In accepting a woman as traditional village head or Patel, the aboriginal Kolam people of Token Movvad, a far flung tiny hamlet on route to the historic Jodeghat village in Kerameri mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, have achieved something which the outside world has unsuccessfully strived for decades.
Now 65-year-old, Tekam Bheembai was made Patel of Token Movvad and Chinna Token Movvad about 15 years ago when her husband, Mani, died and he had no son to succeed him.
In the Adivasi ethos the status of Patel is hereditary, the successor almost invariably being the eldest son of the incumbent. However, when the aboriginals establish a new village they appoint a new Patel through consensus.
While Token Movvad has 16 houses of Kolams of Tekam and Athram clans, Chinna Token Movvad, called Butnaguda or younger village, located about 3 km away has 13 houses. The latter was established about the same time and Bheembai was made the village head by families which had broken away from the former.
“Yes, it is the first time a woman functions as Patel but why is it being made out to be odd,” wondered Athram Ramu without realising how the outside world craves for an egalitarian situation as that obtains in his village.
“She gets the respect which any Patel ought to get,” he added to make it clear that she is not discriminated against though she is a woman.
“We are a small community and have no disputes,” Bheembai observed as she began to talk of her role as Patel in her village. “She, however, is central to all activity involving our community,” Athram Lethu, a villager added to drive home the point that she is relevant.
Like other Patels, villagers consult her before fixing alliances and during births and deaths and she heads any festive activity in the village. A family looking for forging a marriage alliance for their eligible son or daughter with someone in the village first approach Bheembai with the proposal.
“After they come, I call the family in our village and talk to either party so that the proposal is mutually acceptable. Then it is left for the families to perform the wedding as per customs,” the woman Patel disclosed.
Generally speaking too, the culture of Adivasis in erstwhile undivided Adilabad district has always been the closest to being egalitarian with social roles of males and females being clearly demarcated.
Outwardly, it does seem that the women are not equal to men but a closer look reveals that both husband and wife share the burden of the family and the latter gets to participate in managing the economy of the house.
