Sabar people

{{Short description|Tribe from Odisha and Western Bengal, India}}

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = Sabara

| image =

| region1 = Odisha

| pop1 = 516,402

| languages = Lodhi

| Script =

| religions = Majority
Hinduism

Minority{{hlist|Buddhism • Animism • Christianity • Islam[https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11909/download/15022/ST-21-00-014-DDW-2011.XLS "ST-14 Scheduled Tribe Population By Religious Community - Odisha]". census.gov.in. Retrieved 5 April 2025}}

| related = Mundas, Ho, Santhal and other Mundari speaking people

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| pop2 = 108,707

| region2 = West Bengal

| region3 = Bangladesh

| pop3 = 2,000

}}

The Sabar people (also Shabar and Saora) are one of the Munda tribes living mainly in northern Odisha and southern West Bengal in India. During the colonial period, they were classed as one of the 'criminal tribes' under Criminal Tribes Act 1871, and suffer from social stigma and ostracism in modern times.{{cite news |last1=D'Souza |first1=Dilip |date=16 October 1999 |title=Rediff On The NeT: Dilip D'Souza on the Sabar tribe |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/oct/16dilip.htm |work=Rediff |access-date=5 April 2025}}{{cite news |last1=D'Souza |first1=Dilip |date=10 June 1999 |title=Rediff On The NeT: Dilip D'Souza on the death of Budhan |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/10dilip.htm |work=Rediff |access-date=5 April 2025}} There are small communities of Sabar people in Bangladesh.

Also known as Saora, the Sabar tribe finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata,[http://www.bharatonline.com/orissa/tribes/index.html Orissa Tribes] bharatonline.com'. while in some parts of East Singhbhum district mainly in Musabani, they are known as in Kariya.[http://www.india9.com/i9show/Sabar-Tribe-73495.htm Sabar Tribe] india9.com. Noted writer and activist Mahasweta Devi is known for working with these forest tribals.{{cite news |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main6.asp?filename=Ne090411Hazaar_Chaurasi.asp |title=Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma - Mahashweta Devi |work=Tehelka |date=11 September 2004}}

This reclusive tribe is found primarily in Odisha{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757810300.htm |title=Sabar tribals go on ‘Bharat Darshan’ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103140144/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757810300.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012 |work=The Hindu |date=27 February 2008| access-date=5 April 2025}} and in Midnapore District of West Bengal.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

History

The traditionally forest-dwelling tribe lack experience in agriculture, and rely on the forests for their livelihood. In recent years, with the spread of the Naxalite rebellion in the area, the police often restrict their access to the forest. In 2004, five persons in the Sabar village of Amlasole, in Midnapore district, died after several months of starvation,

{{cite news|publisher = India Today|url = http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20040628/states2.html|title=Red Faced|date=28 June 2004|accessdate=17 October 2015|website=indiatoday.com|quote=Budhu Sabar, who lost his father Samay and sister Mongli earlier this year, has no doubt they starved to death. "My father had nothing but water for almost a fortnight before his death," says Budhu. "In the end he got fever and I watched him die without food."}} leading to a national media furore. Subsequently, Durbar Mahila Samanway Committee (DMSC) started a school in the area, funded partially by sex workers from Kolkata.{{cite news|publisher=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/special-news-report/Special/Missing-mantris-Sex-workers-step-in/Article3-391166.aspx |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017134251/http://www.hindustantimes.com/special-news-report/Special/Missing-mantris-Sex-workers-step-in/Article3-391166.aspx |archivedate=17 October 2012 | title=Missing mantris: Sex workers step in | date=20 March 2009 | first=B Vijay | last=Murty | accessdate=8 November 2018 }}

In June 2008, the Sabar suffered severe flooding in many of their West Bengal villages, and then received large amounts of aid from Catholic missionaries.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Hundreds of Sabars migrated to present-day Bangladesh during the colonial period to work as tea garden labourers. Today, there are around 2000 of them residing the northeastern district of Moulvibazar, in areas such as Nandarani, Harinchhara and Rajghat.{{cite Banglapedia|article=Shabar|author=Jengcham, Subhash}}

In Gplot which is in Sundarbans, under Patharpratima block which is in South 24 parganas it has been observed that there is presence of Sabars, who have migrated from Midnapore district of West Bengal. Currently there are 2500-3000 people of Sabar community residing there.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

References

=Sources=

{{Cite book|url=http://itdaplain.ap.gov.in/pdfViewer.jsp?pdf=1022&id=digital |title=Savara, The snake charmer |last=Roy |first=H.M. |publisher=Institute of social research and applied anthropology |location=Calcutta |year=1986}}
{{Cite book|title=The Savar a Scheduled Tribe in West Bengal |others= Monograph Series, Part V-B (iv), Vol-I, West Bengal - Census 1961|first= B.K. |last=Roy|year=1970 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/32384/download/35565/42925_1961_SAV.pdf }}