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Bagal (caste)

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Bagal
Bagal women of Kaptipada area are returning from forest after collecting Sal leaves.
Religions Folk Hinduism
LanguagesL1 – Kudmali / Bengali-Manbhumi dialect
L2 – Hindi, Odia, Bengali
CountryIndia
Populated statesJharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
RegionBalasore, Mayurbhanj, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, East Singhbhum, Sareikela Kharsawan
EndogamousAhir Bagal
Khandait Bagal
Krishna Bagal
Magadha Bagal [a]
Related groupsBhumij, Rajuar, Kudumi Mahato, Khandawal (JH)
Historical groupingPastoralist Class, Serving Caste, Aboriginal race, Tribal Hindu [b]

Bagal (pronounced as Bāgāl) is a cattle herding caste of East India. Bagal people are living in the state of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.[1][2][3][4] They use Kudmali / Bengali Manbhumi dialect as mother tongue (with local variation, labelled as Bagal Bhasa) and use Bengali, Hindi and Odia language to communicate with the society.[c]

Overview

Bagal is a ethnically tribal derived caste (semi-tribal/ semi-Hinduized Aboriginals) and a marginalized section of society.[9][10][11][12][13] The people of Bagal caste are primarily inhabiting in the valley region of the Subarnarekha, i.e., in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, East Singhbhum, Saraikela Kharsawan and Purulia districts of East India. As a cattle herder community they were also got linked with the All India Yadav Mahasabha during sanskritisation movement in India and went through various socio-cultural purification process. Nowadays they almost Hinduized and stratified according to their territorial division, but due to out-caste marriage and cattle slaughter in starvation, they all are relatively considered as inferior in Hindu social hierarchy.[II][14]

Etymology

The word Bagal is pronounced as Bāgāl (English pronunciation: /bɑːɡɑːl/; Bengali synonym: Rākhāl; রাখাল). The word is a Bengali derived Kudmali word,[15] which means a person whose duty is grazing and taking care of domestic animals, specifically cattle. Either in contractual basis of landowners domestic animals or their owns. In case of herding cattle of landowners, they were given responsibilities of various odd works of household.[16][17][18][19] In Odia the word pronounced as Bagāḻa (Odia pronunciation: [bɔgaɭɔ]; ବଗାଳ), which is Singhbhum origin, bearing same meaning.[20]

Population

The Census commission of India do not consider caste as a factor for the Census of India except Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, so there is no detailed information available now for the current population. The last census enumerated caste as a factor before the Independence of India i.e., The last census happened in 1931. The Mayurbhanj state census 1931 recorded a total of 1621 people living in Mayurbhanj state i.e., 1321 form Baripada (mostly from place called Khanua. Southwestern nearby of Haripurgarh, third headquarter of the state), 234 from Kaptipada, 52 from Bamanghati and 14 from Panchpir Subdivision, forming 29th largest community out of 131 communities of the state and the census also referred to census 1901.[I] Where Bagal returns are 7824 from Medinipur, 1404 from Singhbhum, 854 from Orissa tributary states, 602 from Manbhum, 383 from Chota Nagpur tributary states, 10 from Balasore and 5 from Puri, who are returned as Hindu. All those Bagals are included in Ahir (broadly tabulated in Ahir and Goala, as indistinguishable features of those two terms and Ahir also includes 4299 Mahkur i.e. 4159 from Chota Nagpur tributary state and 140 from Ranchi, 91 Khandwal from Singhbhum) except Bankura where 1520 Bagals are included in Bauri.[21] In 1911, 730 Bagal returned from Bankura, included in Bauri and 4581 Bagal along with 2154 Ahir from Medinipur, included in Goala.[22] In the census 1891, a total of 8364 Bagals returned from Chota Nagpur Division i.e., 6179 from Singbhum, 2180 from Manbhum and 6 from Lohardaga (include Palamu).[23][24] In 1871, 2077 Bagals returned from Manbhum and included as subdivision of Goala.[25] However, In recent past Chakraborty (2012) estimated 20,000 Bagals living in undivided Paschim Medinipur district during his field work.

Census table[d]
1909 map of Chota Nagpur region
State Jharkhand West Bengal Odisha Other
Region→
Year↓
 Singbhum Chota Nagpur Tributary States
(Saraikela Kharsawan) 		Manbhum Bankura Medinipur Orissa Tributary States
(Mayurbhanj)
1872 — — 2,077 — — — —
1891α 6,179 2,180 — — — 6 - Lohardaga
1901β 1,404 383 602 1,520 7,824 854 10 - Balasore
5 - Puri
1911 — — — 730 (4581±2154)γ — —
1931 — — — — — 1,621 —
19xx — — — — est. 20,000 — —
  Included in Goala     Included in Ahir    Included in Bauri
α. Bagal returned in context of occupation.
β. Bagals returned as Hindu religion believers.
γ. [(2076M+2505F = 4,581 Bagal) ± (1556M+598F = 2,154 Ahir)]
Note: In some cases the Singhbhum administrative region includes Dhalbhum and two Odia princely states Saraikela and Kharsawan. Similarly change in administration should be noted in other areas, such as Ichagarh, Patamda and Chandil.
The region inhabited by Bagals indicated in deep saffron colour.
Current distribution of Bagal people in India
State Jharkhand Odisha West Bengal
District Saraikela Kharsawan Mayurbhanj Jhargram
Ranchi Balasore Purba Medinipur
Purba Singbhum Bhadrak Paschim Medinipur
Paschim Singhbhum Kendrapada Bankura
Purulia

Specifically their major concentration is in, but not confined to Ichagarh, Chandil, Saraikela, Adityapur (Gamarhia) and Gobindapur (Rajnagar) of Saraikela Kharsawan district, Golmuri-cum-Jugsalai and Potka of East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand;[28][29] Narayangarh, Sankrail, Gopiballavpur, Jhargram, Binpur of Jhargram district, Kharagpur, Debra, Pingla, Sabang, Keshiary, Nayagram, Dantan of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal;[30][III] Kaptipada, Udala, Samakhunta, Khunta, Badsahi, Baripada, Kuliana, Suliapada, Muruda, Betnati of Mayurbhanj district,[IV] Balasore, Remuna, Nilagiri of Balasore district. And village in Ranital GP, Baulakani GP are migrant village of Odisha in Bhadrak and Kendrapara district respectively.

Social structure

In the Hindu social structure, Bagal people fall in lower section of the Varna system but they perceive themselves in the middle range of caste hierarchy following tribal characteristics[14][31] and relatively considered as a clean caste by the tribal community and unclean caste by upper Hindu caste.[32][V][VI]

Though the Bagals call themselves Gopas, the "higher" Hindu castes do not regard them as proper sat-sudras, but do not explicitly state that they are asat-sudras or antyajas. From their features it seems that Bagals have descended from tribal pastoralists and become Hinduized. Radhiya Brahmans do not serve them ritually but Madhya-desiya and Utkal Brahmans do. The Bagals of rural areas are either subsistence farmers or landless agricultural labourers. None of them are seen these days to depend on cattle rearing, their traditional calling.[33]

There are four stratified endogamous subdivision of Bagal society namely Ahir Bagal, Khanroal/ Khandait Bagal, Krishna Bagal and Mogodha Bagal. Some people regard themselves as Gopas, So the name of endogamous group change to Ahir Gop, Akhara Gop, Krishna Gop, Nanda Gop. There are no lineage in Ahir Bagal and Khanroal/ Khandait Bagal [sic] but have totemic clan (gotra) like Nag, Doshi, Angaria, Kachima, Chawniya, etc. In the Krishna Bagal, there are approximately 23–25 mejor lineage (bansa) i.e., Arikula, Banardiha, Bankuar, Bhatua, Bukuria, Chardiha, Danadiha, Deolia, Gutisukri/ Butisukri, Hajombanda, Jetuar/ Jegoar, Kulmahata, Kurkutia, Lakuḷ, Manikdiha, Patkam, Punihasa, Samdia/ Samdiha, Sonahatu, Satbhaya, Sikaria, Tetla. Which are named after from where their ancestors immigrated,[e] any special events or activities of lineage. Again those bigger lineages are subdivided into some sub-lineage as lineage Bankura subdivided into Baku Bankuar and Harin Bankuar, Pathcom subdivided into Baghamaria Pathcom and Rahey Pathcom, Banardiha subdivided into Gora Banardiha and Kalia Banardiha, Lakul subdivided into Gora Lakul and Kalia Lakuḷ, etc. bearing both totemic clan (gotra) like Nag (Snake), Sal, Kachim (Tortoise), Siyal, Boni (Indian Myna), Singai and non totemic clan like Kashyapa, Sandilya. Buru Bhatua and Deolia lineage claim that they were the community level priest (Dehri) of the Bagal society.[III] There is no information about the Magadha Bagal. They are probably the Bagals of Purulia, who now identify themselves as Gopas (distinct from Gopa caste).[33][34] The clan and lineage regulates the marital relationship. The marriage of every sub-divisional group is endogamy at endogamous/sub caste level and the major difference among the three endogamous group is that the Ahir and Khandait Bagal use clan as exogamous unit where as not so in Krishna Bagal, Instead they use lineage as exogamous unit.

History

Mythology

There is a myth about the origin of the Bagals that Lord Krishna used to go to the pasture every day to graze the cattle. Sometimes he felt tired and wanted to be free from the monotonous work of daily cattle herding. So Load Krishna made a 'Bagal' from sweat and dirt of his own body so that he could graze the cattle in the pastures every day. One day that Bagal shows some Munda people dancing in Jungle, in the process of his routine job of cattle herding. Then the Bagal joined with them and fell in love with a Munda girl. After that the Bagal and Munda girl got married. Current Bagal people believe that they are the progenitor of that couple. Being descendants of Lord Krishna, Bagal people claim themselves as Krishna Gop/ Krishna Bagal.[V][III]

Origin and occupation

The origin of the Bagal caste remains uncertain. As K. S. Singh believed that the Bagal people migrated from central India and they are one of the original settlers of erstwhile Singhbhum district of Bihar (now Jharkhand). Due to social instability in the region and for better livelihood they migrated to Mayurbhanj, Medinipur, Dhalbhum and Manbhum of Bengal province.[V] Whereas the Mayurbhanj State census 1931 noted as;

The Bagals are the cattle–herds. Herding cattle is their principal occupation. In the census of 1901, the Bagals of Medinapore ware included in the Ahir and Gohala, and those of Bankura in Bauri. ...But a note has been left to the effect that they form a real caste in Mayurbhanj and Saraikela State, which is a fact. Through the large number of Bagals still follow their traditional occupation, many of them have taken to agriculture.[I]

And Marvin Davis noted as;

The Bagals are traditionally associated with work as cattle herders. In 1971, though, the Bagals of Torkotala village [in Midanapore] worked as agricultural laborers, cultivating smaller plots their own on the side. Based on their traditional association with cattle, the Bagals have recently advanced a claim to be Goalas by caste. It is unlikely that this claim will be recognized by other Hindus [of the village], though, at least not in the immediate future, for Sadgops are aware that their own caste is regarded as a purified section of Goala. For the Bagals to establish their claim as Goalas would be indirectly to link the Sadgop and Bagal castes to each other, a link which the Sadgops adamantly deny.[35]

Although some of the Bagal people claim that they're descendants of Yadav group of caste like Ahir, Goala, Gop, Gopal but most of them can't able to answer how the caste was formed. However the Bagals of West Bengal narrate that their ancestor immigrated from erstwhile Bihar and as per 1931 census 3 percent of Bagals of Mayurbhanj are immigrants of Midnapore and Singhbhum. Thus it's assumed by scholar and ethnographer that the people of Bagal caste had aboriginal descendants of East Chota Nagpur.[I][9][36]: 108 

Overally, Bagal people are might be ethnically descendants of Gond/Gour or/and cattle–herder of any tribe and caste, because of various socio-historical processes they segmented and formed real caste by adopting regional language and culture. Further the community is fragmented into territory based sub-divisional endogamous group on the basis of regional status and activities they were involved, resulting social stratification. Nowadays Bagal settlement mostly found on both sides of the Subarnarekha river which is the borderline of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. And only the Bagals of Subarnarekha valley and recent migrants living in nearby districts are known as Bagals, well bounded in between Kangsabati river and Baitarani river. Because some of them claim that their kinsmen migrated to North Bengal and Assam to work as tea garden laborers during the British Raj.[II][III]

Although the people of Bagal caste were traditionally part of pastoralist society, nowadays none of them are seen doing their traditional calling occupation, herding cattle and it's associate activities. Instead agriculture is their primary occupation now. During the 19th and early 20th century the Bagals were employed as Baromasia (domestic serf), Bhatua (worker in exchange of food), Dhangar (animal caretaker), Kamins/Muliya (labour) and Munis (helper) along with their traditional occupation Bagal (cattle herder) in affluent household.[II] In the growth of Indian social development some of them switched to different occupations from their racial occupation but still majority of population depends on agriculture and other unskilled work. The Bagals mostly live in rural areas, nearby to reserve forest. Both in forest and revenue villages. The people of the revenue village make their livelihood by agriculture, manual labor, fishing, unorganised work and a few among them are government servants like school teacher, forest guard, defence personnel. And the people of forest village make their livelihood by agriculture, hunting, animal husbandry, collecting forest products.

Uprising

The livelihood of the Bagals was mostly dependent on forest and agriculture from ancient times. As a pastoral community, they were depend on the forest for pasture. Their livelihood worsened when the Britishers imposed exploitative zamindari rules and high taxes on forest rights in the Jangal Mahal of Bengal Presidency. They began to oppose the rules as there is evidence that they were listed in various criminal records of the British India. Thereafter, they became a part of the Santhal rebellion and other regional peasant movement to fight against the Britishers.[37][38]

The Bagals of Medinapore were involved in large-scale plundering of food grain from wealthy household, a form of food riots caused by a man-made famine in 1943 that fuelled up the Bagals to participate in the Independence India movement.[39]

Culture

Bagal people believe in Folk Hinduism and their socio-cultural behaviour revolve around agriculture and warships of community deity.[VII][II] However, they traditionally used to sacrifices animals, draw khoda (tattoo) on their bodies, participate on traditional group dances and many other primitive activities. Dressing sense also changed over the time. Like they used to wear white dhuti and white saree with red or black stripe on both the ends, before shifting to current designed full pant-shirt and saree-blowse for male and female respectively.[VIII] But nowadays they almost left their own socio-cultural practices and greatly adopted the Hindu way of life. So the Bagal tradition and rituals are not really observed. Only the older generation living in majority villages observe in some cases.[40][41]

Life cycle

Humans go through various stages of age, and those steps are observed in a variety of social disciplines. Although the social customs of the Bagal society based on Hinduism, but the methods and purposes are bends toward Animism.

When a baby is born in the Bagal race, they immediately announce the good news to their relatives and celebrate a festival on the ninth day of the baby's birth, called Narta Ghar, and the baby is named in the twenty-first day. In adolescence, the boy grazes domestic animals, assists his parents with household chores. During puberty, the boy tries to learn agricultural and other sustainable work. The first menstruation of the girl is not seriously observed. Only the affluent family organise a fest. When a boy or girl reaches their marriage age, the family seeks out a suitable spouse for them in their endogamous subdivision. They don't practice cross cousin or same lineage marriage. There are four types of marriage for the people of Bagal community, namely Dekha Chahan Behaghar (Arrange marriage), Palaniya/ Sindur ghasa Behaghar (Love marriage), Kuta Mala Behaghar (A low cost/ Urgent marriage) and Sanga Behaghar (Widow marriage). During pregnancy, a woman has to follow a variety of traditions, rituals as well as taboos. At seven months of pregnancy, the woman's family member happily brings a variety of food and organizes a small feast with the neighbours which they call the Shad Khia.

They mostly cremate dead bodies with Hindu rituals except if the dead body is a pregnant women or kid, then they bury the dead body.[III]

Festivals

There are two types of festivals based on how they give importance to those festivals.

Bangsa puja / Gotar puja/ Ghar puja, Gan puja, Asali puja, Mag puja, Jantal puja, Nua khai are community level festivals, which are celebrated within their lineage, sublineage, clan or family. Meanwhile, Makar parab, Durga puja, Bandna, Kali puja, Tusu puja, Raja parab, Gamha parab festivals are celebrated with the neighbouring communities of their locality.[IX] They worship deities like Goroya Karam, Manasa, Jitiya, Burha Budhi, Bhahuti, Rohini, Garam or Sarna, Kali, Durga and Shiva.[II]

Bandna Parab, a cattle worshiping festival and Karam Puja, a ritual of worship Karam tree (representing the Karam God) are important festival cum culture for the youth of Bagals.[42]

Dance and music

Bagal people dance to a variety of songs during the festival to make life more enjoyable. Karam Nach, Pata Nach, Kathi Nach, Chhou Nach and Jhumar Nach are key activities.[III][43][18][44] And sing various associated songs of those dance like Jhumar geet, Bandna geet, Makar geet, Karam geet, Ahira daker geet, Tusu geet.[45] Often those songs and folklore depicted their past and experiences of their lives. For instance a folklore is like;

“ Gāi gelāk bijubanē
Bāchchur gelāk Rānebanē
Bāgāl gelak Arunbanē
Khūnji Khūnji–Jhāmralai Mai
Tāo Bāgāl ghūrē nāi āishe. ”

Translation: The cows had gone to Bijuban, Calf had gone to Raneban, the Bagal (herder boy) had gone to Arunban. I became really tried by searching and searching, but not yet returned the herder boy.[46][f]
They also sing jhumar song like;

“ Hāt gele hāte nāi
Bāt gele bāte nāi
Balē debē hē hāmār saiyãkē
Dhūdhi latē bāndhiab uyàke. ”

Translation: In the market, he isn't there, in the village road he isn't seen. Ohh my friends please tell my boyfriend, I shall tie him with Dudhi-lot (symbolising the tie of love).[46][II]

Politics

In ethnic prospective Bagal community is numerically smaller community living three political zone (i.e. Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal) of India.[48][1] In which various social factor are distinct from eachother, specially medium of language both educational and primary spoken language, center of job opportunities and culture of state. So they are assimilating themselves with the local Hindu social order of those states and nowadays as a whole do not hold distinct and standalone prehistorical identity, which is a process of social mobility in India. In the form of sanskritisation, seeking higher social status.[13][48] They have greater tribal attributes in them but there is no historical records to support as they are tribal or untouchable community except the Bagals of Mayurbhanj state, where Bagals were noted as tribal in 1931 census with the fact that their drinking habits of homemade rice beer (hanria) and socio-cultural alignment to the Bhumij tribe.[I] However the Bagal community do not fulfills the government defined criteria (that are distinctive culture, indications of primitive traits, geographical isolation, backwardness, shyness of contact with the community at large and victims of untouchability[49][50]) of enlisting a community in SC and ST list for affirmative action except the backwardness criteria.[13] Therefore, they are not scheduled either as an ST or as an SC to claim any constitutional benefits. Although the Bagals of Bihar (include Jharkhand) and West Bengal were classified as OBC and the Bagals of West Bengal marked as 'Most Backward' by Kalelkar commission, the first Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission of India.[51] Then only the Bagals of West Bengal classified as OBC and sub classified as 'Depressed Backward Caste' by Mandal Commission, the second Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission of India.[52][53] But not yet considered as SEBC/OBC. For not being in any scheduled category (that means Bagal caste is considered as General category, the forward caste of India), some of the Bagal people are asserting themselves as other alike scheduled community in order to avail government sponsored benifits and constitutional privileges of reservation.[54][g]

In terms of education, the Bagals of West Bengal were classified as educationally backward in 1923.[56][57] Subsequently, they were considered as eligible for scholarship and stipend for education in 1939.[58] But those plans were not helpful to them as there is less than 13 per cent Bagals attended primary and secondary school in undivided Medinipur district of West Bengal in 1990 and 1.1 percent (18 people) in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha with zero English literacy rate in 1931.[59][X] The main reason of low literacy rate is their poor economic condition.[48] Which as a whole shows that the Bagals are socioeconomically and educationally backward from the British era. Although their social status improved some extend after Independence of India but not equivalent to their neighbouring caste society.

From above the fact, they are oscillating in between caste pole and tribe pole in the government defined parameters. However, for their socio-cultural, economical and political security they are voicing up from independence of India to state and central government to gain constitutional identity and get enlisted in the list of Scheduled Castes or Tribes but their demands aren't yet considered.[XI] Some of the major socio-political events are noted below;

In between 1970 and 1975, there were number of retribalisation movement by Bagal people along with Deswali Majhi, Bhumij, Kudumi Mahato for inclusion of their respective caste in Scheduled list.[60][36]: 35  In 1976 Narendranath Raut along with other Bagals of Nayagram tempted to lunch a movement to get into the Scheduled tribe list. Subsequently, In 1978 they demonstrated in large near West Bengal Assembly house.[III] On April 21, 1981, Seventh Lok Sabha – 5th session; Shri Matilal Hansda, Jhargram CPI (M) MP raised concern about Bagal community, who are educationally, economically and culturally backward in ground and can be comparable with other schedule caste and tribe. Thus he urged government to take necessary affirmative action on them.[61] On May 15, 1985, Eighth Lok Sabha – 2nd session; Shri Chintamani Jena, Balesore INC MP requested Shrimati Ram Dilari Sinha, The Ministry of Home Affairs for the inclusion of Bagal caste in the scheduled tribe list. Shrimati R.D. Sinha assured that the proposal is considered and will be included after a comprehensive revision.[62] During 2009 Lalgarh insurgency, the Jharkhand Andolan Samannay Mancha (JASM) demanded the inclusion of the Kurmi Mahato and Bagal communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes as a solution.[63][64] On April 26, 2010, Lok Sabha debate; Dr Pulin Bihari Baske, Jhargram CPI (M) MP demanded inclusion of Bagal community in tribal (ST) list.[65] On June 28, 2018, Tribal Advisory Council distinguished Bagal caste from Rajuar caste and the council recommended to ST & SC Development Department, Government of Odisha not to include Bagal Caste in the Scheduled Tribe list as the people of Bagal caste doesn't possess any tribal characteristic defined by the Government of India after conducting ethnic study in Odisha.[66][67] On September 27, 2018, Bagals of Morada, Mayurbhanj demonstrated in the district headquarter, Baripada with the support of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and sent a memorandum to the President of India for inclusion of Bagal caste in the Schedule Tribe list.[68] On July 12, 2019, Bisheshwar Tudu, Mayurbhanj BJP MP informally requested Shri Arjun Munda, The Ministry of Tribal Affairs for inclusion of Bagal caste in the scheduled tribe list.[69]

Notes

  1. ^ Bagal community has four endogamous subdivision but different author recorderd differently. According to Das (2012)/ Singh (1998) that are Ahir Gop, Nanda Gop, Akhara Gop, Krishna Gop and according to Chakraborty (2012) that are Ahir Bagal, Magadha Bagal, Khanroal (Khandait) Bagal, Krishna Bagal. As the endogamous nature of the Bagal society, each endogamous group/sub-caste are claimed as a separate caste and higher status than other endogamous group and some extend their social status changes according to regional social hierarchy. Note that, there is no brief anthropological report available other than the Krishna Bagal of West Bengal. So other endogamous group might have slightly different characteristics then the Krishna Bagal.
  2. ^ Historically Bagals are classified differently in different administrative regions of British India with respect to different time period. Such as in 1877, Bagals of Manbhum are classified as Pastoralist Class. In 1891 census year, Bagals of Manbhum are classified as Serving Caste. In 1931, Bagals of Bengal are classified as Aboriginal race and Bagals of Mayurbhanj state are classified as Tribal Hindus. Although Bagals of Mayurbhanj state were previously classified as Caste Hindus, which was a classification error acknowledged by author in later publication.[I]
  3. ^ Singh (1998)/ Das (2012) mentions Bagals of Jharkhand speak Jharkhandi Bengali/ Kudmali/ Goudali dialect and Bagals of Odisha speak Odia. Further Singh & Manoharan (1993) noted as Kurmali is the mother tongue of Bagals of Jharkhand; Chakraborty (2012) mentions Bagals of undivided Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal speak a corrupt form of Bengali language and label themselves it as Bagali Bhasa (Bagal language). Overally the language/dialect they use as mother tongue is almost similar to the Bengali Manbhumi dialect (with local accent and variation in use of words) but some lexical items, grammatical markers and categories used by them are the origin of the Kurmali language. That might be due to their origin in the Kudmali region and migration to the Bengali dominant region. Thus it is a matter of linguistic classification whether the language they speak is dialect of Kurmali or Bengali. However the new generation has been adopting the Bengali structure of the language in Bengal and Odia structure in Odisha, which is known as the process of language shift in linguistics. Nowadays educated people speak standard languages like Bengali, Hindi and Odia language as their mother tongue. It is also fact that the Indian census doesn't enumerate dialect and variety in the decadal census of India. Thus the Bagal people return themselves as a speaker of those standard languages as their mother tongue depending on the state they live in.[5][6][7][8]
  4. ^ The statistical data presented in the table may not be useful to estimate the current demographics as the census 1951, West Bengal mentioned that the Bauri and Goala has 'Bagal' named subcaste or Bagal caste was broadly grouped in those caste,[26] which are again questionable in ethnographic point of views and Bagal is also an occupational term in the Kurmali linguistic region. So the people of different communities who used to herd cattle, they are also synonymously known by the name Bagal and sometime use Bagal as a suffix along with the name of their community.[27] However it's should be note that historically the Bagals (cow boys) are mostly recruited from tribal community. Thus it's obvious that all the census data might have intermixed with eachother. But the tabulated statistical data bear greater footprint of present day Bagal caste.
  5. ^ The lineage name used by the Bagal people indicates their migration trails. Like Patkum from Patkum estate, Sikaria from Sikarbhum, Sanahatu from Sonahatu, Bankuar from erstwhile Bankura region and Banardiha, Chardiha, Danadiha, Manikdiha, Samdiha, Punihasa, Tetla, etc. The suffix diha means place of dwelling and most of those region falls in the southeastern region of the Jharkhand state.[III]
  6. ^ The Bijuban, Raneban, Arunban and Baghban are folk names of ecocultural forest zone, i.e. the Bijuban compose West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Saraikela Kharsawan, Ranchi (Panch pargania region), Dhanbad, Giridih, Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand and Purulia district of West Bengal; the Raneban compose Godda and Sahebganj district of Jharkhand; the Arunban compose Bankuar (Bhilaidihi, Phulkusma, Raipur, Supur, Ambikanagar, Simlapal, Kuilapal, Jhantibani, Shilda) and undivided Paschim Medinipur district (10 southwestern parganas of the district) of West Bengal and the Baghban compose the Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh district of Odisha.[47]
  7. ^ “It is found that most of the Bagals do not hesitate to introduce themselves by the name of 'Bagal'. A few of them asserted themselves as 'Baiga' - a scheduled tribe in Madhya Pradesh, just to have constitutional facilities.” Quoted[III] “In West Bengal, there is a group of people who are popularly known as Bagal, which means 'cattle herding'. ..this group have greater tribal attributes in them. But they do not belong to Scheduled Caste or tribe. As a result, they are trying to rename themselves as 'Baiga', because the Baigas are Scheduled tribe and are getting all Constitutional benefits.” Quoted[55]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e Laeequddin (1937), p. 173
  2. ^ a b c d e f Das (2012)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chakraborty (2012)
  4. ^ Laeequddin (1935)
  5. ^ a b c Singh (1998)
  6. ^ Das (1975)
  7. ^ Chakravarti (1995)
  8. ^ Chakraborty (2012), p. 30
  9. ^ Chakraborty (1988)
  10. ^ Laeequddin (1937), p. 256
  11. ^ Chakraborty (2012), p. 9

Sources

  1. ^ a b The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India. Vol. 41. The Survey. 1992. p. 7.
  2. ^ Singh, Swaran (1994). Bathudi and Sounti Tribes: A Bio-anthropological Profile. Gyan Publishing House. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-212-0466-8.
  3. ^ Bhowmick, P. K. (1963). Caste and Service in a Bengal Village. Department of Anthropology, Calcutta University.
    The summary of ‘Caste and Service in a Bengal Village’ is also published in ;
    • Boss, N.K., ed. (1963). "Caste and Service in a Bengal Village". Man in India. Vol. 43. No. 4. Man in India Office, Ranchi. pp. 277–327. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    • Ray, Bisweswar (1967). "Daharpur – A multicaste village". District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Midnapore (PDF). Vol. 2. Census 1961, West Bengal. India Superintendent of Census Operations, West Bengal. pp. 4–24. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 2, 2022.
  4. ^  • Taradatt, Dr; Basa, Kishor K (eds.). Odisha District Gazetteer (Mayurbhanj) (PDF). Gopabandhu Academy of Administration [Gazetters Unit], General Administration Department Government Of Odisha. p. 97. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-07.
     • Senapati, Nilamani; Sahu, Nabin Kumar, eds. (1967). Orissa district Gazetteera: Mayurbhanj. Cuttack: The superintendent, Orissa Government Press. p. 109. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  5. ^ Singh, K. S.; Manoharan, S. (1993). Languages and Scripts. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-0-19-563352-8.
  6. ^ Singh, K. S.; India, Anthropological Survey of (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  7. ^ Saha, Atanu (2018-07-28). "Census and the aspects of growth and development of Bangla vs. Bangla-Hindi bilingualism wiith special focus on West Bengal". Language in India. 11. ISSN 1930-2940.
  8. ^ Prasad, Biswa Nath; Shastri, Sudhakar Jha (1958). Linguistic Survey of the Sadar Subdivision Of Manbhum And Dhalbhum (First ed.). Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad, Patna. pp. 247–249. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b Tripathi, Premananda; Pattnaik, Dr. N., eds. (1983). Adibasi (PDF). Vol. XXIII. No.I. Bhubaneswar: Tribal & Harijan Research-cum-Training Institute, Government of Orissa. p. 30. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ Ray, Himangsu Mohan (1986). Savara, the Snake Charmer. Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology. p. 6.
  11. ^ Anowarul, Islam (2005). Education in colonial Bengal : a study in selected districts of Eastern Bengal (1854-1947) (Thesis). University of North Bengal. p.81
  12. ^ Maiti, Narayan Chandra (2007). Traditional Caste Panchayat and Aspects of Social Movement: A Micro Study in Eastern Midnapur. R.N. Bhattacharya. p. 35. ISBN 978-81-87661-86-3.
  13. ^ a b c Pramanick, Swapan Kumar; Manna, Samita (2007). Explorations in Anthropology: P.K. Bhowmick and His Collaborative Research Works. Serials Publlications. pp. 10, 553. ISBN 978-81-8387-100-6.
  14. ^ a b Sachchidananda; Mandal, B.B.; Verma, K.K.; Sinha, R.P., eds. (1988). Tradition and development. New Delhi: Concept Publication Company. p. 27. ISBN 978-8170220725.
  15. ^ Grierson, G.A. (1903). Linguistic survey of India, Vol – V. Indo-Aryan family, Eastern group, Pt – I, Specimens of the Bengali and Assamese languages. Calcutta: Office of the superintendent, Government printing, India. pp. 360–361. Archived from the original on 19 May 2004.
  16. ^ Report of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Manager, Government of India Press. 1965. p. 111.
  17. ^ Bhaumika, Saritā (1987). Tribal Odyssey: A Journey Between Two Worlds. Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology. p. 53.
  18. ^ a b Bhattacharya, Sudhibhushan (1968). Ethno-musicology and India. Indian Publications. p. 68.
  19. ^ Sengupta, Syamalkanti (1973). The Social System in a Bengal Village. Editions Indian. p. 42.
  20. ^ Praharaj, G. C. (1931–1940). Purnnachandra Odia Bhashakosha (in Odia). Vol. 5. Cuttack: Utkal Sahitya Press. p. 5290. Archived from the original on 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  21. ^ Gait, E. A. (1909). Census of India - 1901, Vol- VIA - The lower probinces of Bengal and their Feudatourie (Part II, The Imperial Tables). Bengal Secretariat Press. pp. 193, 199. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2021.
  22. ^ O'Malley, L. S. S. (1913). Bengal – Census of India 1911. Vol. 5, Pt. 2. Table, Census report 1911. Calcutta: Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393766.
  23. ^ O'donnell, C. J. (1891). Census of India – 1891 : The Lower Probinces of Bengal and their Feudatories. Vol. V. Part II: The Caste Tables. Calcutta: Superintendent of Census Operations in Bengal. pp. 108–109. Archived from the original on 18 Jan 2017.
    Note: The entry 'Bagal' returned here in context of occupation.
  24. ^ "District Census Reports, 1891 Chota Nagpur Division, Bihar" (PDF). lsi.gov.in. pp. 8, 15, 18. Retrieved 15 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Hunter, W. W. (1877). A Statistical Account Of Bengal - Vol.17. (This Volume has been compiled by H. H. Risley, Esq., C.S., Assistant to the Director – General of Statistics). Trubner And Co., London. pp. 276, 292. OCLC 14991728. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2021. Retrieved 20 Jan 2021.
    Note: Author cited census data from Bengal Census Report, 1872, with subsequent District Compilation in 1873, by Mr. C. F. Magrath, C.S.
  26. ^ Mitra, A. (1953). The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (PDF). Census 1951, West Bengal. Land and Land Revenue Department. pp. 59–62.
  27. ^ Risley, H. H. (1981). The Tribes and Castes of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary. Firma Mukhopadhyay. p. 36.
  28. ^  • Singh (1998), p. 116: "In Bihar [currently Kolhan division of Jharkhand state], the Bagal are distributed in the Itagarh, Gobarddan, Urughutu, Khokhro, Dandru, Khaibani, Bang, Roldi, Kalkapur, Potka, Jahatu, Juri Sarmuda Nuagun of Potka, and Halud Pukhur areas of Singhbhum district. They are considered the original settlers of that area."
     • Singh (2008), p. 84: "They are distributed in the Ichagarh, Itagarh, Gobardhan, Urughutu, Khokhro, Dandru, Khaibani, Bang, Roldi, Kolkapur, Potka, Jahatu, Juri Sarmuda, Nuagaun of Potka Haludpukhur area in the Singhbhum district. In Orissa, they are found in the Mayurbhanj district in Murudia, and in the Sadar sub-division. In West Bengal they reside in Purulia and Medinipur district [include Jhargram district]."
  29. ^  • Dutta, Maya (1977). Jamshedpur: The Growth of the City and Its Regions. Asiatic Society. p. 157. Around Jamshedpur the villages again comprise single tribes, e.g., Ghagidih is dominated by Bhumij, Purihasa by Santals, Haludbani by Bagal, Jillingora by Santal, ..
     • Vidyarthi, L.P., ed. (1962). Journal of Social Research. Vol. 5. Ranchi: Council of Social and Cultural Research, Bihar. p. 116. On the scrutiny of local revenue papers it appears that the local villages in the area of survey namely Ghaghidihi (Bhumij), Punihasa (Santal), Haludwani (Bagal), Jillingora (Santal), Sariamda (Kurmi), Gadhra (Ho) &..
  30. ^ Dan, Koushik (November 2015). "An inquiry into the demography of Jangal Mahal as a source of underdevelopment of the region" (PDF). International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies. II (III): 263–271. eISSN 2349-6959. ISSN 2349-6711.
  31. ^ Sparks from Bidisa: Tribal unrest and tribal movement. Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology. 1994. p. 118.
  32. ^ Memoir. Anthropological Survey of India. 1966. p. 34.
  33. ^ a b Bhattacharya, Birendra Ku (1985). West Bengal District Gazetteers: Puruliya. State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers. p. 143. Archived from the original on 31 Oct 2018.
  34. ^ Department of Education (1993). Compilation of the Review Reports on The Pace and Progress on The Implementation of The Total Literacy Campaigns. Vol. III (Report). Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi. p. 252. Retrieved 21 Jul 2022 – via Dspace of NIEPA.
  35. ^ Davis, Marvin (1983-03-10). Rank and Rivalry: The Politics of Inequality in Rural West Bengal. New York: Cambridge University press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-521-28880-4. OCLC 228142325. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021.
  36. ^ a b Bhowmick, P.K. (1980). Some aspects of Indian anthropology. Subarnarekhra; Samita Bhowmick. OCLC 7492202. OL 298812W. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022.
  37. ^ Chatterjee, Partha (1996). Texts of power: Emerging disciplines in colonial Bengal. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 173–191. ISBN 978-0-8166-2687-8. JSTOR 10.5749/j.ctttsttm. OCLC 60191471.
  38. ^ Samāddāra, Raṇabīra (1998). Memory, Identity, Power: Politics in the Jungle Mahals (West Bengal), 1890-1950. Orient Longman. pp. 84, 84, 168. ISBN 978-81-250-1025-8.
  39. ^ Das, Suranjan (1995). "Nationalism and Popular Consciousness: Bengal 1942". Social Scientist. 23 (4/6): 58–68. doi:10.2307/3520215. ISSN 0970-0293. JSTOR 3520215.
  40. ^ Jacobsen, Knut A., ed. (2020). Routledge Handbook of South Asian Religions. p. 229. doi:10.4324/9780429054853. ISBN 9780429054853. LCCN 2020026882. S2CID 225020778. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  41. ^ Gupta, Swarupa (2009). Notions of Nationhood in Bengal: Perspectives on Samaj, C. 1867-1905. BRILL. p. 294. ISBN 978-90-04-17614-0.
  42. ^ District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Purulia. Superintendent, Government Print. 1965.
  43. ^ Mandal, Ajoy Kumar (2017). Purakyastha, Tirthankar (ed.). "Jhargram and Few Endangered Folkdances" (PDF). Anudhyan. 2 (1): 72. ISSN 2455-6319.
  44. ^ "কাঠি নাচ পুনরুজ্জীবনে অনুষ্ঠান ঝাড়গ্রামে" [Kathi dance revival ceremony in Jhargram]. archives.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা. 21 Nov 2011. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  45. ^ Vakoch, Douglas A.; Anae, Nicole (2022-08-08). Indian Feminist Ecocriticism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-6669-0872-5.
  46. ^ a b Paty, Chittaranjan Kumar (2007). Forest, Government, and Tribe. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-406-6. OCLC 143331686.
  47. ^ Bera, Gautam Kumar (2008). The Unrest Axle: Ethno-social Movements in Eastern India. Mittal Publications. p. 104. ISBN 978-81-8324-145-8. OCLC 233592054.
  48. ^ a b c Chaudhuri, Buddhadeb; Maiti, Asok Kumar (1989). Forest and Forest Development in India. Inter-India Publications. p. 183. ISBN 978-81-210-0220-2. OCLC 20013821.
  49. ^ "Change in Criteria for inclusion in ST List". pib.gov.in (Press release). Press Information Bureau Government of India. Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 28 Dec 2017. Archived from the original on 30 Dec 2019. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  50. ^ "Inclusion Into SC List". pib.gov.in (Press release). Press Information Bureau Government of India. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. 24 Feb 2015. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  51. ^ Kalelkar, Kaka (1983). Report of the Backward Classes Commission. Vol. II: Lists (PDF) (Report). Delhi: Controller of Publication, Govt of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2022.
  52. ^ Mandal, Bindhyeshwari Prasad (1991). Reservations for Backward Classes: Mandal Commission Report of the Backward Classes Commission, 1980, Alongwith Introduction. Akalank Publications. pp. 342, 386. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2022.
  53. ^ Report of the backward classes commission (Second part) Vol. III –VII (PDF) (Report). Government of India. 1980.
  54. ^ "Sarpanch candidate, an OBC, files papers as ST". Baripada: The New Indian Express. January 24, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
    Note: While this incident is true, But till the publication of the news, the Bagal community is not officially classified as SEBC or OBC. However the Odisha government is contemplating to include Bagal community in the SEBC list. (Cross check here: oscbc.odisha.gov.in or stsc.odisha.gov.in)
  55. ^ Bhadra, Ranjit K; Mondal, S. R, eds. (1991). "Ethnicity, Ethnic groups and Survival Strategy". Stratification, hierarchy, and ethnicity in North-east India. Delhi: Daya Pub. House. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-7035-086-6. OCLC 26858289.
  56. ^ "The Bengal Education Code 1931". ndl.gov.in. Government of Bengal. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
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  58. ^ Assembly Proceedings (Official Report) – Bengal Legislative Assembly Fifth Session, 1939. Vol. LIV No–10. 14th 15th 16th 20th and 21st June 1939. 1939. p. 26.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  59. ^ Religion and Society. Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society. 1990. p. 54.
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  62. ^ Lok Sabha Debates (PDF). Vol. VI. Eighth Loksabha (Second session). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 15 May 1985. pp. 147–148. Archived from the original on Jan 2015. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  63. ^ Ghose, Saswati (1–7 April 2011). "JANGALMAHAL DEBATE – 'Running commentary of a death'" (PDF). Frontier. Vol. 44, no. 38. ISSN 0016-2094. OCLC 42012561. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2015. {{cite magazine}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 14, 2016 suggested (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)
  64. ^ Rana, Santosh (November 10, 2009). "Demands of Jharkhand Andolon Samanway Manch". mail-archive.com (Mailing list). Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
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  66. ^ "Annual Activity Report 2017–18" (PDF). stscodisha.gov.in. ST & SC development, minorities & backward classes welfare department, Government of Odisha. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 Jan 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2022. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 30 June 2017 suggested (help)
  67. ^ Government of Odisha, ST & SC Development Department. "Tribes Advisory Council Meeting Report" (PDF). Forest Rights Act. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2021.
  68. ^ "No Government benefits, no vote in 2019: Tribal villagers". New Indian Express. Baripada. 27 Sep 2018.
  69. ^ "ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜର ପୁରୁଣା ଜନଜାତିଙ୍କୁ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଇଂରାଜୀ ଛାଟ : ରାଜୁଆଡ ଓ ବଗାଳଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁସୂଚିତ ଜନଜାତି ମାନ୍ୟତା ଦାବିରେ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଜନଜାତି ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ମୁଣ୍ଡାଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟିଲେ ସାଂସଦ ବିଶେଶ୍ୱର ଟୁଡୁ ।" [Government's English exemption for the aboriginal tribes of Mayurbhanj: MP Bisheshwar Tudu met the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda demanding Scheduled Tribes status to Rajwad and Bagal.] (in Odia). Vol. 29. No. 177. Balasore. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

Bibliography

Further reading

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