THE MURIA OF BASTAR By S. Kumar The unique institution of the Ghotul is meant for the unmarried boys and girls of the Bastar tribe of India, so beloved of Verrier Elwin, the famed anthropologist. Sexual practices here are based on the principles of complete equality and no jealousy. A kind of communal dormitory, the Ghotul is traditionally a large hut or group of huts with a compound, around which the Muria youngsters assemble after sunset. It is the social and emotional hub of the youngsters of the tribe. In the Ghotul, the boy members are known as Chelik and the girl members as Motiari. The relationship between Chelik and Motiari is governed by the type of Ghotul established in the tribe. In the older, classical type of Ghotul, boys and girls pair off in a more or less permanent relationship that lasts till marriage. In the modern form of Ghotul, such exclusive associations are forbidden and partners must constantly be changed, preferably every three days. That the Ghotul does not promote promiscuity is apparent from the low incidence of infidelity and adultery among the Muria. On the contrary, it prepares youngsters for a life of discipline, responsibility and cleanliness. It deepens the sense of social democracy and, as is the case with all primitive tribes, ensures that individualism has no place in Muria society. The Ghotul also teaches boys and girls to share everything and scorn acquisitiveness. In the Ghotul, friendliness, sympathy and unity are of prime importance. Ghotul evenings begin with the boys and girls chatting and joking around. One of the important routines of the Ghotul is johar, where the youngsters salute one another in a monotonous rhythmic way, with each person greeting the other by name. Any time after sunset the male members begin to arrive with their belongings, such as sleeping mats, tobacco-pouches and other things they might need at night. The boys gather round the fire or scatter about the compound, or else lie down under the thatched roofs of the open huts and puff on their chongis or country cigarettes. A few of them get busy with their musical instruments. Soon the girls enter the Ghotul and the atmosphere brightens up. The girls seem more enthusiastic for music and dance. A dance song called Rela is one of the favourites at the Ghotul. After an hour or two the boys and girls squat round the fire and story-telling becomes the favoured pastime. At this hour the boys and girls mingle together freely. Late in the night, Belosa, the leader of the girls and Sirdar, the leader of the boys, decide how the boys and girls are to be paired off. When premarital sexual relations get serious, a wedding ceremony becomes absolutely necessary and is arranged by the elders. In the Abujhmar type of marriage the boy's parents visit the parents of the girl and present a pot of mahua liquor. If the pot is accepted and all other things are agreeably settled, the boy and girl are declared betrothed. Paithu or Paisa Mundi is a type of marriage in which a girl goes of her own accord to her lover's house to live with him. Kytiyari is an extension of cross-cousin marriage. The pani-bihao ceremony allows a widow to marry the younger brother of her dead husband. Marriages are dissolved by mutual settlement and in consultation with elders, by both the parties. A paper called 'faragati', meaning disengagement, is required to be signed on such occasions, signifying the surrender of claims. The Murias practice an uncannily innocent form of sexual conduct, where the happiness of the individual is ensured by the early social conditioning in sharing and sharing alike.