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{{Short description|Ethnic group of India}}
{{About|the Austroasiatic ethnic group of India|the Tibeto-Burman people also known as Ho of China, Laos, and Vietnam|Hani people}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Ho
| population = {{circa|1.7 million}}
| total_ref = {{efn|The total population of Ho people in India is approximately 1.7 million (1,733,355), comprising 1,033,095 Ho individuals from Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha; 75,251 Kol individuals from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha; and 625,009 Kolha individuals from Odisha.<ref name="Cen2011">{{cite web|title=ST-14 Scheduled Tribe Population By Religious Community|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html|website=Census of India|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, India|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref>}}
| total_year = 2011
| image = Ho Tribal Lady.jpg
| caption = Ho tribe woman in traditional attire.
| popplace = {{flag|India}}
| region2 = {{spaces|14}}[[Jharkhand]]
| pop2 = 928,289<ref name="Cen2011" />
| region3 = {{spaces|13}} [[Odisha]]
| pop3 = 705,618<ref name="Cen2011" />
| region4 = {{spaces|13}} [[West Bengal]]
| pop4 = 23,483<ref name="Cen2011" />
| region5 = {{spaces|14}}[[Bihar]]
| pop5 = 715<ref
name="Cen2011" />
| languages = [[Ho language]]
| religions = {{hlist|[[Sarnaism]] | [[Hinduism]] | [[Christianity]]}}
| related = {{hlist|[[Munda people|Mundas]] | [[Kharia people|Kharias]] | [[Juang people|Juangs]] | [[Santal people|Santals]] | [[Bhumij people|Bhumijs]] }}
| footnotes = Odisha population figures include '''[[List of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha|Kol, Kolah]]''' & '''[[List of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha|Larko-Kol]]''' who although listed as a separate Scheduled Tribe, are another name for the Hos.<ref>{{cite book |title= Kolha |url=https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/73843/1/SCST_2018_handbook_0063.pdf |publisher=Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute, Odisha |year=2018 |isbn=978-93-80705-56-9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921094725/https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/73843/1/SCST_2018_handbook_0063.pdf |archive-date=21 September 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>|
| native_name = Larka kol
| native_name_lang =
| flag =
}}

The '''Ho''' people are an [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] [[Munda peoples|Munda]] [[ethnicity|ethnic group]] of India. They are mostly concentrated in the [[Kolhan division|Kolhan region]] of [[Jharkhand]] and northern [[Odisha]] where they constitute around 10.7% and 7.3% of the total [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India|Scheduled Tribe]] population respectively, as of 2011.<ref name="CensusST2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html|title = Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> With a population of approximately 700,000 in the state in 2001, the Ho are the fourth most numerous [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India|Scheduled tribe]] in Jharkhand after the [[Santal people|Santals]], [[Kurukh people|Kurukhs]], and [[Munda people|Munda]]s.<ref name="JharkhandData">{{cite web |url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_jharkhand.pdf |title = Jharkhand: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes |access-date= 6 March 2008 |work= Census of India 2001 |publisher= Census Commission of India }}</ref> The Ho also inhabit adjacent areas in the neighbouring states of [[Odisha]], [[West Bengal]] and [[Bihar]], bringing the total to 806,921, as of 2001.<ref name="CensusST2011"/><ref name="Tribal">{{cite web |title=Scheduled Tribals |url=https://tribal.nic.in/ST/Tribal%20Profile.pdf |website=tribal.nic.in |access-date=30 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=High hopes for Ho |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/High-hopes-for-Ho/articleshow/9275704.cms |access-date=23 April 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=19 July 2011 |language=en}}</ref> They also live in [[Bangladesh]] and [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mattersindia.com/2015/02/journeying-together-with-ho-tribes-in-odisha/ | title=Journeying together with Ho tribes in Odisha| date=16 February 2015}}</ref>

According to ''[[Ethnologue]]'', the total number of people speaking the [[Ho language]] was 1,040,000 as of 2001.<ref name=ethno>{{cite web |url= https://www.ethnologue.com/language/hoc |title= Ho: A Language of India | access-date= 14 October 2017 |work= Ethnologue | publisher= SIL International }}</ref> Similar to other Austroasiatic groups in the area, the Ho report varying degrees of multilingualism, also using [[Hindi]] and [[English language|English]].<ref name="Mohan">{{cite book|last1=Mohan|first1=Shailendra|editor1-last=Hashnain|editor1-first=Imtiaz|editor2-last=Bagga-Gupta|editor2-first=Sangeeta|editor3-last=Mohan|editor3-first=Shailendra|title=Linguistic Identity and Language Preferences Among the Austro-Asiatic Language Speakers of Jharkhand|date=2013|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9781443847162|pages=286–303|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/download/45589677/linguistic_identity_and_language_preference.pdf|access-date=9 October 2017|chapter=20}}</ref>

The majority of the Ho are involved in agriculture, either as land owners or labourers, while others are engaged in mining. Compared to the rest of India, the Ho have a low literacy rate and a low rate of school enrolment. The government of Jharkhand has recently approved measures to help increase enrolment and literacy among children.<ref name = "indiaex" /><ref name = "elib" /><ref name = "ndtv" />

==Etymology==
The term "Ho" originates from the [[Ho language]], where "hō" translates to "human". The name encompasses both their ethnic identity and language, closely linked to [[Mundari language|Mundari]] within the [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language]] family. In [[Odisha]], certain [[Segmentary lineage|segments]] of the Ho tribe, such as Kol, Kolha, and Kolah are [[List of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha|officially recognized]] as distinct groups. These names are derived from the colonial [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]] Kol, a term widely used for tribal communities across northern India, and from blends of exonyms and [[Endonym and exonym|endonyms]] such as ''Hoo'', ''Hoṛo'', and ''Hoṛoko'', all signifying "human" or "human being" in their language.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odisha State Tribal Museum {{!}} Kolha|url=https://www.ostm.in/tribes_of_odisha/kolha/|access-date=2 April 2021|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ostm.in/tribes_of_odisha/munda/|title = Odisha State Tribal Museum | Munda}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ostm.in/tribes_of_odisha/mundari/|title=Odisha State Tribal Museum | Mundari}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ostm.in/tribes_of_odisha/kolah/|title = Odisha State Tribal Museum | Kolah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ostm.in/tribes_of_odisha/kol/|title = Odisha State Tribal Museum | Kol}}</ref> They were also historically referred to as Larka Kol, reflecting their rebellious nature, composed of ''Larka'' (meaning "fighter" in the [[Munda languages|Munda language]]) and the exonym Kol.<ref>{{cite book |date=2022 |editor-last=Behera |editor-first=Maguni Charan |title=Tribe, Space and Mobilisation |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-19-0059-4 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-19-0059-4|isbn=978-981-19-0058-7 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==History==
===Prehistory===
Linguistic studies suggest that the Austroasiatic homeland was in Southeast Asia and [[Austroasiatic languages]] arrived on the coast of [[Odisha]] from [[Southeast Asia]] about 4000–3500 years ago.<ref name=Sidwell>Sidwell, Paul, and Roger Blench. 2011. "The Austroasiatic Urheimat: the Southeastern Riverine Hypothesis." Enfield, NJ (ed.) ''Dynamics of Human Diversity'', 317-345. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. http://rogerblench.info/Archaeology/SE%20Asia/SR09/Sidwell%20Blench%20offprint.pdf</ref> The Austroasiatic speaker spread from Southeast Asia and mixed extensively with local Indian populations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schliesinger |first1=Joachim |title=Origin of the Tai People 3: Genetic and Archaeological Approaches |date=2016 |publisher=Booksmango |isbn=9781633239623 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=766hDQAAQBAJ&q=munda+people+came+from+south+east+asia&pg=PA71 |access-date=20 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

According to historian [[Ram Sharan Sharma]] in his book India's Ancient Past mentioned that, many [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]], [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]], and non-Sanskrit terms occur in the Vedic texts ascribed to 1500-500 BC.<ref name=Sharma>Ancient History by R.S Sharma, pp 1-4</ref> They indicate ideas, institutions, products, and settlements associated with peninsular and non-Vedic India. The people of this area spoke the proto-Munda language. Several terms in the Indo-Aryan languages that signify the use of cotton, navigation, digging, stick, etc. have been traced to the Munda languages by linguists. There are many Munda pockets in [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]], in which the remnants of Munda culture are strong. It is held that changes in the phonetics and vocabulary of the Vedic language can be explained as much on the basis of the Dravidian influence as that of the Munda.<ref name=Sharma />

===Mediaeval to modern history===
[[File:Ho people.jpg|thumb|Dalton's painting of Ho man and woman in 1872]]

Starting from the period between the 9th and 12th centuries, copper was smelted in many parts of old Singhbhum district. It is believed that many immigrants entered [[Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]] from [[Manbhum]] in the 14th century or earlier. When the Hos entered old Singhbhum, they overcame the [[Bhuiya]]s by 17th century, who were then inhabitants of the forest country. In the latter half of the eighteenth century, the Hos fought several wars against the Rajas of the [[Chota Nagpur Tributary States|Chota Nagpur States]] and [[Mayurbhanj district|Mayurbhanj]] to retain their independence. Although the area was formally claimed to be a part of the [[Mughal Empire]], neither the Mughals nor the [[Marathas]], who were active in the surrounding areas during the decline of the Mughals, ventured into the area.<ref name = "Prasad">Prasad, Hem Chandra. ''Bihar''. 1983/2003, pp. 36, 67, 159, 162, 184. National Book Trust, New Delhi. {{ISBN|81-237-0151-9}}</ref> As far as is known, the Muslims left them alone and the Ho enjoyed their autonomy.<ref name = "Houlton">[[John Wardle Houlton|Sir John Houlton]], ''Bihar: The Heart of India'', 1949, pp. 132, 138–139, 166–169, Orient Longmans, Kolkata.</ref>

In 1765, Chota Nagpur was ceded to the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] as part of [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]], [[Bihar Province|Bihar]], and [[Orissa Province]]s. The Raja of Singhbhum (''de facto'' Porahat estate) asked the British Resident at [[Midnapore]] for protection in 1767, but it was not until 1820 that he acknowledged himself as a feudatory of the British. The restless Hos broke the agreement soon and took part in a fierce rebellion of 1831–33, called the [[Kol uprising]], along with the [[Munda people|Mundas]].<ref name = "Prasad"/><ref>The Ho Tribe of Singhbhum by C.P.Singh</ref> The immediate cause of the Kol uprising was the disposition of Mankis and extraction of taxes by ''thikadars'' (literally meaning contractors) or farmers of rent. The Hos and Mundas were joined by the [[Kurukh people|Kurukh]] and the houses of many thikedars, landlords were burnt and a number of people were killed. They also plundered, killed and destroyed villages Hindus.<ref name = "Houlton"/> It compelled the British to recognise the need for a thorough subjugation of the Hos.<ref name = "Prasad"/> The uprising was suppressed with a good deal of trouble by several hundred British troops.<ref name = "Houlton"/> While local troops quelled the uprising, another group under Colonel Richards entered Singhbhum in November 1836. Within three months all the ringleaders surrendered. Subsequently the "Kolhan Government Estate" was formed by Wilkinson in 1937, composing Ho concentrated areas. In 1857, the Raja of [[Porahat]] rose in rebellion and a sizeable section of the Hos joined in the revolt. Troops were sent who put an end to the disturbances by 1859.<ref name = "Prasad"/>

==Language==
{{main|Ho language}}
Ho people speak the [[Ho language]], an [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language]] closely related to [[Mundari language|Mundari]] and more distantly related to languages of Southeast Asia such as [[Khmer language|Khmer]] and [[Mon language|Mon]]. The Austroasiatic languages of India, including Ho, are inflected [[fusional language]]s unlike their distant relatives in Southeast Asia which are [[analytic languages]]. This difference in [[linguistic typology|typology]] is due to extensive language contact with the unrelated Indo-Aryan and Dravidian languages. The phonology of Ho has also been influenced by the nearby unrelated languages.<ref name=Sidwell /> There are at least three dialects of Ho: Lohara, [[Chaibasa]] and [[Thakurmunda]]. All dialects are mutually intelligible with approximately 92% of all Ho speakers able to understand a narrative discourse in both Chaibasa and Thakurmunda dialects.<ref name=ethno /> The most divergent dialects are in the extreme south and east of Ho territory.

While fewer than five per cent of Ho speakers are literate in the language, Ho is typically written in [[Devanagari]], [[Latin script|Latin]], scripts. A native alphabet, called [[Warang Citi]] and invented by [[Lako Bodra]] in the 20th century, also exists.<ref name=ethno /><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman|first1=Paul|title=(Re)inventing writing: stories and histories|page=5|url=http://www.hoffmancommapaul.com/papers/lis470/re-inventing-writing.pdf|website=hoffmancommapaul.com|access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:OpenSpeaks-Hoc-Ruum Sakam-Mangal Singhku-Guan Bunga.webm|thumb|Gõan Bonga (Cattle Pen Sacrifice) performed by ''desauli'', the family head in Keshpada, [[Mayurbhanj district|Mayurbhanj]], India]]
[[File:OpenSpeaks-Hoc-Ruum Sakam-Ramai Singh-Lalit Singh Banra-Dama and Dumang.webm|thumb|Two ''Dama'' and ''Dumaṅ'' players playing a tune from [[Mage Porob]] and explaining making of the instruments in [[Ho language]]]]
Ho village life revolves around five main ''porob'' or festivals. The most important festival, ''[[Mage Parab]]'', takes place in the late winter month of [[Magha (month)|Magha]] and marks the completion of the agricultural cycle.<ref name="Hebbar">{{cite journal|last1=Hebbar|first1=Ritambhara|title=Homecoming: Ho Women, Work, and Land Rights in Jharkhand|journal=Sociological Bulletin|date=January 2005|volume=54|issue=1|pages=18–39|doi=10.1177/0038022920050102|s2cid=156749590|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268684531|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> It is a week-long celebration held to honour Singbonga, the creator god. Other lesser ''bonga'' (spirits) are also honoured throughout the week. ''Baa Porob'', the festival of flowers held in mid-spring, celebrates the yearly blossoming of the sacred Sal trees. ''[[Sohrai]]'' or ''Gaumára'' is the most important agricultural festival, the date of which usually coincides with the nationwide festivities in the fall. It is a village wide celebration with music and dancing held in honour of the cattle used in cultivation. During the ceremonies, the cows are painted with a flour and dye mix, anointed with oil and prayed over after a black chicken is sacrificed to an image of the cattle bonga. ''Baba Hermúṭu'' is the ceremonial first sowing. The date is set each year in the early spring by the ''diuri'' or priest, who also officiates the three-day ceremony by praying and commencing his first sowing of the year. ''Jomnama Porob'' is held in late fall before the first harvest is eaten to thank the spirits for a trouble-free harvest.''<ref name="Hebbar" /><ref name="Duary">{{cite book|last1=Duary|first1=Nabakumar|editor1-last=Behera|editor1-first=M.C.|title=Tribal Religion : Change and Continuity|date=2000|publisher=Vedams Ltd.|location=New Delhi, India|isbn=978-8171696192|chapter=12. Change and continuity in Ho religion--an impact study in South Bihar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Sohrai|url=http://keraientertainment.com/the-sohrai/|website=Ho Cultural Preservation Website|publisher=keraientertainment|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>''

Dance is important to Adivasi culture in general and for the Ho, it is more than simply a means of entertainment. Their songs are generally accompanied by dances which change with the seasons. Songs and distinctively choreographed dance are integral parts of Ho culture and art,<ref name = "Houlton"/><ref name = "Prasad2">Prasad, Hem Chandra, ''Bihar'', pp. 13, 34, 179, 194.</ref> as well as important parts of their traditional festivals, especially Mage Parab. Most villages have a dedicated dancing ground, called ''akhra'', usually consisting of a cleared space of hard ground under a spreading tree. Dances are organised on a staggered basis in the villages so that other villagers can participate. Traditional Ho music incorporates native instruments including a ''Dama'' (drum), ''Dumaṅ'' (barrel drum), and the ''Rutu'' (flute).<ref name = "Houlton"/>

The Ho people brew [[rice wine]], called ''Ḍiaṅ''.

==Religion==
{{See also|Sarnaism}}
{{Pie chart
|caption=Religion among 1.7 million Ho people of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal (2011 census)<ref>{{cite web |title=ST-14 Scheduled Tribe Population By Religious Community |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416233826/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html |archive-date=16 April 2016}}<br>{{cite web |title=ST-14 A Details Of Religions Shown Under 'Other Religions And Persuasions' In Main Table (For Each Tribe Separately) |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920222100/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14A.html |archive-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>
|thumb=right
|value1=52.8
|label1=[[Sarnaism]]
|color1=maroon
|value2=44.5
|label2=[[Hinduism]]
|color2=orange
|value3=1.9
|label3=[[Christianity]]
|color3=dodgerblue
|value4=0.1
|label4=[[Islam]]
|color4=green
|value5=0.2
|label5=''not stated''
|color5=pink
|other=yes
}}
In the 2001 national census, 91% of the Hos of Jharkhand declared that they professed "other religions and persuations", meaning that they do not consider themselves to belong to any of the major religious groups and follow their indigenous religious systems called "Sarna" or [[Sarnaism]].<ref name = "JharkhandData"/> Also known as ''sarna dhorom'' ("religion of the holy woods"), this religion plays an important part in the life of adivasi.<ref name="Pal">{{cite journal|last1=Pal|first1=T|title=Sacred Grove in Jharkhand|journal=Indian International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science Research|date=December 2016|volume=I|issue=I|url=http://www.iijhassr.com/Published%20Paper/Vol-I/Issue-I/Vol-I_Issue-I_P5.pdf|access-date=10 October 2017|issn=2456-4389|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010110107/http://www.iijhassr.com/Published%20Paper/Vol-I/Issue-I/Vol-I_Issue-I_P5.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their beliefs in gods, goddesses and spirits are ingrained in them from childhood. The religion of the Hos resembles, to a great extent that of [[Santhal people|Santhals]], [[Kurukh people|Oraons]], [[Munda people|Mundas]], and other tribal people in the region. All religious rituals are performed by a village priest known as a ''deuri''. However, he is not required to propitiate malevolent spirits or deities. The spirit doctor ''deowa'' takes care of this.<ref name = "Prasad"/>

===Position of women===
Houlton writes, "I do not want to give the impression, by mentioning occasional divergences from the straight and narrow path, that aboriginals are immoral. On the contrary, their standards of post-marital morality and fidelity are probably a good deal higher than in some races that claim to be more civilised. The status of women is high. Wives are partners and companions to their husbands. It is even whispered that hen-pecked husbands are not uncommon among the tribesmen."<ref name = "Houlton"/>

There is a system of payment of bride-price amongst the Hos. The bride-price is often a status symbol and in modern times it remains not more than 101-1001 rupees. As a result, many Ho girls remain unmarried till advanced age.<ref name = "Houlton"/> Among the total Ho population, females outnumber the males.<ref name="JharkhandData"/>

==Economy==
[[File:OpenSpeaks-Hoc-Ruum Sakam-Sunaram Singh Tiyu-Cultivation.webm|thumb|A Ho farmer sharing his farming experience]]

Almost half the population is engaged in cultivation and another one third also work as land-less agricultural labourers.<ref name = "JharkhandData"/> The Hos, along with Santals, Oraons and Mundas, are comparatively more advanced, and have taken to settled cultivation as their mode of life.<ref name = "Prasad2"/>

The discovery of [[iron ore]] in Ho territory opened the way for the first iron ore mine in India at Pansira Buru in 1901.<ref>Srinivasan, N.R., ''History of The Indian Iron and Steel Company'', 1983, p. 137</ref> Over the years iron ore mining spread out in the area. Many Hos are engaged in mining work but that does not add up to any sizeable percentage. However, small, well planned mining towns dotting the territory have brought the Ho people in close touch with the good and bad aspects of urbanisation. Some of the prominent mining towns in the area are [[Chiria]], [[Gua, Jharkhand|Gua]], [[Noamundi]] and [[Kiriburu]].

==Forests==
[[File:Shorea robusta in Chhattisgarh.jpg|thumbnail|Sal tree]]
[[Sal tree|Sal]] (Shorea robusta) is the most important tree in the area and it seems to have a preference for the rocky soil there. Although sal is a deciduous tree and sheds its leaves in early summer, the forest undergrowth is generally evergreen, which has such trees as [[mango]]es, [[Jambul|jamun]], [[jackfruit]], and [[Guava|piar]]. Other important trees are [[Madhuca longifolia|mahua]], kusum, [[Wendlandia|tilai]], harin hara (Armossa rohitulea), gular (Fiscus glomerata), [[Terminalia elliptica|asan]]. The Singhbhum forests are best in the Kolhan area in the south-west of the district.<ref name = "Prasad2"/> The lives of Ho people have long been intertwined with sal forests and there is a strong resentment against the efforts of timber merchants to replace sal forests with teak plantations.

The reserved forests are the haunt of many animals. Wild [[elephant]]s are common in [[Saranda forest|Saranda]] (literally meaning seven hundred hills) and Porahat forests. Herds of [[Sambar Deer|sambar]] and [[chital]] roam about the forests. [[Bison]] is still found (locally extinct when a study was undertaken in 2005 by Kisor Chaudhuri FRGS). [[Tiger]]s were never numerous but they are there (locally extinct when a study was undertaken in 2005 by Kisor Chaudhuri FRGS). [[Leopard]]s are more common. The Hos are keen hunters and have practically exterminated game in Kolhan. They organise great ''battues'', in which thousands of people join. They beat their drums in a huge circle, and gradually close in over hills and across forests, driving the wild animals on to a central point, on to which lines of hunters converge until the animals are surrounded and slaughtered.<ref name = "Houlton"/>

==Literacy==
As per the 2011 census, the literacy rate for the Ho population was around 44.7% for all and 33.1% for women, much lower than the Jharkhand averages of 66.4% for all and 55.4% for women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=4 July 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Ho language Adiwasi community by D. Naresh.webm|thumb|317x317px|Ho community Updates up to 2025]]
In order to help increase the literacy rates, the government announced in 2016 that it had designed text books to teach Hindi and mathematics in Ho.<ref name="indiaex">{{cite web | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cm-raghubar-das-talks-about-new-jharkhand-governor-underlines-several-projects-in-santhal-pargana-region-4798328/ | title=CM Raghubar das talks about 'New Jharkhand', Governor underlines several projects in Santhal Pargana region| date=15 August 2017}}</ref> In 2017 those textbooks were made available on the central government's e-library platform.<ref name="elib">{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/education/jharkhand-central-e-library-to-have-textbooks-in-tribal-languages/story-d4zqHbHg2ynY6VSIJWc10I.html | title=Jharkhand: Central e-library to have textbooks in tribal languages| date=7 June 2016}}</ref> In a 2016 effort to help promote tribal languages Tata Steel, a private company, began teaching the Ho language on weekends to drop-out schoolgirls at a "camp school" in Naomundi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jharkhand: School dropout girls to get lessons in Ho language |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/jharkhand-school-dropout-girls-to-get-lessons-in-ho-language/ |access-date=12 April 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=15 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref> As of November 2016, 100 girls were enrolled in the camp school. The company has also run private Ho language centres in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts since 2011. Approximately 6000 people have undergone Ho language and Warang Chiti script training in these centres.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.avenuemail.in/region/ho-classes-launched-noamundi-camp-school/99322/ | title=Ho classes launched at Noamundi Camp School| work=Avenue Mail| date=14 October 2016}}</ref> In 2017 the government of Jharkhand announced it would soon begin teaching five- and six-year-old primary school students in their local language in order to help reduce the high drop-out rate.<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/jharkhand-government-to-introduce-kg-education-in-25-000-primary-schools-1729487 | title=Jharkhand Government to Introduce KG Education in 25,000 Primary Schools| work=NDTV}}</ref> Among the Hos, 19.7% have completed schooling and 3.1% are graduates.<ref name="JharkhandData" /> The percentage of school-going children in the age group 5 –14 years was 37.6.<ref name="JharkhandData" />

==Notable people==


*[[Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu]] - Indian politician and a former member of the 14th Lok Sabha<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Balmuchu |first1=Pradeep Kumar |date=31 May 2018 |url=http://rsdebate.nic.in/rsdebate56/handle/123456789/683309?viewItem=browse |title=Demand to include the language 'Ho' spoken in Jharkhand, in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution |journal=Parliament of India |access-date=Jan 13, 2025}}</ref>
*[[Debendranath Champia]] - Indian politician and a former member of the Bihar constituency assembly
* [[Lipika Singh Darai]] - Indian filmmaker and film director<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/130417/tribal-girl-lipika-singh-darai-from-odisha-wins-4-national-awards-in-7-years.html|title=Tribal girl Lipika Singh Darai from Odisha wins 4 National Awards in 7 years|date=13 April 2017|publisher=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>
*[[Laxman Giluwa]] - Indian politician and the president of the Jharkhand unit of Bhartiya Janta Party<ref>{{cite news |title=''हो'' भाषा को संविधान की आठवीं अनुसूची में शामिल करने की मांग के साथ जंतर मंतर पर प्रदर्शन |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/saraikela-kharsawan/1229312 |access-date=12 April 2021 |work=Prabhat Khabar |date=3 December 2018 |language=hi}}</ref>
*[[Geeta Koda]] - Indian politician and member of Indian National Congress<ref name="Thaker">{{cite news|last1=Thaker|first1=Jayesh|title=Poll Power Trips Geeta Koda means business|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1141128/jsp/jharkhand/story_19097253.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128004020/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141128/jsp/jharkhand/story_19097253.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2014|access-date=11 November 2017|work=The Telegraph India|date=28 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Madhu Koda]] - former [[List of Chief Ministers of Jharkhand|Chief Minister of Jharkhand]]<ref name="Thaker" />
*[[Chitrasen Sinku]] - Indian politician and a member of the Eleventh Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Choudhary |first1=Manoj |date=12 Apr 2014 |title=Madhu Koda, Bagun Sumbrui still call the shots in Singhbhum |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-ranchi/20140412/281706907663747 |work=PressReader |access-date=Jan 13, 2025}}</ref>
*[[Janum Singh Soy]] - Indian scholar and [[Padma Shri]] awardee<ref>{{cite web |title=Hamare Padma: Dr Janum Singh Soy gets Padma Shri Award for preserving Ho language |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBiOG0DT74A |website=YouTube | date=7 May 2023 |publisher=[[DD News]] |access-date=18 September 2023 |quote=Ethnicity mentioned between 2:10 to 2:15 |language=hi}}</ref>
*[[Bagun Sumbrai]] - Indian politician and a former member of the 14th Lok Sabha<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/jun/29/ranchi-diary-1835300.html | title=Ranchi diary| date=29 June 2018}}</ref>



==See also==

* [[Tribes of Jharkhand]]

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{notelist}}

===Sources===
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/ Ho Language webpage, by K. David Harrison, Swarthmore College]
* [http://www.sinlung.com Sinlung Sinlung - Indian tribes]
* [http://projekt.ht.lu.se/rwaai RWAAI | Projekt] RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage)
* http://holanguageodishaedu.in/
* [[hdl:10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8@view|http://hdl.handle.net/10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8@view{{Dead link|date=April 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}]] Ho language in RWAAI Digital Archive

{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Tribes of Jharkhand}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tribes of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Tribes of Assam]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Indigenous peoples of South Asia]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social groups of Odisha]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Odisha]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Nepal]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]]

Ho people - Revision history

JerilynCropper5 at 13:03, 4 December 2025