The Gonds, the Great Forest People of Central India

Across the forested plateaus and hills of central India, in the land they gave their name to, Gondwana, live the Gonds, the largest tribal community of India. An Adivasi people of many millions, speakers of the Dravidian Gondi language and heirs to a heritage that includes powerful medieval kingdoms and a world-famous tradition of painting, they are among the most numerous and historically remarkable of the indigenous peoples of the subcontinent.

From the great Gondwana kingdoms and the warrior queen Rani Durgavati to the dot-and-line brilliance of Gond art, from the clan gods of the Persa Pen to the ghotul dormitories of Bastar, the Gonds carry a rich and vibrant forest culture. This article traces their origins, language, homeland, society, religion, and traditions, and the story of a great Adivasi people at the heart of India.