Sindhi Bhils


The Sindhi Bhils/Bheels are a Sindhinised sub-group of the Bhil people who live in the Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. They are one of major tribes in the region, and are one of the Hindu groups in Pakistan who are known to have not left Sindh during the Partition of India.

Culture

The Bhils are considered by some to be remaining community of Indus valley civilization The Bhils mostly work as peasants and are very poor. Most of them work labour jobs around the country to sustain themselves. The Human Rights Commission of the United Nations found out that many Bhils, Meghwars, and Kolhis were actually slaves, even after Pakistan had abolished slavery of the Bhil people in 1992. Nearly 95% of the Sindhi Bhils live in Thar desert in rural areas in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta, and Mohrano as well as in cities like Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, and Karachi. Many Bhils of interior Sindh frequently sacrifice animals to their 'goddesses', a tradition which has died off in recent years.

Language

Many Bhils speak Sindhi Bhil, a distinct variety of Sindhi with Sanskrit influences. Some speak Dhatki dialect of Sindhi and some speak Marwari and others speak other dialects of Sindhi, and Saraiki.

History

Bheel was one of the very oldest tribe In Pakistan, Sindh and Gandawa was one of the provincial headquarters of the Bhil dynasty.

Notable people