Koitor : Introduction

You have reached GreenGondwana's Koitor Gallery - a pictorial tribute to a disappearing way of life in Bastar, Central India.

For background, visit Secret India, for travel information, visit GreenGondwana or e-mail photographer Lahar Singh.

First, some basic definitions:

Koitor - the Gondi word for the Gonds - indigenous tribal people of Central India.

Gondi - a minor Dravidian language without script, spoken in multiple dialects by
more than 2 million Gond tribal people across Central India.

Gond - pseudo-ethnic umbrella appellation covering numerous distinct tribal and clan
groupings of indigenous peoples (so-called Scheduled Tribes or Adivasi) of Central India.

Gondwana - the country of the Gonds - historically the area of eastern Central India
roughly bisected by the upper reaches of the Narmada River, with the Vindhya Hills to the north,
the Godavari River to the south, Orissa/Kalinga to the east and Berar/Avanti to the west.

Gotul - the mixed dormitory and internal educational system of North Bastar Koitor youth.

Welcome - Forest - Village - Farm - Market - Family - Gotul - Music - Marriage - Religion - Community - Portraits

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