AHERI / AHERIA

This is popularly known as “Shikari”, the Aheri prefer to call themselves Aheri
Rajput. Ibbetson (1916) says they were also known as Heri and Aheri. The term Aheri
is derived from the Sanskrit word “Akhttika” meaning Hunter. They are presently
distributed in the districts of Kota, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Alwar in
Rajasthan. Their population according to the 1981 census, is 2736, and they are
predominantly a rural community. Harauti, belonging to the central group of Indo-
Aryan family of language, is their mother tongue. They are also conversant in
Marwari, and few can speak Hindi as well. The Devanagari script is commonly used
for writing. They are non-vegetarians, their staple cereals (Jowar, wheat and maize)
are supplemented with pulses like masur and moong. They consume home-brewed
liquor(mahua).

They generally marry they are between 16-25 years of age and their marriages
are arranged by parents. They are monogamous. Ornaments on the nose, feet, wrists
and neck symbolize the marital status of Aheri women in Rajasthan, whereas in Delhi
area green lac bangles and toe rings (chepki) are marriage symbols. Bride price is paid
in the form of jewellery. Residence after marriage is virilocal. Divorce (bhaga dena or
chor dena) is permitted by the community council (Jati panchayat). Remarriage is
permissible for the widowed or divorced. Levirate is allowed. At present, they
conduct a community marriage to minimize expenditure. Most live in nuclear
families. Paternal property is equally divided between the male siblings and the eldest
son succeeds as the head of the family. Their women are involved in agriculture and
also work as daily wage laborers. Pregnant women are confined the home, where the
deliveries take place. A naming ceremony is performed. During menarche, girls are
secluded for four days. Marriage rituals are performed at the bride’s place. Earlier, a
member of the community officiated at the marriage rituals, but now either a Katia or
a Gomodiya Brahman conducts their marriages. They cremate the dead. Death
pollution is observed for twelve days.

Agriculture and forests are the major economic resources for them. Cultivable
land is individually owned. Their traditional occupation is hunting and the selling the
game in villages and towns. In the 1920’s, when hunting was banned, they were
forced to adopt agriculture, which is their primary occupation now. Sharecropping
and agriculture labors are also undertaken. Brewing illicit liquor (Mahua), cutting
trees for catechu and firewood, collecting tendu leaves, grass-cutting and tending
cattle for other people are their subsidiary occupations. These are supplemented by
some hunting and poaching in the forest, and fishing.

Within the village, the Aheria batter things, whereas cash transactions are
made outside the village. The jati panchayat at the village level and the jati sabha at
the regional level exercise social control. The executive and members of these bodies
are elected by a voice vote. These councils adjudge matters of social behavior,
religious sanctions, cases of divorce, etc. The Aheria are Hindu by religion. Their
village deities such as Jhind, Tejaji, Goraji, Mahadevji and Hanumanji are regularly
worshiped. Their pilgrimage centres are Ganga, Yamuna, Badrinath, and
Rameshwaram. The celebrate Holi, Sargani, Rakhi, Diwali, etc. During Dussehra,
weapons are worshipped. Aheri women decorate the outer sides of their houses with
line drawings of trees, birds, etc. Folk-songs are sung during Holi and during
marriages.

The Aheria or Aheri are also called Heri in Delhi. They are migrants from
Rajasthan in the Union Territory of Delhi. Their population in Delhi is 1 lacs. They
claim to be Sisodia Rajputs and are divided into a number of exogamous such as
Piparia, the Coukaria, the Mansia, the Popara, the Hul, the Sisodia, the Mangolia, etc.
The Aheria comes under the schedule caste categories in Delhi and Rajasthan, but in
Uttar Pradesh it’s comes under Vimukta caste. The Aheria’s have try to include it in
to Schedule caste list in all over India.

Written by : Deepak kumar Aheria.

E-mail:- deepak.icicibank@gmail.com

Reference: The Schedule Caste (Revised Edition) K.S. SINGH printed by Oxford
India Paperbacks