Bhumihar: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{double image|right|The Maharaja's Fort, Front view -Benares-.jpg|175|Laldaruaza (Ramnagar) -Benares-..jpg|175|Left: The Maharaja's Fort ([[Ramnagar Fort]]), front view, 1869. Right: Entrance gate to the fort, 1905.}} |
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Bhumihars have been the traditional priests in [[Prayag]], at [[Vishnupad Mandir]] in [[Gaya, India|Gaya]] as ''Gayawar Pandas'' and in the adjoining districts like [[Hazaribagh]]. The [[Kingdom of Kashi]] belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindari like [[Bettiah Raj]], [[Hathwa Raj]], Pandooi Raj and [[Tekari Raj]], Sheohar Raj, Ram Nagar belonged to them. Bhumihars were well respected Brahmins in the courts of [[Dumraon]] Maharaj, [[King of Nepal]] and [[Raj Darbhanga]]. Some [[Mohyal|Mohyal Brahmins]] migrated eastward and are believed to constitute some sub-divisions of Bhumihars.There is also a significant migrant population of Bhumihars in [[Mauritius]],<ref>{{cite book |
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|first=Meenakshi |
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|last=Thapan (ed.) |
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|title=Transnational Migration and the Politics of Identity |
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|publisher=[[SAGE Publications|SAGE]] |
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|year=2005 |
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|isbn=978-0-7619-3425-7 |
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|page=320 |
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}}</ref> [[Suriname]], Trinidad and Tobago, [[Guyana]] and others. |
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Bhumihars are commonly called ''Babhans'' and also ''Western Brahmins'' some times<ref name="Sharma 2009">{{cite book |
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|first=R.S. |
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|last=Sharma |
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|authorlink=Ram Sharan Sharma |
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|title=[[Rethinking India's Past]] |
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|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |
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|year=2009 |
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|isbn=978-0-19-569787-2 |
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}}</ref><ref name="Ram 1998">{{cite book |
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|first=Bindeshwar |
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|last=Ram |
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|title=Land and society in India: agrarian relations in colonial North Bihar |
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|publisher=[[Orient Blackswan]] |
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|year=1998 |
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|isbn=978-81-250-0643-5 |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |
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|first=Ranganath Ramachandra |
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|last=Diwakar |
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|title=Bihar through the ages |
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|publisher=[[Orient Longman]] |
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|year=1959 |
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}}</ref> which is the [[Pali]] word for Brahmins<ref>{{cite book |first=N. L. |last=Gupta |title=Transition from capitalism to socialism, and other essays |
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|publisher=Kalamkar Prakashan |year=1975 |asin=B0000E7XZP }}</ref><ref name="Guha 2000 2nd edition">{{cite book |first=Ranajit |last=Guha |authorlink=Ranajit Guha |title=A Subaltern studies reader, 1986–1995 |publisher=South Asia Books |year=2000 (2nd edition) |isbn=978-0-19-565230-7 }}</ref> and is used to refer to Brahmins in [[Buddhist]] sources.<ref name="Guha 2000 2nd edition"/><ref>{{cite book |first=R. K. |last=Maitra |authorlink=R. K. Maitra |title=Indian Studies: past & present |year=1959 |asin=B0000CRX5I }}</ref> |
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Some Bhumihar Brahmins believe themselves to be descended from [[Husseini]] Brahmins.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hindus_take_part_in_Muharram_in_Patna/articleshow/2716459.cms |title=Hindus participate in Muharram |publisher=The Times of India |date=21 January 2008 |
Some Bhumihar Brahmins believe themselves to be descended from [[Husseini]] Brahmins.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hindus_take_part_in_Muharram_in_Patna/articleshow/2716459.cms |title=Hindus participate in Muharram |publisher=The Times of India |date=21 January 2008 |
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|accessdate=2008-04-05 |first=Faizan |last=Ahmad}}</ref>[[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]], who came from a [[Niyogi]] Brahmin community who are just like the Bhumihar Brahmins and are called Laukik or Ajachak Brahmins attests in his [[Hindu View of Life]] to the fact of "The Rishis of yore were agriculturists and sometimes warriors too". |
|accessdate=2008-04-05 |first=Faizan |last=Ahmad}}</ref>[[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]], who came from a [[Niyogi]] Brahmin community who are just like the Bhumihar Brahmins and are called Laukik or Ajachak Brahmins attests in his [[Hindu View of Life]] to the fact of "The Rishis of yore were agriculturists and sometimes warriors too". |
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==Common titles and last names== |
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Common titles of Bhumihar Brahmins are [[Pandey]], [[Shukla (disambiguation)|Shukla]], [[Mishra]], [[Ojha]], [[Yajee]], [[Karjee]], [[Dwivedi]], [[Sharma]], [[Tiwari]], [[Tiwari|Tripathi]], [[Upadhyay]] but [[Awasthi]], [[Dixit]], [[Malviya]] and [[Jha (surname)|Jha]] are known to exist.<ref name="Saraswati 2003 153–519" /> However, due to their profession of kings and landholders a lot of Bhumihar Brahmins use [[Rai (Indian)|Rai]], [[Singh]], and Shahi in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Kunwar (disambiguation)|Kunwar]], [[Thaker (family name)|Thakur]], [[Chaudhary]], and [[Singh]] in [[Bihar]], and Pradhan in Jharkhand.<ref name="Saraswati 2003 153–519" /> Some Singh converted and [[anglicised]] their surnames to [[Sinha]]<ref name="Saraswati 2003 153–519" /><ref name="Using surnames to conceal identity">{{cite news |
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| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-02-21/patna/28055564_1_surnames-caste-identity-kumar-suresh-singh |
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| title = Using surnames to conceal identity |
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| publisher = [[The Times of India]] |
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| date = 2009-02-21 |
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| accessdate = 2013-01-18 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Political and social movements== |
==Political and social movements== |
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Revision as of 10:15, 30 December 2013
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 6 % of Bihari population[1] plus significant population in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal | |
| Languages | |
| Hindi, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili, Angika, Vajjika, Bundeli | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kanyakubja Brahmins, Jujhautiya Brahmins, Saryupareen Brahmins | |
Commonly called Babhan |
Bhumihar Brahmin or Babhan or Brahmarshis is a Hindu Brahmin community mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bengal, Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Nepal.[2][3]
There is also a significant migrant population of Bhumihars in Mauritius,[4] Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and others.
History
Bhumihars have been the traditional priests in Prayag, at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawar Pandas and in the adjoining districts like Hazaribagh. The Kingdom of Kashi belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindari like Bettiah Raj, Hathwa Raj, Pandooi Raj and Tekari Raj, Sheohar Raj, Ram Nagar belonged to them. Bhumihars were well respected Brahmins in the courts of Dumraon Maharaj, King of Nepal and Raj Darbhanga. Some Mohyal Brahmins migrated eastward and are believed to constitute some sub-divisions of Bhumihars.There is also a significant migrant population of Bhumihars in Mauritius,[5] Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and others.
Bhumihars are commonly called Babhans and also Western Brahmins some times[6][7][8] which is the Pali word for Brahmins[9][10] and is used to refer to Brahmins in Buddhist sources.[10][11]
Some Bhumihar Brahmins believe themselves to be descended from Husseini Brahmins.[12]Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who came from a Niyogi Brahmin community who are just like the Bhumihar Brahmins and are called Laukik or Ajachak Brahmins attests in his Hindu View of Life to the fact of "The Rishis of yore were agriculturists and sometimes warriors too".
Common titles and last names
Common titles of Bhumihar Brahmins are Pandey, Shukla, Mishra, Ojha, Yajee, Karjee, Dwivedi, Sharma, Tiwari, Tripathi, Upadhyay but Awasthi, Dixit, Malviya and Jha are known to exist.[13] However, due to their profession of kings and landholders a lot of Bhumihar Brahmins use Rai, Singh, and Shahi in Uttar Pradesh and Kunwar, Thakur, Chaudhary, and Singh in Bihar, and Pradhan in Jharkhand.[13] Some Singh converted and anglicised their surnames to Sinha[13][14]
Political and social movements
Bhumihars are considered a politically volatile community.[15][16] Sri Krishna Sinha, born into a Bhumihar Brahmin family is considered the architect of modern Bihar.[17] Barring the war years, Sinha was Chief Minister of Bihar from the time of the first Congress Ministry in 1937 until his death in 1961.[18] He led Dalit’s entry into the Baidyanath Dham temple (Vaidyanath Temple, Deoghar), reflecting his commitment to the upliftment and social empowerment of dalits.[1] He was the first Chief Minister in the country to abolish the zamindari system.[19]
Notable people
Scholars, writers and government agency
- Ram Avatar Sharma- was an Indian Sanskrit scholar and academic, apart from being an indologist and historian Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India and a favourite student of Pandit Sharma
- Rahul Sankrityayan- who is called the Father of Hindi Travel literature,was one of the most widely-traveled scholars of India, spending forty-five years of his life on travels away from his home.He is referred to as the 'Greatest Scholar' (Mahapandit) for his scholarship.He got Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958 and later Padma Bhushan in 1963.
- Nalin Vilochan Sharma-was a professor of Hindi Literature in University of Patna.
- Sahajanand Saraswati-Writer,Freedom Fighter
Freedom fighters
Administrators
- Sir Ganesh Dutt
- Lalit Mohan Sharma- 24th Chief Justice of India,S/O-L.N. Sinha..
- L.N. Sinha- former Attorney General of India and He was also the Solicitor General of India from 17 July 1972 until 5 April 1977
Monarchs and zamindars
- Vibhuti Narayan Singh,Maharaja of Benaras,Custodian of Kashi Viswanath Temple-Most Important Hindu Shrine in the world.
- Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh-was the last ruler of Bettiah Raj.
- Tekari Raj Gaya-Bihar
See also
- Kingdom of Kashi- an independent Bhumihar Brahmin state until 1994.
- Royal House of Benares- was the ruling Bhumihar Brahmin family of Benares
- Jujhautiya Brahmins
- Sangli State
- Jhansi
- Iyers
References
- ^ a b Arun Kumar (25 January 2005). "Bhumihars rooted to the ground in caste politics". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 April 2008. Cite error: The named reference "Kumar05" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ brahmins&source=web&ots=kLOP8kwdM9&sig=_4yvZVdWr4h39GGZzf7J3lBzSr8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result Political Economy and Class Contradictions: A Study – Jose J. Nedumpara – Google Books. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
{{cite book}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Social justice and new challenges". Flonnet.com. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ Thapan (ed.), Meenakshi (2005). Transnational Migration and the Politics of Identity. SAGE. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-7619-3425-7.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Thapan (ed.), Meenakshi (2005). Transnational Migration and the Politics of Identity. SAGE. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-7619-3425-7.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Sharma, R.S. (2009). Rethinking India's Past. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-569787-2.
- ^ Ram, Bindeshwar (1998). Land and society in India: agrarian relations in colonial North Bihar. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-0643-5.
- ^ Diwakar, Ranganath Ramachandra (1959). Bihar through the ages. Orient Longman.
- ^ Gupta, N. L. (1975). Transition from capitalism to socialism, and other essays. Kalamkar Prakashan. ASIN B0000E7XZP.
- ^ a b Guha, Ranajit (2000 (2nd edition)). A Subaltern studies reader, 1986–1995. South Asia Books. ISBN 978-0-19-565230-7.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Maitra, R. K. (1959). Indian Studies: past & present. ASIN B0000CRX5I.
- ^ Ahmad, Faizan (21 January 2008). "Hindus participate in Muharram". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Saraswati 2003 153–519was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Using surnames to conceal identity". The Times of India. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ Abhay Singh (6 July 2004). "BJP, Cong eye Bhumihars as Rabri drops ministers". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
- ^ These days, their poster boys are goons. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 16 March 2004
- ^ Dipak Mishra (29 September 2004). "Parties 'use' Legendary names as caste icons". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
- ^ Walter Hauser (February, 1997). "Changing images of caste and politics". Retrieved 8 April 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Abhay Singh (6 July 2004). "BJP, Cong eye Bhumihars as Rabri drops ministers". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
Further reading
- Gupta, N. L. (1975). Transition from capitalism to socialism, and other essays. Kalamkar Prakashan. ASIN B0000E7XZP.
- Guha, Ranajit (2000 (2nd edition)). A Subaltern studies reader, 1986–1995. South Asia Books. ISBN 978-0-19-565230-7.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - Maitra, R. K. (1959). Indian Studies: past & present. ASIN B0000CRX5I.
- Sharma, R. S. (2009). Rethinking India's Past. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-569787-2.
- Ram, Bindeshwar (1998). Land and society in India: agrarian relations in colonial North Bihar. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-0643-5.
- Diwakar, Ranganath Ramachandra (1959). Bihar through the ages. Orient Longman.
- Saraswati, Swami Sahajanand (2003). Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes. Vol. 1. Prakashan Sansthan. p. 518, Parishist by Acharya Tarineesh Jha, 515–519).
- Yang, Anand A. (1999). Bazaar India: Markets, Society, and the Colonial State in Bihar. University of California Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-520-21100-1.
- Bayly, Christopher Alan (2011). Recovering Liberties: Indian Thought in the Age of Liberalism and Empire (Ideas in Context). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-10-760147-5.
- Bhadra, Gautam (2008). Subaltern Studies: Writings on South Asian History and Society. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-565125-6.
- Sinha, Gopal Sharan (September 1967). "Exploration in Caste Stereotypes". Social Forces. 46 (1). University of North Carolina Press: 42–47. JSTOR 2575319.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Alavi, Seema (2007). The Eighteenth Century in India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-569201-3.
- Chatterjee, Gautam (2003). Sacred Hindu Symbols. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-397-7.
- Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli (2009). The Hindu View of Life. Harper Collins. p. 81. ISBN 978-81-7223-845-2.
- Brown, Judith Margaret (1972). Gandhi's Rise to Power, Indian Politics 1915–1922: Indian Politics 1915–1922. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press Archive. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-521-09873-1.
- Nicholas, Ralph W. (2003). Fruits of worship: practical religion in Bengal. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-8028-006-1.
- Bayly, Susan (2001). Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age. Cambridge University Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-521-79842-6.
- R. G. Tiedemann, Robert A. Bickers (2007). The Boxers, China, and the World. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7425-5395-8.
- Bayly, C. A. (1988). Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion, 1770–1870. Cambridge University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-521-31054-3.
- Pandurang Vaman Kane, History of Dharmasastra (P.V. Kane)|History of Dharmasastra, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
- Govind Prasad Upadhyay, Brahmanas in Ancient India: A Study in the Roles of the Brahmana Class from 200 BC to AD 500, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi (1979).
- Rajbali Pandey, Hindu Samskaras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi (2006).
- Radha Kumud Mukherjee, Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi (2011).
- M. N. Srinivas, Social Change in Modern India, Orient Longman, Delhi, 1995.