OctaviaKeys89 at 10:26, 22 April 2026

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{{Short description|Social and religious reformer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Govindgiri Banjara
| image = Govindgiri.jpg
| alt = 
| caption =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth-date|1858}}
| birth_place = Bansiya, [[Dungarpur State]], [[British India]] (now in [[Rajasthan]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1931|10|30|1858|||df=y}}
| death_place = Kamboi near Limbdi (now in [[Dahod district]], [[Gujarat]], India)
| other_names = Govind Guru Banjara
| occupation = Social and religious reformer
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
'''Govindgiri''', also known as '''Govind Guru Banjara''', (1858–1931) was a social and religious reformer in the early 1900s in the tribal border areas of present-day [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]] states in India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=राजस्थान का स्वाधीनता आंदोलन|last=Natani|first=Prakash|publisher=Granth Vikas|year=1998|location=Jaipur|pages=54–58}}</ref> He is seen as having popularized the Bhagat movement, which was first started in the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Civil Society and Democratization in India: Institutions, ideologies and interests|last=Sahoo|first=Sarbeswar|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|isbn=9780203552483|location=Oxon|pages=127}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Govindgiri was born in a [[Banjara]] family in the village of Bansiya (Hindi: बाँसिया) in [[Dungarpur State]] (now in Rajasthan).<ref name=":0"/> He gave himself a primary education with the help of a ''pujari'' in his village.<ref name=":0" /> He is reported<ref>{{Cite book|title=Social Movements in India: A Review of Literature|last=Shah|first=Ghanshyam|publisher=Sage Publications|year=2004|isbn=9780761998334|location=New Delhi|pages=107}}</ref> to have been a ''hali'' (a '''hali'' has been described as a worker "not employed at their own convenience but maintained as permanent estate servants, and not regarded to be in a position to resign services)."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/agrariandisturba00yagn|title=Agrarian Disturbances in India|last=Yajnik|first=Indulal|year=1921|pages=[https://archive.org/details/agrariandisturba00yagn/page/85 85]|publisher=Lahore B.P.L. Bedi}}</ref> His wife and child reportedly died in [[Indian famine of 1899–1900|the famine of 1900]], after which he moved into the neighbouring [[Sunth State]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.146810|title=Rajasthan District Gazetteers: Dungarpur|last=Sehgal|first=K.K.|publisher=Directorate, District Gazetteers|year=1962|location=Jaipur|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.146810/page/n66 51]}}</ref> There, Govindgiri married his brother's widow and, soon after, became the disciple of a Hindu monk (''gosain'') Rajgiri; in honor of Rajgiri, Vinda changed his name into Govindgiri.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Fuchs|first=S.|date=1965|title=Messianic Movements in Primitive India|url=https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/801|journal=Asian Folklore Studies|volume=24|issue=1|pages=11–62|doi=10.2307/1177596|jstor=1177596|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194457/https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/801|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Around 1909 he returned to Dungarpur State with his wife and children, to the village of Vedsa.<ref name=":6" />

== Activism ==

=== Social and religious positions ===
Govindgiri Banjara engaged himself in "improving the moral character, habits, and religious practices" of the tribals.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.170000|title=The Bhil Revolt of 1913 under Guru Govindgiri among the Bhils of Southern Rajasthan and its Impact, in Proceedings Of The Indian History Congress|last=Vashishtha|first=Vijay Kumar|publisher=Indian History Congress|year=1992|location=New Delhi|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.170000/page/n557 522]–527}}</ref> He organized the ''sampa sabha'' (Hindi: सम्प सभा) with the intent of serving the tribal people.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69414|title=Tribals of Rajasthan: Social Reforms and Political Awakening [in G.N. Sharma (Ed.) Social and Political Awakening Among the Tribals of Rajasthan]|last=Sharma|first=G.N.|publisher=Centre for Rajasthan Studies|year=1986|location=Jaipur|pages=5–10}}</ref> Govindgiri preached monotheism, observance of temperance, forsaking crimes, following agriculture, giving up beliefs in superstition, etc.<ref name=":3" /> He called upon tribals to adopt the more of the upper castes and "to behave like ''sahukars''" (moneylenders).<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Nilsen|first=Alf|title=Subalterns and the State in the Longue Durée: Notes from "The Rebellious Century" in the Bhil Heartland|journal=Journal of Contemporary Asia|volume=45|issue=4|pages=574–595|doi=10.1080/00472336.2015.1034159|year=2015|doi-access=free|hdl=1956/10964|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Drawing on the ritual practices of the Shaivite sect [[Dashanami Sampradaya|Dashanami Panth]], Govindgiri encouraged his followers to tend a ''dhuni'' (fire pit) and hoist a ''nishan'' (flag) outside their houses.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

On the matter of women's rights, Govindguru Banjara critiqued upper-caste treatment of women and argued that tribal practices were better for women.<ref>{{Cite book|title=We Were Adivasis: Aspiration in an Indian Scheduled Tribe|last=Moodie|first=Megan|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2015|isbn=9780226253183|location=Chicago and London|pages=113}}</ref> He declared Rajputs and Brahmins inferior in this respect because they degraded women, citing the Rajput custom of female infanticide and the Rajput and Brahmin prohibition against widow remarriage.<ref name=":3" />

=== Political positions ===
Govindguru Banjara teachings were originally aimed at social and religious reform but he gradually "developed a strong critique of hierarchy and exploitation"<ref name=":1" /> of the tribals by ruling classes. He advised the tribals that their destitution was caused by princely rulers and ''[[Jagirdar system|jagirdars]]''.<ref name=":1" /> Govindguru preached that Bhils, Banjara were the rightful owners of the land and they also the right to rule over it.<ref name=":1" /> He envisioned the establishment of a Bhil ''Raj'' (Bhil state) in the hills of Sunth and Banswara states, restoring a Bhil kingdom that existed eight hundred years back.<ref name=":1" />

=== Support and opposition ===
Within a short time, Govindguru Banjara garnered a large following among the tribals in the states of [[Sant State|Sunth]], [[Banswara State|Banswara]], [[Dungarpur State|Dungarpur]] and the British districts of [[Panchmahal district|Panch Mahals]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/apz5770.0001.001.umich.edu|title=The Rewakantha Directory|last=Parmar|first=Ladhabhai Harji|publisher=Parmar Press|year=1922|location=Rajkot|pages=[https://archive.org/details/apz5770.0001.001.umich.edu/page/25 25]}}</ref> He faced active opposition from the rulers of the states in which he preached.<ref name=":3" /> Reasons cited for the opposition include decreased revenues from liquor sales (because of Govindguru forbidding liquor to his disciples) and the subversion of the ruler's authority because of Govindguru growing influence.<ref name=":3" />

=== First arrest and release ===
Govindgiri's activities after 1907 received opposition from state officials and liquor contractors, and the [[Dungarpur State]] arrested him in late-1912 or early-1913.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last=Vashishtha|first=Vijay Kumar|date=1991|title=The Bhil Revolt of 1913 Under Guru Govindgiri Among the Bhils of Southern Rajasthan and its Impact|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=52|pages=522–527}}</ref> The state accused him of deceiving his followers, confiscated his savings and pressured him to stop his movement by imprisoning his wife and child (or children).<ref name=":3" /> However, he was released in April 1913 without being tried and ordered to leave Dungarpur State.<ref name=":3" />

=== Events at Mangadh ===
Govindgiiri was imprisoned by the ruler of Dungarpur but, apprehending a commotion among the tribal people, was released in April 1913 and exiled from Dungarpur state.<ref name=":3" /> Between then and October 1913, Govindgiri moved from one village to another under harassment by local rulers.<ref name=":3" /> After an attempt by the ruler of [[Idar State]] to capture Govindgiri while he was in the Idar territory, Govindgiri and his adherents formed a defensive position at Mangadh, a hillock on the borders of the former states of [[Banswara State|Banswara]] and [[Sunth State]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.117119|title=Rajasthan District Gazetteers: Banswara|last=Sehgal|first=K.K.|publisher=Directorate, District Gazetteers|year=1962|location=Jaipur|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.117119/page/n47 34]}}</ref>

On 31 October 1913, Govindgiri adherents captured a couple of police personnel of the Sunth State who were sent up the hill for reconnaissance.<ref name=":4" /> On 1 November 1913, the adherents attempted an unsuccessful attack on the Parbatgadh fort in Sunth State and looted the village of Brahm in Banswara state.<ref name=":4" /> Apprehending danger, local rulers sought British assistance, and the Mangadh was besieged by a combined force consisting of [[Imperial Service Troops]] and the [[British Indian Army]], including the [[Mewar Bhil Corps]] and soldiers from the states of Banswara, Dungarpur, Sunth and Baria.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" />

On 17 November 1913, the force attacked Mangarh, an action in which "over 1,500 Bhil died"<ref name=":2" /> and Govindgiri and his lieutenant Dhirji Punja<ref name=":3" /> were captured.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35743|title=Report On The Administration Of The Dungarpur State for the Samvat Year 1970-71 (AD 1913-14)|year=1914|location=Rawalpindi|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35743/page/n33 4]}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
Those arrested at Mangadh were tried on 2 February 1914 before a special tribunal consisting of one Major Gough and one Major Allison, I.C.S.<ref name=":7" /> Govindgiri was sentenced to be hanged, Punja Pargi (a lieutenant of Govindgiri) sentenced to life imprisonment, and the rest to three years of imprisonment.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":2" /> On appeal, Govindgiri's sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, Pargi's sentence was confirmed, and the sentences of the rest of the accused were reduced to six months of imprisonment.<ref name=":7" /> Punja Dhirji was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the [[Cellular Jail|Andaman Cellular Jail]] where he died after some years.<ref name="IT1"/>

== Later life ==
Govindgiri Banjara did not serve the entire terms of life imprisonment, but was released from prison in [[Hyderabad]] in 1919 on condition he would not participate in political activities.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gandhi in His Time and Ours: The Global Legacy of His Ideas|last=Hardiman|first=David|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=2003|isbn=978-0231131148|location=New York|pages=142}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=भारत के स्वतंत्रता संग्राम मैं राजस्थान|last=Kothari|first=Manohar|publisher=Rajasthan Swarna Jayanti Prakashan Samiti|year=2003|location=Jaipur|pages=113}}</ref> He was also prohibited from entering several princely states.<ref name="IT1" />

Until his death on 30 October 1931, he lived in Kamboi near Limbdi in present-day [[Panchmahal district]] of Gujarat.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="IT1">{{Cite web|last=Mahurkar|first=Uday|date=1999-11-30|title=Descendants of Mangad massacare seek recognition for past tragedy|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/20120910-jallianwala-bagh-in-gujarat-brutal-tribal-massacre-gujarat-rajasthan-border-759622-1999-11-30|access-date=2021-06-29|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Govind Guru Samadhi Mandir, a memorial shrine at Kamboi, is visited by his followers.<ref name="IT1"/> Govind Guru Smriti Van, a botanical garden named after him, was opened by the [[Government of Gujarat]] on 31 July 2012. His grandson Man Singh was felicitated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat [[Narendra Modi]] in presence of more than 80,000 tribals.<ref name="IT1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=K. Bhatia|first=Ramaninder|date=2012-07-24|title=63rd van mahotsav to be a tribute to tribal freedom fighters|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/63rd-van-mahotsav-to-be-a-tribute-to-tribal-freedom-fighters/articleshow/15124799.cms|access-date=2021-06-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

[[Shri Govind Guru University]] in [[Godhra]], established in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/govind-guru-university-inaugurated-in-godhra/articleshow/47404133.cms|title = Govind Guru University inaugurated in Godhra | Vadodara News - Times of India| website=[[The Times of India]] | date=24 May 2015 }}</ref> and [[Govind Guru Tribal University]] (established in 2012, renamed in 2016) in [[Banswara]] are named after him.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1858 births]]
[[Category:1931 deaths]]
[[Category:Adivasi]]
[[Category:Hindu reformers]]
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]

Govindgiri - Revision history

OctaviaKeys89 at 10:26, 22 April 2026