Kurukh

The Kurukh, also known as Oraon, are an indigenous ethnic group of India. They form one of the country’s largest tribal communities, with populations concentrated in Jharkhand and significant communities in adjacent states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal.

The Kurukh language belongs to the Munda sub-branch of the Austroasiatic language family and comprises several dialects. It is traditionally spoken within communities and is increasingly studied and documented in linguistic work and education programs.

Birsa Munda’s 1899–1900 uprising, known as Ulgulan, is a defining episode in Oraon history. Since colonial times, some Oraons have adopted Christianity or Hinduism due to missionary influence, while many continue to follow traditional Sarnaism, an ancestral religion centered on nature and spirit worship.

Culture and social life are organized around villages and clan-based kinship. Exogamous marriage and collective decision-making in village councils are common features, with leadership roles traditionally held by elders and named heads or respected figures.

Economically, the Kurukh have historically practiced agriculture—rice, maize, pulses—and many have relied on forest resources. Shifting cultivation, or jhum, occurs in some regions, though patterns vary with land settlement and development. In contemporary times, many Oraon work in mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and services.

Status and rights: The Kurukh are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India, with language and cultural preservation supported by government schemes and community initiatives. Ongoing efforts focus on education, land and forest rights, and the transmission of traditional knowledge and ceremonies.