Bhoksa, also known as Buksa/Bukhasiya, are
indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...
living mainly in the
Indian states of
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; the official name until 2007), is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and ...
and
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 195 ...
. They are mostly concentrated in
Dehradun
Dehradun () is the capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, district and is governed by the Dehr ...
and
Nainital district
Nainital district is a district in Kumaon division which is a part of Uttarakhand state in India. The headquarters is at Nainital.
Nainital District is located in Kumaon Division, and is located in the lower Himalayas. Haldwani is the larges ...
s in the foothills of the outer
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
.
They are also found in the
Bijnor district
Bijnor district is one of the 75 districts in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Bijnor city is the district headquarters. The government of Uttar Pradesh seeks it to be included in National Capital Region (NCR) due to its close proximity to ...
of Uttar Pradesh, where they are known as Khas. Both communities have been granted
Scheduled Tribe
The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are officially designated groups of people and among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India. The terms are recognized in the Constitution of India and the groups are designa ...
status.
History
The Bhoksa speak the
Buksa language.
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
Kichha is oldest tehseel of Udham Singh Nagar district. It is older than Rudrapur city. It has its own municipal board, located in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, India.
Geography
Kichha is located at . The town has an average elevatio ...
and
Kashipur tehsils, some in Bijnor and
Pauri Garhwal district
Pauri Garhwal is a district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Its headquarters is in the town of Pauri. It is sometimes referred to simply as Garhwal district, though it should not be confused with the larger Garhwal region of which it is o ...
.
Present circumstances
, the Bhoksa of Uttarakhand were classified as a Scheduled Tribe under the
Indian government's reservation program of
affirmative action. As ''Buksa'', they are similarly classified in Uttar Pradesh.
See also
*
List of Scheduled Tribes in Uttar Pradesh
The Scheduled Tribes recognised by the state of Uttar Pradesh in India comprise the following as of 2017:
* Agariya (in the district of Sonbhadra)
* Baiga (in the district of Sonbhadra)
* Bhotia
*Bhuiya, Bhuinya (in the district of Sonbhadra)
* B ...
References
{{Uttarakhand
Scheduled Tribes of Uttar Pradesh
Scheduled Tribes of Uttarakhand
Bijnor district