Bhoksa, also known as Buksa/Bukhasiya, are indigenous peoples living mainly in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. They are mostly concentrated in Dehradun and Nainital districts in the foothills of the outer Himalayas.[3] They are also found in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, where they are known as Khas. Both communities have been granted Scheduled Tribe status.
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | 46,771[1] |
| Uttar Pradesh | 4,367[2] |
| Languages | |
| Buksa language | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism, traditional beliefs | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Chhetri · Khas · Pokhariya · Banrawats · Kumaoni people · Rana Tharu | |
History
The Bhoksa speak the Buksa language.[4]
The language is spoken in Uttarakhand, mainly in southwestern Nainital district, along a diagonal from Ramnagar to Dineshpur. It is spoken around 130 villages in Kichha and Kashipur tehsils, some in Bijnor and Pauri Garhwal district.[citation needed]
Present circumstances
As of 2001[update], the Bhoksa of Uttarakhand were classified as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian government's reservation program of affirmative action.[5] As Buksa, they are similarly classified in Uttar Pradesh.[6]
See also
References
Further reading
- Hasan, Amir (1960). The Folklore of Buxar. Gurgaon, Haryana: The Academic Press.