who are the BHANTU

Chharanagar comprises of houses and shops. There are small shops where people sell goods and services.

people earning their money through making liquor, which sell to other person who come from other parts of the city. None are from Chharanagar.

There is also a library at Chharanagar; about two thousand books are stored here. Bhantu student and youngsters run this library with helping from BHASHA RESEARCH CENTRE of Dr. Ganesh Devy of Baroda and activist Mallika sarabhai of Ahmedabad.

there are 1500 houses in Chharanagar of Bhantu; about 15,000 Bhantu live in Ahmedabad of which 10,000 to 12,000 Bhantu’s reside at Chharanagar. Chharanagar is said to be circa 25 square kilometres. There are three areas in Ahmedabad where the Bhantu -Chharas live.

There are lack of basic need like toilets outside, without a tap. Everywhere there is mud and garbage. lack of municipal facilities, absence of street lights, proper drainage, water system, good roads and the lack of a common plot to celebrate festivals, stage drama performances and hold other cultural activities.

History for Recognition

Many aspects contribute to the making of the Bhantu identity. Often, these factors are interrelated. One of the most important and often recurring aspects is the history of the Bhantu community. The history of the Bhantus is oral in form. Their history is usually told by their elders to the younger Bhantus.

“In India, there are 191 communities that are listed as Denotified Communities. The Denotified Communities or the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT), is a concept that has grown from the history of India. The Bhantu community is one of the 191 communities in the list. Our community lives in different parts of India. Their nomenclatures in various states are different. In Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, the Bhantus are known as Sansis. In Rajasthan, they are known as Sansi, Kanjar and Nat. In Maharashtra, they are known as Kanjarbhat, Kanjars and Chharas. In Gujarat, they are known as Chhara, Sansi and Adodiya. In South India, they are also known as Kanjarbhat. The historians did not note the origin of the DNT communities and more particularly, the history of the Bhantu community. Many of these communities trace their origins during the period of the Moghuls.

The Moghuls reigned over India from 1527 to 1757. Their empire was massive, covering at its height, almost the entire subcontinent. “Their major task was to baptise India. Some communities fled into the jungle, one of which was the community of the Bhantus. Some historians have noted that Maharana Pratap, the emperor of Rajasthan, fought the war with the Moghuls in early 1500 and thereafter fled into the jungle. His marshals included many of the denotified communities, more particularly, the Bhantus. Thus along with Maharana Pratap, they too found themselves living in the jungle. As they were supporters of Maharana Pratap, after his fall they did not find any mentor, emperor or head and so their group disintegrated. The Moghul emperor was fighting every day and it was dangerous for the community to come out openly in the villages or towns, as either they would be killed or converted into the Muslim sect by the Moghuls. Therefore they remained in the jungle. And that is why they ‘cohabited’ with some tribal villages.

Historically, this may have been the turning point for these communities. They lived in jungles and for their livelihood they would come out at night and rob some of the towns, cities or villages. They came to be known as decoys. They gradually became dreaded criminals in that period, just like gladiators. They ate raw meat and could fight singly with four men. They were a very brave people. If they ever returned to the village or town, they had to submit themselves to the Moghul emperor who would have them assassinated. So they had two options. They could surrender themselves to the emperor or fight. They opted to fight. And so they remained in the jungle.