Bhil Dialects and Khandesi- A Linguistic Analysis (An Old and Rare Book)

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Bhil dialects and Khandest, being issued as No. 23 of the Panjab University Indological Series, analyses linguistically as many as twenty dialects spoken by minor tribes known under various names such as Bhils, Ahirs and so forth, and inhabiting certain tracts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Most of these are nomadic tribes wandering in different regions in the country but their original habitat is an irregularly shaped triangle, with the Aravalli hills as the apex. A detailed survey of these languages had been made by Sir G. A. Grierson in Vol. IX. Pr. iii of his monumental 11-volume Linguistic Survey of India (1903-28), which was effectively summarised. subsequently, by Dr. Siddheshwar Varma and issued in three volumes by the Vishveshvaranand Institute (1972-76). While the said Summary was in press, it was decided to issue some of the more important sections, also, separately, for the benefit of scholars interested in individual language families. The present publication stems out of this decision.

These tribal dialects have, naturally, been influenced by other popular dialects, in the north and east by Rajasthani, in the south by Marathi, and in the West by Gajarati. Khardesi, called also Abirani, is spoken not only in the district of Khandesh but in the adjoining regions as well.

The following pages give an idea of the provenance and habitat of the different tribes and analyses linguistically the different dialects. A comparative table is also provided indicating the variations in different dialects for standard words and short sentences.

Towards the end is added a succinct account of two other dialects, being Banjari or Labhani and Bahrupia which are spoken by tribes of carriers in the different parts of the country. Of these also, a table of select words and sentences has been added for comparative study.

As in the case of the three volumes of the Summary by Dr. Varma of the Linguistic Survey of India referred to above, the present reprint was also carefully seen through the press by Dr. S. L. Dogra, Asstt. Librarian, and Dr. Trilochan Singh Bindra, Lecturer, in this Institute.