Mangarh Hillock

In News

• The National Monuments Authority submitted a report on declaring  Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan as a monument of National Importance in honor of 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters.

About Mangarh Hillock

• The hillock, situated at the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, is a site of a tribal uprising where a massacre of over 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters took place in 1913. 
  • Bhil social reformer and spiritual leader Govind Guru first raised the demand for a separate state for tribals back in 1913 after the Mangarh massacre.
• The place is also known as the Adivasi Jallianwala, and there has been a demand to build a memorial. 

Bhil tribe

• The word Bhil is derived from “Veel”, which means “bow” in the Dravidian language.
• The Bhil tribe is called “Dhanush Purush of India” because they are highly adept at learning Dhanush.
• They are a group of tribal Indians scattered throughout India from Gujarat in the west to Tripura in the Far East.
• They have a rich and unique culture. 
• Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of the Bhil tribe.
  • Ghoomar is the symbol of femininity.
  • The young women take art in this dance and declare that they are stepping into women’s shoes.

Source:PIB