The Tharu tribes of Uttarakhand have a symbiotic relationship with nature. With industrial development bringing in migrants and taking away land, they are at risk of losing their nature-centric way of life and livelihood.
Uttarakhand, also known as the ‘Land of Gods’, is renowned for its stunning landscapes. With 86 percent of its terrain embraced by mountains and nearly 65 percent blanketed by lush forests, it offers a picturesque setting.
Administratively, Uttarakhand is divided into 13 districts, housing a population of approximately 1.01 crore people. The state boasts a significant number of nature enthusiasts and tribal communities. As per the 2011 Census, there are 1,23,037 tribals, the prominent tribal groups being Tharu, Buksa, Bhotiya, Jannsari and Raji.
While the Bhotiya, Jannsari and Raji tribes primarily inhabit the hilly regions, the Tharu and Buksa communities reside in Udham Singh Nagar district, which is part of the alluvial terai region. Despite similarities, subtle distinctions delineate these tribes.
The Tharu community comprises 89,399 individuals, whereas the Buksa community counts 27,609 members. These two tribes collectively constitute the largest tribal group in Uttarakhand, dominating the terai region, historically referred to as Tharwat or the land of the Tharus and Buksaat or the land of the Buksas.
Until the 1990s, the terai region was plagued by malaria, making life challenging. However, these two tribes thrived due to their genetic antibodies against the malaria-carrying mosquitoes. With improved medical services and widespread access to vaccines, living conditions in the region became more favourable.
However, the tribal communities’ way of life which is symbiotic with nature is under threat due to an inflow of migrants from the hills of Uttarakhand and other states.
The out-migration from the hilly areas started when people left for big cities for jobs and higher education. Once they settled down in the cities, their migration became permanent. This migration persisted into the 1970s.
According to data from The Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission of Uttarakhand, 1,792 villages in Uttarakhand have been declared ghost villages, all of which are located in the hilly areas.
There was also the migration from the hills to the plains of the terai region. The Tharu community refers to these migrants from the hills as khasiya – meaning ‘those who descended from the mountains’. These migrants are also called pahadis and they established lasting roots in the region.
But after the formation of Uttarakhand as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh in the year 2000, migration from the hilly regions of Uttarakhand increased significantly.
Following statehood, the government focused on fostering development and attracting investments, exemplified by the establishment of State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIIDCUL) after 2002.
The terai region, with its fertile land, markets, excellent connectivity, educational and medical facilities and availability of labour for industries, emerged as an ideal location for industrial development.
This convergence of factors led to an influx of migrants from the hills of Uttarakhand and neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, who came seeking jobs and better living conditions in the terai region.
The influx of people, coupled with extensive developmental initiatives, has led to a surge in land demand and prices in the terai. Consequently, individuals began to settle in the area, representing various regional backgrounds.
This influx has had a multidimensional impact on indigenous communities, altering the traditional, cultural, economic and skill dynamics of the Tharu and Buksa tribal groups.
With diverse communities settling in the terai, new cultures and traditions have been introduced. Technological advancements and industrial products have reshaped traditional practices. Consequently, Tharu weddings, once distinctive, have assimilated into a more globalised version.
The youth perceive their heritage as outdated and fear being labelled as underdeveloped or backward by peers from other communities. As the cultural transformation persists, the rapid erosion of language, cuisine, music, crafts and identity – especially among the younger generation – is increasingly apparent.
Nanakmatta, designated as the 69th constituent assembly of Uttarakhand, is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe or ST community (Tharus in Nanakmatta), with the most land allocated exclusively to this group. However, burgeoning population pressures have seen land transactions occur without formal registrations, relying solely on stamped agreements.
For the Tharu people, predominantly reliant on agriculture for income, land acquisition by outsiders poses economic challenges and coerces them as labour into industries. Moreover, the strain on land resources has led to the disappearance of nearby grasslands and wetlands, impacting the Tharu’s weaving culture, which relies on these vital resources.
The culture of the Tharu tribes, deeply rooted in nature, revolves around a symbiotic relationship with their environment. Festivals, rituals, deities, songs and stories were all intertwined with nature. Such sustainable practices in their culture and livelihood that ensured mutual growth are at risk of being lost to development.
The lead image at the top shows the Tharu tribes fishing using traditional sustainable methods, as fish forms a large part of their diet after the monsoon (Photo by Harshdeep Singh)
Mukesh Kandpal is currently working as nature and sustainability educator at Nanakmatta Public School. He is trying to help children bond with their immediate natural surroundings.
