The Dravidian-speaking Oraon, whose own tradition (Dalton) says they came from Gujarat by way of Kalinjar to Rohtasgarh and were driven out in Akbar's reign to the Chota Nagpur plateau.
English Wikipedia also reports a claim that they had settled the plateau by 100 CE. The two accounts disagree: on Dalton's account the Oraon of 1200 would be in the Rohtas hills next to the Khayaravala, on the other on the plateau. Their village circles (parha, a circle of villages under a council) are undated.
Who he is
- Name
- not named
- Title
- Parha councils of the Oraon villages
- Since
- not known
- Born
- not known
- Family
- No name or date is recorded for 1200.
- Confidence
- low
English Wikipedia, Oraon people.
What it holds
- The Lohardaga and Gumla plateau (later), or the Rohtas hills (on Dalton's account)
Allies and rivals
The Munda on the east, the Khayaravala lords of Rohtas, the Chero and Kharwar.
How things stand that morning
Where they are is not pinned; no ruler.
Wealth
Hill rice, forest produce.
Military
Bowmen; no numbers.
Threats
- None recorded
Places of note
- Lohardaga: Oraon heartland (modern).
Where the sources disagree
- Oraon tradition and the "100 CE" claim conflict; we draw the plateau as claimed and say so.
Evidence: A colonial writer's account of a tradition.
On the map: The range is drawn as a province (the matching nie-prov record); this record draws no ground of its own.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.