A Historical Analysis on the Social Life of the Dhimals of North Bengal

Dhimals are the little known tribal groups of West Bengal. This community is also found in Jhapa and Morang District of Nepal. But in India they are only found in Terai or especially in Maniram Gram Panchayat and Hatighisa Gram Panchayat of Naxalbari Police station under Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Dhimals are described as a non-Aryan tribe by the most eminent scholars like Hodgson, Dalton, Risley, Hunter and O’Malley. In primitive age they were mainly animist. They were socially and economically backward. They made their living by shifting, hunting and fishing before the advent of the British in Terai. The Status of women was high in the society and a girl could choose her husband, her decision was given preference. Dhimals had their own rich tradition and culture.  But over the years many changes took place in their social life due to the influence of the Hindus especially by the Rajbanshis, a dominant tribal force of the terai.