Kol

Asiaintensive agriculturalists
Map
expand_more Description

Although the Kol people in general once were described as widespread and prominent throughout the central uplands of India, by the late twentieth century the Kol tribe proper could be found largely in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states. The ancient language of the Kol has been replaced by Hindi and the Devanagari script. Once centered on agriculture, in the twentieth century subsistence came to be based on paid day labor and the collection of forest products, including firewood for sale. The Kol are divided into endogamous subunits known as [n]baenk[/n]. Governance at the community level is provided by councils of three elders, along with a headman chosen by villagers.

Identifier
Region
  • Asia
Subregion
  • South Asia
Subsistence Type
  • intensive agriculturalists
Samples
Countries
  • India
External Links