Prominent Persons Of Santhal Community

In the Santhal Community, these prominent persons mentioned below have a key role in managing the whole village. Basically, they can be described as the backbone of the Santhal society. So, below is the list of the prominent roles in the Santhal Community:-

Manjhi

The Chief official of the village council is the Manjhi. The social authority in the Santal village is ordinarily exercised by the Manjhi with a batch of village officials to assist him. He is elected by all the members of the village.

Manjhi Ramdas Tudu

Being the head or guardian of social authority he has powers to control almost all the socio-religious and moral activities of the village men.

Generally, he looks after all the simple and knotty cases or complaints of village-like property distribution or disputes related to property, divorce given by either side, an incident of illegal or restricted sex relationship or forced marriage, the collection of rents and etc. But in all these cases the Manjhi cannot deal independently.

In dealing with any case or giving judgment of any case he can do with the consent of other officials. So, in short; we can say that Manjhi has the power to look after almost all the activities of the village people and can judge the same with the advice of More-hor. His office is not honorary but he gets honorarium every now and then in cash or kind.

His position, in fact, is that of a general disciplinarian, a communal custodian. Because of his vital role in the life of the village, he commands general respect. Indeed the common Santal attitude is to regard his as the father of the village. Manjhi Baba, you are our father.

At his death there is often genuine grief for until the new Manjhi has established his influence, the village activities may face temporary disruption.

Paranik

Paranik is the next senior officials of Santal More-hor who acts as an assistant Manjhi. He is responsible to aid, advice and assists the headman in handling the functions.

In absence of Manjhi, he works as an acting Manjhi but he cannot look after all the village functions and he can deal complaints only of simple nature.

Paranik House Target pole which is divided into three part third one part keep in Jog Manjhis House Roof

If any complaints of knotty nature come he has power to the only diary that which is decided in the presence of headman.

Jog Paranik

Jog Paranik is the third official of village council More-hor and responsible to assist the Paranik. In the absence of Paranik, he is entitled to assist Manjhi also.

It is markable to note here that Jog Paranik has not any independent jurisdiction of function excluding the assistance of superior officials.

Jog Manjhi

Roughly Jog Manhi is made responsible for arranging all tribal feasts including Handi (Rice beer) on any common occasion of the village. This office bearer has a duty to arrange the ceremonial feasts. Apart from this, he has some police power also. His most important duty, however, is to look after the morals of the boys and girls.

Godet

He is like an orderly of the village headman. At the time of marriage negotiation, he works as a receptionist and does other works as directed by the headman.

Naeke

Naeke (Village Priest) is responsible for the celebration of all the religious functions like the celebration of the festival, rituals related to birth, marriage, death and etc.

Any religious function can be celebrated only after the presence of Naeke, this is why Naeke is regarded as the spiritual head of the village.

Kudam Naeke

Kudam Naeke is the assistant priest of the village. He is made responsible to assist in the celebration of religious activities.

More Manjhi

This is the second tier of local self-government and it normally comprises of ten to twenty villages. This is the second court of appeal in Santal tribal law.

The head of this organization is called Pargana. In carrying out these duties, he is assisted by a Desmanjhi and a Chakladar. The Desmanjhi is virtually a Paranik who assists in revenue collection, takes an active part in hearing disputes and is generally the Parganas deputy.

Manjhi Than Target pole which is divided into three part one part keep in Manjhi Babas roof

A Chakladar is a regional Godet who summons the Manjhi, calls the parties and assists in executing the decisions of the council. The head has the power to look after the functionaries of various villages with the assistance of village elders representing the village under this organization.

This is a first appellate court, so complicated cases like unmarried motherhood, cases of bigger social disputes of tribal customs during the religious functions and etc. are taken up. This higher tribunal sits only occasionally, being called by head’s initiative or on the request of the aggrieved party.

If any case comes the head invites area’s elders and the headman of the village from whom the case came for an appeal. Here one point is remarkable that once the Pargana is selected he is at liberty to stay in the office or quite irremovable till his death.