Bhils Want Separate State — Will There be a 29th State in India Soon?
New Delhi / Banswara, July 31 — Bhils’ demand for ‘Bhil Pradesh’ revives, tribals raise voice for protection of culture and rights New Delhi/Banswara, July 31 — One of India’s largest tribal groups, the Bhils, have once again raised a fresh demand for a separate state — ‘Bhil Pradesh’ — comprising the tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The demand was raised by Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) leader MP Rajkumar Roat. The party has 3 members in the Rajasthan Assembly and 1 in the National Parliament.
At a recent meeting in Banswara, Rajasthan, several Bhil leaders, activists and elders revived the demand. They said they wanted to mount an organised protest against long-standing neglect, displacement and cultural erosion.
“We have been marginalised in politics and the economy. Our language, traditions, way of life are being lost — because we have no representation in the system,”
said Kailash Bhil, an organiser from Alirajpur.
📌 Old demands, new emphasis
Although the concept of ‘Bhil Pradesh’ originated in the 1950s, it has come back to the forefront of discussion in recent years. Behind it is the struggle for constitutional rights and identity of the tribals.
The main demands of the Bhil community are—
- Formation of a Bhil province — with a total of 39 tribal-dominated districts
- Constitutional recognition of the Bhil language.
- 80% of the land in Beneshwar (the sacred place of the Bhil tribes) should be owned by the tribes.
- Protection of customs, local self-government and legal protection of land.
- Greater representation in education, politics and the economy.
🧭 What Will Bhil Pradesh Include? A State of Many States
The proposed Bhil province aims to unite 39 tribal-dominated districts across four Indian states – forming a unified homeland for the Bhil people, bound by shared traditions, language and social concerns.
The districts include:
Rajasthan (6 districts): Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Baran (part), Chittorgarh (part)
Gujarat (7 districts): Dahod, Panchmahal, Chhota Udaipur, Narmada, Tapi, Surat (tribal area), and Bharuch (part)
Madhya Pradesh (15 districts): Alirajpur, Jhabua, Barwani, Khargone, Dhar, Ratlam (part), Khandwa, Burhanpur, and other Bhil-majority tehsils
Maharashtra (11 districts): Nandurbar, Dhule, Nashik (part), Jalgaon (part), Palghar, Thane (tribal area), and surrounding areas with ST population
Overall, the outlook for the Bhil region is estimated at 39 districts across administrative lines to form a broad, culturally integrated tribal state.
🌿 This is not just a political, but a cultural movement
It is not just about administrative boundaries, it is a cultural demand. Bhil artists, lyricists and traditional healers say that their arts and festivals are being lost. Their traditions are being irrevocably changed by the encroachment of urban culture.
“We are not against development, we want respectful development — on our own terms, around our own identity,”
says Meena Basava, a Bhil researcher from Gujarat.
The tribe also demanded the centre to recognise a seperate BHIL tribal religion which is not a part of Hinduism. They demanded seperate
As the debate over the rights and recognition of indigenous peoples grows across the country, the Bhil province claim stands at the crossroads of history and governance — as a fight to reclaim a people’s identity.
Follow northeastpress.in to get the latest updates first.
