Santal Rural Governance
Ever since any primitive nomadic or forest-going community started living in groups, it became necessary to elect a clan leader to maintain internal peace and order or to lead in group conflicts with neighboring groups by natural law. In this way, the nomadic pastoralist Aryan human group also started its own system of governance. Gradually, when monarchy started, the position of Rajan was also created. It has been seen that in this way, a well-planned, developed village governance system was also created in the indigenous Santal society. And for that, responsibilities were specifically distributed among various office bearers with specific responsibilities and powers. In this article we mentions these office bearers in various contexts, a brief introduction of their ranks and responsibilities has been given here.
Majhi: Majhi is the highest position in the village
administration due to his position. Usually, the one who establishes a new
village somewhere gets the position permanently. Later, through lineage, his
son, great-grandson or in their absence, his brother gets this position. Girls
cannot hold this position. Birth, death, marriage; food, funeral, illness,
verbal disputes, theft, murder, etc. Everything In the Village has to be
brought to the notice of the Majhi. The Majhi tries to resolve everything as
best he can.
Paranik: Paranik is the second in rank in terms of
Paranik. He is the assistant to the Maji and if the Majhi is absent in the
village, the responsibility of village administration falls on the Paranik. If
a Majhi dies without a son or brother, the Paranik later gets this post of Majhi.
He is usually nominated from the Majhi clan.
Jogmaji: Jogmaji’s
work to take care of youths problems in a village, If a young man and woman
fall in love and if they got married without the consent of parents ,Then it
has to be reported to the Jagmaji first. The Jagmaji then orders the Godet to
call a village meeting. In that meeting, it is decided whether the mariage of
the young men and women is against social norms or not. If the mariage is
customary, the Jagmaji performs their marriage ceremony. Otherwise, the youths are fined for their
unethical actions and warned about their future.Jogmaji takes the youths of the
village to the dance and song festivals held in different parts of the country.
Jogmaji is also responsible for bringing them all back safely. Jog-Paranik’s the
assistant of Paranik takes Jog-Majhi's responsibility in absence of Jog Majhi.
Bhadda: A
respected person in the village is appointed as Bhadda to see whether the
governance of the village is being run properly.
Nayke: Majhi’s younger brother usually gets the post Nayke.
Nayke is the priest who worships the village gods and other deities. This
permanent post is also hereditary. No one other than Nayke has the right to
worship at any place of worship in the village.
Before the every rituals like wedding rituals, birth rituals, death
rituals and ceremonies only the Nayke can worship village’s spirits or gods.
Kudam Nayke: Kudam Nayake usually worships the gods and
goddesses of the witch class. Others are not allowed to enter his place of
worship. Even if he goes to worship at his own house or at the temple of
someone else in the village, no one can enter there. Whenever the Nayake
worships at the village shrine and when the villagers go on a hunting trip, the
Kudam Nayake cuts his thigh and offers the blood in the name of the Parganait
Thakur and the Seema Sadhe Thakur so that they return safely and are successful
in hunting. This post is also permanent and hereditary.
Godet: He is usually responsible for conveying good
news and the date of any meeting and association to everyone in the village.
The work of the Godet is to collect donations, rice and chicken from each
villager for any puja festival.The post of Godet is also hereditary. Some people also call “Godet Baro Majhi”
because everyone in the village gets all the news through Godet. However, if
Godet is promoted to the rank of Paranik, someone else is given the post of
Godet.The Santals believe that Marangburu was Godet of God who is their gurdian
god. Therefore, Godet is recognized as a very important post.
Disam Majhi: Dishammaji is the head of the entire
Santal community. His position is equivalent to that of a Maharaja. He also called
Disom pargana.
Deshkotal: If there is any dispute between a village
and another village, a court of the parganas of the neighboring eight or ten
villages is formed to resolve it. The person who conveys this news to the Majis
of all the villages is called Deshkotal. The Maji then conveys the news to the
parganas and orders them to attend that court. The village’s Majhi of the
village where this court is held conducts that court. If the dispute is not resolved there, it is
sent to the hunting party, the Lo Bir Baisi.
Though now everyone is judged by the laws of the constitution. However, the Santals have their own judicial system exemption under civil law. It’s means that they can solve the problems of their society through their own Judicial system. They don’t have to appear in any court separately. The Santals themselves have a well-organized judicial system divided into four divisions. They are — Aato judicial system (Along with Villagers), Purshi judicial system (Along with others villages), Muluk judicial system (Along with the area), Lo-Mahal judicial system (Along with the country).
According to the type of each judicial system, the people who have the different positions in their society give the judgment in these court of justice. For example, in Aato judicial system (Along with the villagers) The Supreme Five (Majhi, Godet, Naike, Paranik, Jakmajhi) of the village and the people of the village judge together. In the same way, in the Purshi judicial system, The Supreme Five (Majhi, Godet, Naike, Paranik, Jakmajhi) of some villages and the people of the village judge together. In Muluk judicial system, There Muluk has a Pargana and he delivers the judgment of Muluk court of justice. Lo-Mahal judicial system is done, in the place where the hunters takes rest. The place called “Sutan Tandi”. In the Lo-Mahal court of justice the Dirhi gives the judgement.
