Jamshedpur, March 26: The book Santhalo ka gotra, authored by Digambar Hansda, a city-based professor, seeks to trace the origin and development of the tribe.

The book gives details about the signs related to the identification of different sects (gotras) of Santhals, their origin, rituals and beliefs.

Hansda, a former principal of Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial College, spent more than six months in research over the topics.

Hansda told The Telegraph,“Most of the Santhals are oblivious about their gotras. Some of them are unaware of their origin and have adopted wrong surnames. Through the book I have tried to help the Santhals to know their real identity with the help of signs.”

“Santhals have 12 different gotras — Hansda, Mardi, Soren, Murmu, Kisku, Besra, Tudu, Baskey, Hembrom, Chorai, Bedia and Gondwar. Chorai and Gonwar gotras have later merged with Soren and Hansda respectively,” said Hansda.

The author has tried to identify the sects of Santhals with different signs, which have been attached to their sect since their origination, centuries ago.

According to him, those belonging to the Hansda gotra are identified with the sign of hansani — an ornament shaped to fit into the collar bone. Likewise, the Soren gotra is identified with saptarishi or a bird. The signs resemble trignometrical symbols and the Santhals inscribe these on the body of their animals.

“During my research I found that many prominent Santhal leaders of Jharkhand have been using incorrect surnames. They also follow wrong rituals and beliefs,” said Hansda

“Those belonging to a particular Santhal sect cannot marry a girl of the same sect. A marriage is solemnised only if the gotras tally. Thus, identification of the correct sect is important,” said Hansda.

Hansda plans to present the books to different leaders, village chieftains, tribal intellectuals and anthropologists.

“I hope the book will be help to erase misconceptions, which the Santhals of Jharkhand have about their origin, culture and respective gotras,” said Hansda.