The Mal Paharia tribe are a people of India, mainly living in the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. They are the original inhabitants of the Rajmahal Hills, known today as the Santal Parganas division of Jharkhand. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe by the governments of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. They speak the Malto language, a Dravidian language, as well as a poorly-documented Indo-Aryan Mal Paharia language. During Muslim rule in Bengal, the Mal Paharias were brave warriors who maintained their independence from government control[citation needed] but developed a relationship with local landlords. Under this agreement, Mal Paharia lands were divided into tappa headed by sardars, who in turn had authority over the manjhi: village head. The sardars acted as a lawkeeping force among the Mal Paharia in return for which they were given a certain amount of land by the plains people. Passes leading to the hills were guarded by Mal Paharia outposts as well as forts of the plains people. This system ensured relatively friendly relationships between the hill and plains people. Once a year, this arrangement was renewed with a feast in the plains between the landlords and sardars. However, when the Mal Paharias tried to assert their independence again, they were betrayed by the Zamindars who killed many of their headmen. From then, they became raiders of the plains. This problem was worsened during the Bengal Famine of 1770, which the Mal Paharias were not affected by due to their reliance on forest products, and so were able to raid without much resistance. Travel on the south bank of the Ganga near Rajmahal Hills became almost impossible, and even British messengers were robbed and murdered. Despite many British attempts to suppress them, the Mal Paharias fought back by luring British forces into the jungle, where the British rifles were useless and Paharia's poisoned arrows were ideal. Finally, in 1778, the British proposed a "pacification" scheme where money and lands were restored to the sardars, and the forts of the landlords were taken over by EIC officials. Many Mal Paharias were recruited into a new British force which proved extremely effective: first using traditional bows and arrows, and eventually using British weaponry. This Paharia regiment, the Bhagalpur Hill Rangers, continued until the 1857 revolt and the reorganisation of British forces there. The government also tried to settle the Mal Paharias in the plains as settled agriculturalists to make the land productive, but this did not work. Instead, the British brought in Santal cultivators from the southeastern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, who settled in the wasteland in large numbers starting in the 1830s. The Mal Paharias fiercely resisted the entry of the Santals into their lands, a struggle that would continue until the 1850s when Santal numbers became overwhelming. The entry of the Santals generally cut the Mal Paharias off from significant contact with those in the plains. Eventually, their territory became known as Santal Parganas. Santal Parganas would continue to be a division of various administrative units, most recently the state of Jharkhand created in 2000. Today, the Paharias have become an insignificant minority in their own lands. Their literacy rate is an abysmal 1%, despite the many government schemes that have tried to uplift them. Most villages of the tribe lack basic facilities such as drinking water or sanitation, very few have government jobs and none have become involved in politics. The Paharias have formed several associations to fight for the restoration of their lands and the upliftment of their socio economic condition.
The Mal Paharia people are a Dravidian ethnic people of India, mainly living in the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. They are the original inhabitants of the Rajmahal Hills, known today as the Santal Parganas division of Jharkhand. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe by the governments of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. They speak the Malto language, a Dravidian language, as well as a poorly-documented Indo-Aryan Mal Paharia language. During Muslim rule in Bengal, the Mal Paharias were brave warriors who maintained their independence from government control but developed a relationship with local landlords. Under this agreement, Mal Paharia lands were divided into tappa headed by sardars, who in turn had authority over the manjhi: village head. The sardars acted as a lawkeeping force among the Mal Paharia in return for which they were given a certain amount of land by the plains people. Passes leading to the hills were guarded by Mal Paharia outposts as well as forts of the plains people. This system ensured relatively friendly relationships between the hill and plains people. Once a year, this arrangement was renewed with a feast in the plains between the landlords and sardars. However, when the Mal Paharias tried to assert their independence again, they were betrayed by the Zamindars who killed many of their headmen. From then, they became raiders of the plains. This problem was worsened during the Bengal Famine of 1770, which the Mal Paharias were not affected due to their reliance on forest products, and so were able to raid without much resistance. Travel on the south bank of the Ganga near Rajmahal Hills became almost impossible, and even British messengers were robbed and murdered. Despite many British attempts to suppress them, the Mal Paharias fought back by luring British forces into the jungle, where the British rifles were useless and Paharia's poisoned arrows were ideal. Finally, in 1778, the British proposed a "pacification" scheme were money and lands were restored to the sardars, and the forts of the landlords were taken over by EIC officials. Many Mal Paharias were recruited into a new British force which proved extremely effective: first using traditional bows and arrows, and eventually using British weaponry. This Paharia regiment, the Bhagalpur Hill Rangers, continued until the 1857 revolt and the reorganization of British forces there. The government also tried to settle the Mal Paharias in the plains as settled agriculturalists to make the land productive, but this did not work. Instead, the British brought in Santal cultivators from the southeastern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, who settled in the wasteland in large numbers starting in the 1830s. The Mal Paharias fiercely resisted the entry of the Santals into their lands, a struggle that would continue until the 1850s when Santal numbers became overwhelming. The entry of the Santals generally cut the Mal Paharias off from significant contact with those in the plains. Eventually, their territory became known as Santal Parganas. Santal Parganas would continue to be a division of various administrative units, most recently the state of Jharkhand created in 2000.
The Mal Pharia or Paharia Mal is a tribal group concentrated in states of eastern India namely, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. More specifically, this group is considered to be a tribe of the Rajmahal Hills, which may be an isolated branch of the Savars. The Mal Pharia Tribe is known by different names such as Mal, Maler, etc. Hunting and gathering is associated with the people of Mal Pharia Tribe. Hunting is one of their main pastimes and also their major occupation. They use poisoned arrows for hunting. After killing the target, the hunters remove the flesh around the wound. This is because they hold a belief that the surrounding flesh is unfit for consumption. But they have certain rules and regulations, which are to be strictly followed during hunting. If a man seeks the help of other members in order to find out the animal he has killed, he has to give one-half portion of the animal to them. The headman of the village is known as Manjhi and he is entitled to get share of all the animals killed in hunting. A person breaking rules and regulations is subjected to penalties. Killing a dog will result in a fine of 12 rupees. The hunters are also forbidden by laws to kill a cat and doing so will result in the person distributing salt among the children in the village. He would give a meager amount of salt to each child in the said case. Their God of hunting is called Autga and on every successful expedition they offer their thanksgiving to Him. But it is also known that most of the people of Mal Pharia Tribe are agricultural labourers, who engage themselves in cultivation. They earn their daily living through basket making. They also garner bamboos and raw materials from forests.
The Paharia tribe primarily inhabits
the hilly regions of Jharkhand, particularly the Santhal Parganas division,
bordering West Bengal. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe by the
governments of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar. However, there’s a distinct
group residing in Odisha’s southern districts, mainly concentrated in Nuapada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Bolangir, Bargarh, Nabrangpur and
Rayagada. Due to their remote location, the Paharia people face difficulties in accessing basic necessities like water, food, and education. Living atop hills often poses logistical challenges for the government to provide essential services. The Paharias traditionally holdstrong beliefs in their own deities and often rely on faith healers for medical treatment. However, they do utilize modern medical facilities when necessary. Traditionally, Paharia marriages involved ceremonies like “Bedi” and “Golat,” which might include gift exchanges and feasts. Pre-marital relationships were not uncommon, and single-parent households are present in some Paharia communities. “Capture marriage,” where the groom elopes with the bride, also existed historically, requiring later approval from families and villagers.
With an estimated population of around 2.25 lakh across Jharkhand and West Bengal, the Mal Paharia hold detailed knowledge of their natural environment, including the plants and animals of their region, and a cultural heritage expressed through songs, proverbs, and rituals. The Mal Paharia, one of the oldest tribal communities in Jharkhand, is now working to preserve their rich cultural and ecological knowledge, much of which has been passed down orally through generations. At a recent gathering in Amrapara block of Pakur district, elders, youth, and women from several villages came together to share age-old wisdom about the land, forests, and medicinal plants essential to their way of life. With an estimated population of around 2.25 lakh across Jharkhand and West Bengal, the Mal Paharia hold detailed knowledge of their natural environment, including the plants and animals of their region, and a cultural heritage expressed through songs, proverbs, and rituals. During the workshop, participants identified and recorded plants connected to their history, healing practices, and festivals, carefully verifying each entry as a group. Conversations also touched on how natural cycles, seasonal changes, and the spiritual importance of local species shape their farming, food gathering, and health traditions. The group included voices across generations—from Shyamlal Ahari, a teacher from Amlagaria, to Janardan Paharia, the village head of Bodo Pahar, as well as retired educators and young members of the community. Women actively shared knowledge about wild edible plants, herbal remedies, and ceremonial uses. Though part of a larger research project supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, the focus of this effort remained firmly on community-led preservation. Researchers from the Central University of Jharkhand acted as facilitators, recording and confirming information without altering the original context. For the Mal Paharia, this is not just academic work—it’s about preserving identity, memory, and survival amid growing challenges like shrinking forests and youth migration. “If we forget the names of these plants, we will forget who we are,” said Shyamlal Ahari.
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