Question

The village head of the Santhals is called
1. Mahto 
2. Paha
3. Mukhia
4. Manjhi 

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Manjhi 

The correct answer is Manjhi.

• The Santali system of governance is known as Manjhi– Paragana which may be compared to Local Self Governance.
• This body is responsible for making decisions to restructure the village's socio-economic condition.
• The head of the Santal community is called Manjhi Haddam (headman of the village).
  • He is the chief of the executive, judicial, and all other functions within the society.
  • He is assisted by other office bearers like Paranik, Jagmanjhi, Jagparanik, Naike, Gudit, etc.
• This tribal group of eastern India, numbering well over five million at the turn of the 21st century.
• Their greatest concentration is in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Orissa.