History of the Gond culture

HISTORY OF THE GOND

  The Gondi (Gōndiarwa) or Gond people are Dravidian people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh (Telangana), and Western Odisha (majhi or gan community). Gondwana or "land of the Gonds", is a loosely-defined area of southeastern Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra, and parts of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and northern Andhra Pradesh. The region was home to several Gond "kingdoms" from the 15th century to the mid-18th century, when the Marathas expanded into the region from the west. The region gave its name to Gondwanaland, the ancient southern supercontinent which comprised present-day Africa, Madagascar, South America, Australia, the Indian subcontinent and Antarctica. The Gonds are traditionally agriculturalists; some practice shifting cultivation, while others raise cereals or herd cattle. The Gond society is highly stratified and does not conform to the usual image of egalitarianism among tribal peoples. In current times, they are considered a major ethnic group.