Govind Giri

Govindgiri (Hindi: गोविन्दगिरी ), (1858–1931) was a social and religious reformer in the early 1900s in the adivasi-dominated border areas of present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat. He is seen as having popularized the Bhagat movement, which was first started in the 18th century.

Govindgiri was born in a Banjara family in the village of Baliya (Hindi: बांलिया) in the former Dungarpur State. He gave himself a primary education with the help of a pujari in his village. He is reported to have been a hali (a 'hali' has been described as a worker "not employed at their own convenience but maintained as permanent estate servants, and not regarded to be in a position to resign services"). His wife and child reportedly died in the famine of 1900, after which he moved into the neighbouring Sunth State. There, Govindgiri married his brother's widow and, soon after, became the disciple of a Hindu monk (gosain) Rajgiri; in honor of Rajgiri, Vinda changed his name into Govindgiri. Around 1909 he returned to Dungarpur State with his wife and children, to the village of Vedsa.

Govindgiri engaged himself in "improving the moral character, habits, and religious practices" of the adivasis. He organized the sampa sabha (Hindi: सम्प सभा) with the intent of serving the adivasi people. Govindgiri preached monotheism, observance of temerance, forsaking crimes, following agriculture, giving up beliefs in superstition, etc. He called upon adivasis to adopt the more of the upper castes and "to behave like sahukars (moneylenders). Drawing on the ritual practices of the Shaivite sect Dasnami Panth, Govindgiri encouraged his followers to tend a dhuni (fire pit) and hoist a nishan (flag) outside their houses.

On the matter of women's rights, Govindgiri critiqued upper-caste treatment of women and argued that adivasi practices were much better for women. He declared Rajputs and Brahmins inferior in this respect because they degraded women, citing the Rajput custom of female infanticide and the Rajput and Brahmin prohibition against widow remarriage.

Govindgiri's teachings were originally aimed at social and religious reform but he gradually "developed a strong critique of hierarchy and exploitation" of the adivasis by ruling classes. He advised the adivasis that their destitution was caused by princely rulers and jagirdars. Govindgiri preached that Bhils were the rightful owners of the land and they also the right to rule over it. He envisioned the establishment of a Bhil Raj (Bhil state) in the hills of Sunth and Banswara states, restoring a Bhil kingdom that existed eight hundred years back. 

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