Study Material - Jharkhandi Jobs

झारखंड: पारंपरिक जनजातीय शासन व्यवस्था झारखंड: पारंपरिक जनजातीय शासन व्यवस्था

Parha Panchayat Governance System of the Oraon Tribe

The Parha Panchayat is a major traditional self-governance institution of the Oraon or Kurukh community of Jharkhand. It deals with administrative, social, religious and judicial matters at the village and inter-village levels.

At village level, functionaries such as the Mahto, Manjhi, Pahan and Baiga perform distinct responsibilities. A group of villages forms a Parha, which is headed by the Parha Raja.

Important Fact: The Parha is a social, cultural, administrative and judicial institution of Oraon self-governance. Its titles, number of member villages and working arrangements vary by region.

1. Basic Concept of the Parha Panchayat

A Parha is a traditional federation of villages located within a particular area. Each village has its own council, while several village councils together constitute the inter-village Parha Panchayat.

The number of villages in a Parha varies regionally. Examples of Parhas comprising 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 21 or 22 villages are found; therefore, no single number should be treated as universal.

Accuracy Note: The number of villages in a Parha is not fixed. In an examination question asking for a particular number, pay attention to the region or source specified in the question.

2. Administrative Levels of the Parha System

In some regional forms, the system has lower, middle and higher levels. Unresolved village matters go to the Parha Raja, while matters unresolved at that level may proceed to the Parha Diwan.

Level	Main Institution/Functionary	Principal Function
Village level	Mahto and village council	Local administration and ordinary disputes
Inter-village level	Parha Panchayat and Parha Raja	Disputes and appeals involving several villages
Higher coordination level	Parha Diwan	Coordination among Parha Rajas and higher-level matters

3. Mahto: Administrative Head of the Village

The Mahto is the administrative head of an Oraon village. He deals with village-level administrative and judicial matters, generally with the assistance of elders and experienced community members.

Principal Functions of the Mahto

Providing administrative leadership to the village.
Convening and presiding over meetings of the village council.
Settling ordinary village disputes.
Ensuring observance of social rules and traditions.
Maintaining peace and social discipline.
Referring serious or unresolved matters to the Parha Raja.
Coordinating with the Manjhi and other village functionaries.

Exam Reminder: The Mahto is the administrative and judicial head at village level in the Parha system.

4. Manjhi: Assistant to the Mahto

The Manjhi is an important assistant to the Mahto. He communicates the orders and notices of the Mahto and the village council to residents.

Principal Functions of the Manjhi

Communicating the Mahto’s orders to villagers.
Announcing meetings of the village council.
Assisting the Mahto in administrative work.
Helping organise community programmes.

5. Pahan: Religious Head of the Village

The Pahan is the religious head of an Oraon village. He conducts religious observances, worship, festivals and traditional ceremonies connected with marriage. The office is generally assigned to a married person.

Land assigned to the Pahan for performing his religious duties is known as Pahnai land.

Principal Functions of the Pahan

Worshipping village deities and ancestors.
Conducting village religious ceremonies.
Leading community worship connected with agriculture and nature.
Conducting religious observances associated with festivals and marriage.
Performing rituals for the peace and prosperity of the community.

Important Fact: Pahan Khunt and Mahto Khunt are two important office-holding lineages associated with the Bhuinhari lineage organisation of Oraon society.

6. Baiga: Religious Assistant to the Pahan

The Baiga, also called Baiya in some areas, assists the Pahan in rituals relating to village deities. Historically, before the development of the Mahto office, the Baiga also performs the role of priest and secular or social head; administrative and religious functions later become differentiated.

7. Division of Work among Village Functionaries

Functionary	Position	Main Function
Mahto	Administrative head	Administration, social order and local justice
Manjhi	Assistant to the Mahto	Communication of orders and information
Pahan	Religious head	Worship, festivals and religious ceremonies
Baiga/Baiya	Assistant to the Pahan	Assistance in worship of village deities

8. Formation and Functions of the Parha Panchayat

Several villages together form a Parha Panchayat. It is not merely a judicial body; it is also a social, cultural and administrative organisation. Representatives, functionaries and experienced community members from the member villages participate in its deliberations. Participation by women is also found in its proceedings.

Settling disputes between two or more villages.
Hearing matters unresolved at village level.
Protecting community rules and social norms.
Considering serious matters involving marriage, family and social conduct.
Resolving inter-village land and boundary disputes.
Maintaining peace and coordination among member villages.
Organising religious, social and cultural events.

9. Parha Raja

The head of the Parha Panchayat is called the Parha Raja. He represents the constituent villages, presides over the council and hears matters that cannot be resolved by the Mahto at village level.

Principal Functions of the Parha Raja

Presiding over the Parha Panchayat.
Resolving inter-village disputes.
Hearing appeals from village-level bodies.
Maintaining peace and social coordination in the Parha.
Protecting social and cultural traditions.
Referring unresolved matters to the Parha Diwan.

10. Parha Diwan

In some regional hierarchies, the Parha Diwan is the highest coordinating functionary. He coordinates among Parha Rajas and hears matters unresolved at the level of the Parha Raja. The office therefore functions as a higher traditional judicial authority.

Remember the Hierarchy: Mahto at village level → Parha Raja at inter-village level → Parha Diwan at the higher coordinating level.

11. Danda Parha

A special organisation formed by several villages is called Danda Parha. Each member village receives membership status, rights and defined responsibilities. This arrangement makes the Parha a system of collective participation rather than rule by one individual.

12. Functional Identities of Villages within a Parha

Order	Village Identity	Associated Role
First village	Parha Raja village	Leadership of the Parha
Second village	Diwan village	Responsibilities associated with the Diwan
Third village	Pandey/Panre village	Assigned supporting duties
Fourth village	Kotwar village	Security and communication
Remaining villages	Praja villages	Ordinary member villages

Note: The names, number and duties attached to these functional village identities may differ from one Parha region to another.

13. Parha Panch and Parha Jatra

The Parha Panch are representatives who participate in collective decision-making, hear the parties and help reach decisions based on community customs.

The collective social and cultural gathering of Parha villages is called the Parha Jatra. In some regional traditions, it is held on Ashwin Purnima.

14. Decision-making and Dispute Resolution

A local dispute is first placed before the Mahto.
The Mahto hears the parties and village elders.
If unresolved, the matter goes to the Parha Raja.
The Parha Panchayat deliberates in the presence of village representatives.
A matter unresolved by the Parha Raja may go to the Parha Diwan.
The process emphasises peace, reconciliation and community discipline.

15. Importance of the Parha Panchayat System

It connects Oraon villages through a wider inter-village organisation.
It promotes local self-governance.
It provides a graded mechanism for dispute resolution.
It helps preserve social and religious traditions.
It supports collective decisions concerning community resources.
It maintains cultural unity through gatherings such as the Parha Jatra.

Even after the expansion of modern Panchayati Raj institutions, Parha bodies remain active in social, religious and cultural affairs in several areas. Traditional and modern institutions therefore operate alongside one another in many places.

Important Points for Examinations

The Parha Panchayat is the traditional governance system of the Oraon or Kurukh community.
The Mahto is the village-level administrative and judicial head.
The Manjhi assists the Mahto and communicates orders.
The Pahan is the religious head of the village.
The Baiga or Baiya assists the Pahan.
Service land assigned to the Pahan is called Pahnai land.
Several villages together form a Parha Panchayat.
The Parha Raja heads the Parha Panchayat.
The Parha Diwan performs higher-level coordination in some regional hierarchies.
In some traditions, the Parha Jatra is held on Ashwin Purnima.

Quick Revision

Community	Oraon/Kurukh
Village administrative head	Mahto
Assistant to the Mahto	Manjhi
Village religious head	Pahan
Assistant to the Pahan	Baiga/Baiya
Service land of the Pahan	Pahnai land
Inter-village institution	Parha Panchayat
Head of the Parha	Parha Raja
Higher coordinating functionary	Parha Diwan
Collective cultural gathering	Parha Jatra