extinction. High mortality, low literacy, and limited access to resources threaten their survival. Their unique cultural practices, like silent trade, are fading, and their nomadic lifestyle impedes integration.

Addressing their plight demands tailored development that honours their traditions, secures land rights, and ensures access to education, healthcare, and basic amenities. Only through inclusive progress, as envisioned by Nehru, can the Raji tribe’s rich heritage be preserved for future generations.

(The author is a Dehradun-based veteran journalist. Views expressed are personal.)