imported>Dev0745 at 03:27, 9 August 2021

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{{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{use Indian English|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Korku
| image = Family of a Korku tribal in Melghat, Maharashtra (1).jpg
| image_caption = A Korku family living near [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]], [[Maharastra]]
| population = 995,399 (2011 census)
| total_ref = <ref name="census">{{cite web|title=Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|website=Indian Census|publisher=Government of India|accessdate=23 October 2017}}</ref>
| popplace = {{flag|India}}
| region1 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| pop1 = 730,847
| ref1 = <ref name="census"/>
| region2 = [[Maharastra]]
| pop2 = 264,492
| ref2 = <ref name="census"/>
| languages = [[Korku language|Korku]] •[[Marathi language|Marathi]] •[[Hindi]]
| religions = [[Hinduism]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| related_groups =
}}

The '''Korku''' are an Adivasi ethnic group predominantly found in the [[Khandwa district|Khandwa]], [[Burhanpur district|Burhanpur]], [[Betul district|Betul]] and [[Chhindwara district]]s of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and adjoining areas near the [[Melghat|Melghat Tiger Reserve]] of [[Maharashtra]]. They speak the [[Korku language]], which is a member of the [[Munda languages]] and is written using [[Devanagari]]. They are classified as a [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribe]] by the Indian government.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Korku|title=Korku {{!}} people|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-10-23|language=en}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The name ‘Korku’ is originated from two terms ‘Koro’ and ‘Ku’ whereas ‘Koro’ means person and ‘Ku’ means alive. In combination, the two words ‘Koro and Ku’ can be defined as the alive member. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Biswas |first1=Ranjan Kumar |title=Changing educational scenario of a scheduled tribe of Madhya Pradesh |journal=International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development |date=March 2017 |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=250}}</ref>
The Korkus are a [[Munda peoples|Munda]] tribe and live near a Dravidian-speaking tribe — the [[Gondi people|Gonds]]. The Korku people are believed to have been initially a hunter-gatherer community who dwelt in the forests of the [[Satpura Range]] on both sides of the [[Tapti River]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Korku tribals|last=1938-|first=Deogaonkar, S. G. (Shashishekhar Gopal)|date=1990|publisher=Concept Pub. Co|others=Deogaonkar, S. S. (Shailaja Shashishekhar), 1942-|isbn=8170222974|location=New Delhi, India|oclc=23830696}}</ref>

== Dwelling ==
The Korku tribe lives in small groups of huts made of grass and wood. Every household has an elevated stage-like structure at the front side of the house. This elevated stage is used as a storage space for farm produce such as cattle feed. They consume liquor made from the flowers of the [[Madhuca longifolia|Mahua tree]] which is prepared in almost all the houses. Predominantly, a rural-based community with 97% living in rural areas,<ref name="census"/> Korkus are primarily cultivators.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Korkus of the Vindhya Hills|last=Stephen|first=Fuchs|author-link=Stephen Fuchs|date=1988|publisher=Inter-India Publications|isbn=9788121002035|location=New Delhi, India|oclc=20222354}}</ref>

Whilst they share the love of the forests with the [[Gondi people|Gonds]], they are also excellent agriculturists and Korkus in Bhainsdehi tahsil of the [[Betul district]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] have pioneered the cultivation of [[potato]] and [[coffee]]. In their traditional festivals of Hari and Jitori, they celebrate a month long planting campaign. In this way they combat malnutrition and environmental degradation.<ref name=":1" />

The community is home to a unique and distinct culture, and possesses a rich heritage of age old traditional systems of knowledge, belief, customs and social system. The traditional representative body of the society, known as ‘Korku Panchayat’, is found in many villages. Headed by a chief known as ''Patel'', other members of the Panchayat include ''Padihar'' (priest), ''Kotwar'' (Chaukidar) and ten to twelve older male members of the community known as ''Panch''. It plays a decisive role during traditional occasions such as festivals, marriages and intra- and inter-village conflict resolution. Known for poverty, hunger, malnutrition, mass-scale exploitation by moneylenders and traders, the community confronts numerous socio-economic challenges in its day-to-day life partly due to the poor natural resource bases. Although agriculture is the primary source of livelihoods for most community members, many of them earn their livelihoods seasonally employed as agricultural labourers.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
[[File:Melghat Folk Dance in village near Hatru 02.jpg|thumb|Korku Folk Dance in village near Hatru]]
[[File:Korku Tribal girl.jpg|thumb|Korku Tribal girl at an event in Delh]]

== See also ==
* [[Munda peoples]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category inline|Korku people}}

{{Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra}}
{{Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh}}

[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Munda languages]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Maharashtra]]

Korku people - Revision history

imported>Dev0745 at 03:27, 9 August 2021