Doklo Sohor Governance System of the Kharia Tribe खड़िया जनजाति की डोकलो सोहोर शासन व्यवस्था

Doklo Sohor Governance System of the Kharia Tribe

The Doklo Sohor governance system is the traditional self-governance system of the Kharia tribe. It regulates village administration, religious responsibilities, community decision-making and customary dispute resolution at village and wider community levels.

The Kharia tribe is commonly divided into three principal groups: Hill Kharia, Dudh Kharia and Dhelki Kharia. Their traditional offices and methods of governance may vary regionally.

For JSSC and JPSC examinations, students should pay particular attention to the Mahto, Kartaha, Kharia Ghat, Doklo, Doklo Sohor and the three-year tenure commonly associated with the Doklo Sohor.

1. Meaning of Doklo and Sohor

• Doklo means a meeting, assembly or council.
• Sohor means the president or head of the assembly.
• Doklo Sohor refers to the head of the wider Kharia assembly.

The Doklo Sohor is regarded as the head or Raja of the wider Kharia community. He presides over major collective matters and serious community disputes.

2. Principal Features of the Doklo Sohor System

• The village is the basic unit of traditional governance.
• Village elders and customary officers participate in collective decisions.
• Administrative and religious responsibilities are distributed among different officers.
• The Kartaha performs important administrative and customary judicial functions.
• Inter-village matters are considered by a wider council.
• The Doklo represents the collective assembly of the Kharia community.
• Consensus, reconciliation and social discipline receive priority.
• Titles and working arrangements may differ among the three Kharia groups.

3. Mahto: Principal Person of the Village

The Mahto is regarded as an important head or principal person of a Kharia village. Traditionally, families associated with establishing the village receive this status.

The office is generally hereditary. However, the office-holder may be replaced with the consent of villagers if he fails to perform his responsibilities.

Principal Functions of the Mahto

• Providing social and administrative leadership to the village.
• Participating in village meetings and dispute resolution.
• Coordinating with the Kartaha, Pahan and village elders.
• Representing the village in wider Kharia assemblies.
• Helping preserve customary rules and social order.

4. Kartaha: Administrative and Judicial Functionary

The Kartaha plays a central role in the traditional governance of the Kharia community. An honest, impartial, intelligent and experienced person with knowledge of social customs is selected for this office.

The Kartaha’s office is not necessarily hereditary. A suitable person may be selected through consultation among experienced persons or representatives from a group of villages. The office traditionally carries social respect rather than a regular salary.

Principal Functions of the Kartaha

• Playing an important role in village administration.
• Hearing local disputes and community complaints.
• Communicating customary rules and community decisions.
• Informing higher assemblies about important village developments.
• Coordinating the organisation of Kharia community meetings.
• Assisting in customary purification and reconciliation procedures.
• Helping maintain social discipline through lawful community decisions.

A Kartaha who violates community rules or loses the confidence of the community may be removed through the traditional collective process.

5. Khut: Inter-village Council

A council formed to resolve matters involving two or more villages is called a Khut in some regional descriptions of Kharia governance. The representatives of the concerned villages participate in it.

The Khut considers inter-village disputes and matters that cannot be resolved within an individual village.

6. Kharia Ghat

The head or presiding officer of the inter-village Khut council is called the Kharia Ghat. The officer may be selected from among experienced Kartahas of the participating villages.

The Kharia Ghat leads the hearing of inter-village matters and helps the representatives reach a collective, consensus-based decision.

7. Doklo: General Assembly of the Kharia Community

The collective meeting or general assembly of the wider Kharia community is called the Doklo. It provides a common platform for representatives of different Kharia villages to discuss social, administrative and community matters.

The Doklo is organised periodically. Major village representatives such as the Mahto, Pahan and Kartaha participate in it. The Kartaha plays an important role in its preparation and organisation.

Principal Functions of the Doklo

• Bringing representatives of different Kharia villages together.
• Discussing common social and administrative issues.
• Considering serious inter-village disputes.
• Protecting Kharia customs and collective identity.
• Coordinating community programmes and wider social decisions.
• Selecting the Doklo Sohor according to the customary procedure.

8. Doklo Sohor: Head of the Wider Kharia Assembly

The president or presiding head of the Doklo is called the Doklo Sohor. He is regarded as the head or Raja of the wider Kharia community.

The Doklo Sohor is commonly selected for a period of three years. He considers serious disputes and performs his responsibilities with the assistance of ministers, advisers, the treasurer and other customary officers.

Principal Functions of the Doklo Sohor

• Presiding over the wider Kharia assembly.
• Providing collective leadership to the Kharia community.
• Considering serious and unresolved community disputes.
• Coordinating village and inter-village officers.
• Protecting customary rules and community interests.
• Taking collective decisions with ministers, advisers and representatives.

9. Supporting Officers of the Doklo Sohor

10. Pahan or Kalo: Religious Head

The religious head of a Dudh or Dhelki Kharia village is commonly called Pahan or Kalo. He conducts worship and ceremonies connected with village deities, festivals, agriculture, marriage and community welfare.

The office is generally hereditary. However, a new functionary may be selected with community consent when necessary. The community may provide Pahnai land to support the performance of religious duties.

Principal Functions of the Pahan or Kalo

• Conducting worship of village deities.
• Performing ceremonies connected with festivals and agriculture.
• Conducting religious observances connected with marriage.
• Coordinating with the Mahto and Kartaha in community matters.
• Performing rituals for village peace and prosperity.

11. Governance Structure at a Glance

12. Traditional Decision-making and Dispute Resolution

1. An ordinary dispute is first placed before the village officers and elders.
2. The Mahto, Kartaha, Pahan and respected elders hear the parties.
3. An effort is made to reach a consensus-based settlement at village level.
4. An inter-village matter may be placed before the Khut and Kharia Ghat.
5. A serious matter affecting the wider community may proceed to the Doklo.
6. The Doklo Sohor presides over major collective disputes.
7. The decision emphasises reconciliation, compensation and social harmony.

13. Historical Development

Around 1934–35, Kharia leaders formed a wider community organisation for social unity and empowerment. This organisation is associated with the Doklo or wider Kharia assembly.

The organisation supported the preservation of Kharia customs and collective identity. Its historical position regarding statutory Panchayati Raj should be understood in the political and social context of that period.

14. Contemporary Importance

• It preserves the traditional self-governance heritage of the Kharia community.
• It provides accessible community leadership at village level.
• It creates a graded process for resolving village and inter-village disputes.
• It connects Kharia villages through a wider collective assembly.
• It protects Kharia social, cultural and religious traditions.
• It demonstrates the historical continuity of indigenous governance in Jharkhand.

The Doklo Sohor institution continues to possess social and cultural importance. However, all its contemporary functions remain subject to the Constitution, applicable law, formal courts and the legally established Panchayati Raj system.

Important Points for JSSC and JPSC Examinations

• The Doklo Sohor system is associated with the Kharia tribe.
• Doklo means meeting or assembly; Sohor means its president.
• The three principal Kharia groups are Hill, Dudh and Dhelki Kharia.
• The Mahto is an important head or principal person of the village.
• The Kartaha performs important administrative and judicial functions.
• The Kartaha’s office is not necessarily hereditary.
• Khut refers to an inter-village council.
• The Kharia Ghat presides over the inter-village council.
• The Doklo is the wider assembly of the Kharia community.
• The Doklo Sohor is the presiding head of the Doklo.
• The Doklo Sohor is commonly selected for three years.
• The Likhakad acts as secretary or minister.
• The Tijakad acts as treasurer.
• The Diwan acts as adviser.
• The Pahan or Kalo is the religious head.

Quick Revision

Verified Previous-Year Question

Important Practice MCQs

Sources and References

• Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Jharkhand—Kharia Tribe
• Verified JPSC Prelims 2021 Previous-Year Question—Doklo Sohor