Which caste is Namasudra?

Which caste is Namasudra?

Namasudra, also known as Namassej or Namassut, is an avarna community originating from southern and central Bengal. The community was earlier known as Chandala or Chandal, a term usually considered as a slur. They were traditionally engaged in cultivation and as boatmen.

Which caste is more in West Bengal?

The Rajbanshi and Namasudra having more than 32 lakhs population each constitute 35.8 per cent of the total SC population of the state. Bagdi, Pod, Bauri and Chamar each have more than 10 lakhs population. They along with Rajbanshi and Namasudra together constitute 73.9 per cent of the total SCs.

Who are Matuas in Bengal?

Matua Mahasangha is a religious reformation movement that originated, around 1860 AD, in what is today Bangladesh, with a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal in India. Matua is a sect of depressed class Hindus who are Namasudras, a Scheduled Caste group.

What is Das caste?

In Bengal, ‘Das’ is primarily used by the Maulika Kayastha and Mahishya castes of Bengal. Also ‘Dass’ is used by Baidya caste of Bengal as a surname, often as a prefix. In Assam the Kaibarta and other schedule caste communities also uses Das as their surname.

What is Barujibi caste?

Barujibi is a Bengali Hindu agrarian caste in India. Their traditional occupation is cultivation of Betel. They are one of the fourteen castes belonging to ‘Nabasakh’ group. Barujibis are listed as Other Backward Class (Category-B) in West Bengal.

Who is the founder of Matua community?

Harichand Thakur (11 March 1812 – 5 March 1878), worked among the untouchable people of Bengal Presidency. He formed the Matua sect of Hindus.

What is Gopal caste in Odisha?

Gopal or Gauda is an Indian caste, which is a synonym of the Ahir (Yadav) caste from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupation is dairy farming, cattle-herding, cultivation .

What is Karana caste in Odisha?

The Karan or Karana is a writer caste found in the state of Odisha in India. Traditionally they were the official record-keepers in the royal courts of the Odia princely states historically (Orissa Tributary States). Nowadays they are politically dominating community and reign over 40 years of odisha politics.

Is Barujibi a lower caste?

Barujibis are listed as Other Backward Class (Category-B) in West Bengal.

Is Napit general caste?

Napits are divided into several sub-castes, such as Anarpuria, Bamanbane, Barendra, Radhi, Mahmudabaz, Saptagram, Satgharia, and Khotta. Unlike many other lower castes, napits are not considered as untouchables. Even a brahman can take water from the hand of a napit. Most napits are Vaishnavas.

What kind of community is the Namasudra community?

Namasudra, also known as Namassej or Namassut, is an Indian avarna community originating from certain regions of Bengal, India. The community was earlier known as Chandala or Chandal, a term usually considered as a slur. They were traditionally engaged in cultivation and as boatmen.

Who was the leader of the Namasudra Movement?

The Namasudra community and Muslim peasants also competed with each other for land and resources. By 1946-47, as Partition approached, the movement became divided. One group was led by Guruchand Thakur’s grandson P.R. Thakur who sided with the Congress. On the other hand, Jogendranath Mandal organised the Ambedkarite movement.

Which is the only ritual of the Namasudra sect?

Their only ritual was singing devotional songs in the Bhakti tradition. The songs defied the Brahmanical rituals of society. And the sect became very popular among the local Namasudra population, attracting other lower caste people to it. It also did not just remain a religious movement.

How did the relationship between Dalits and Namasudras break down?

The relationship between Dalits and the Namasudras already riddled with problems from beforehand completely broke down from around 1950. By that time, their migration from East Pakistan to West Bengal began. Land was scarce and Bihari Muslims had to be rehabilitated. This created an economic breakdown in East Pakistan.