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|page=320}}</ref> [[Suriname]], Trinidad and Tobago, [[Guyana]] and others.
|page=320}}</ref> [[Suriname]], Trinidad and Tobago, [[Guyana]] and others.


==Origins and migration==
==Origins==
In the 19th (held at [[Prayag]]) and 20th (held at [[Lucknow]]) national convention of [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]]s by ''Kanyakubja Mahati Sabha'', in 1926 and 1927 respectively, it appealed for unity among Kanyakubja Brahmins whose different branches included [[Sanadhya]], Pahadi, Jujhoutia, [[Saryupareen Brahmin|Saryupareen]], [[Chattisgarhi]], [[Bhumihar Brahmin]]s and different [[Bengali Brahmin]]s.<ref>{{cite book
As with many castes in India, there are numerous legendary stories regarding the origins of the Bhumihar community, including ones that say they are the offspring of a union between [[Rajput]] men and Brahmin women and that they derive from [[Brahman]]-[[Buddhist]]s whose position in Hindu society was lost due to a "fall". The Bhumihars themselves dislike these particular two tales and maintain that, despite some significant differences between themselves and other Brahmin communities, they are in fact more privileged in status than them.<ref name="Kumar125" />
| first = Swami Sahajanand
| last = Saraswati
| authorlink = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
| title = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1)
| publisher = Prakashan Sansthan
| location = Delhi
| year = 2003
| isbn = 81-7714-097-3
| pages = 519 (at p 68–69) (Volume 1)
}}</ref>


''"Kanyakubj Vanshavali"'' mentions five branches of [[Kanyakubja Brahmins]] as [[Saryupareen Brahmin|Saryupareen]], [[Sanadhya]], [[Bhumihar Brahmin]], Jujhautiya and Prakrit Kanaujia:
Oral history suggests that the Bhumihars migrated to [[Bihar]] before the fifteenth-century CE, during a period when the [[Chero]]s and [[Bhar]]s lost control of the region to incoming communities that included Rajputs and [[Muslim]]s. From then, and including when the area became a part of the [[Mughal empire]], the Bhumihars in particular were prominent in village and [[pargana]] life.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Limited Raj: Agrarian Relations in Colonial India, Saran District, 1793-1920 |first=Anand A. |last=Yang |publisher=University of California Press |year=1989 |isbn=9780520057111 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ck4jmD7H34UC&pg=PA57|page=57}}</ref>
{{quote|''Saryupari Sanadhyashcha Bhumiharo Jijhoutayah''<br>
''Prakritashcha Iti Panchabhedastasya Prakartitah''<ref>{{cite book
| first = Swami Sahajanand
| last = Saraswati
| authorlink = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
| title = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1 at p. 518, Parishist by Acharya Tarineesh [[Jha (surname)|Jha]], 515-519)
| publisher = Prakashan Sansthan
| year = 2003
| isbn = 81-7714-097-3
}}</ref>}}
[[Bhumihar]] of whom many, though not all, belong to the [[Saryupareen Brahmin]] division of [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]]s.<ref name="Saraswati 2003 519 Volume 1">{{cite book
| first = Swami Sahajanand
| last = Saraswati
| authorlink = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
| title = Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1)
| publisher = Prakashan Sansthan
| location = Delhi
| year = 2003
| isbn = 81-7714-097-3
| pages = 519 (Volume 1)
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
| first = M.A.
| last = Sherring
| authorlink = M.A. Sherring
| title = Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras
| publisher = [[Asian Educational Services]]
| location = 6A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi-110049, India
| year = First ed 1872, new ed 2008
| isbn = 978-81-206-2036-0
}}</ref>
Some Dutt Brahmins migrated eastward and mingled with [[Bhumihar Brahmin]]s and became one with them.<ref name="Hindus participate in Muharram" /> An eminent example was [[Sir Ganesh Dutt]] Singh. Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, who was a freedom fighter, administrator and educationist in which capacity he did a lot for improving education and health services in the state in the pre-independence era.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-03-03/patna/27286273_1_bhumihars-swami-sahajanand-saraswati-tenants
| title = Sir Ganesh Dutt's contributions recalled
| publisher = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 2003-01-14
| accessdate = 2008-04-04
| first1=Pranava K
| last1=Chaudhary
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/39109373.cms
| title = Rishis, Maharshis, Brahmarshis...
| author = Pranava K Chaudhary
| publisher = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 2003-03-03
| accessdate = 2008-03-25
}}</ref> Sir Ganesh Dutta made generous donations from his earnings and personal property for the development of educational institutions, like radium institute in [[Patna Medical College]], [[Darbhaga Medical College]], [[Ayurvedic College]] and schools for the blind, deaf and dumb, among others.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/39109373.cms
| title = Sir Ganesh Dutta's contributions recalled
| publisher = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 2003-01-14
| accessdate = 2008-04-04
| first1=Pranava K
| last1=Chaudhary
}}</ref> A short film based on the life and works of Sir Dutt has been made by [[Prakash Jha]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.patnadaily.com/news2008/jan/011308/birth_anniv_of_sir_ganesh_dutt.html
| title = Sir Ganesh Dutt birth anniversary celebrated
| publisher = PatnaDaily.com
| date = 2008-01-13
| accessdate = 2008-04-04
}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Gorakh Rai, a scion of the Brahmin Shahi(Brahmin Shahi dynasty) family, was killed while fighting alongside [[Prithvi Raj Chauhan]] against [[Mohammad Ghauri]] at [[Taraori]], in 1192 CE. Gorakh Rai’s descendants are among the present day Vaid Caste of [[Mohyal]] Brahmins and they still prefix the honorific [[Raizada]] (prince) to their names. Another branch of this clan, that first set up residence at a place called Jai Theriya near [[Lucknow]], later moved east and established a state at [[Bettiah]] in Bihar. They were known as Jaitheriyas, now a sect of [[Bhumihar]] Brahmins.<ref>Raizada Harichand Vaid, ''Gulshane Mohyali'', Part I, p. 53 and Part II, pp. 134–135.</ref>


==Occupations==
==Occupations==

Revision as of 15:56, 26 June 2014

Bhumihar
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 (sometimes shortened to Bhumihar and also known as Babhan)[2] is a Hindu Brahmin community mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bengal, Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Nepal.[3][page needed]

There is also a significant migrant population of Bhumihars in Mauritius,[4] Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and others.

Origins

In the 19th (held at Prayag) and 20th (held at Lucknow) national convention of Kanyakubja Brahmins by Kanyakubja Mahati Sabha, in 1926 and 1927 respectively, it appealed for unity among Kanyakubja Brahmins whose different branches included Sanadhya, Pahadi, Jujhoutia, Saryupareen, Chattisgarhi, Bhumihar Brahmins and different Bengali Brahmins.[5]

"Kanyakubj Vanshavali" mentions five branches of Kanyakubja Brahmins as Saryupareen, Sanadhya, Bhumihar Brahmin, Jujhautiya and Prakrit Kanaujia:

Saryupari Sanadhyashcha Bhumiharo Jijhoutayah
Prakritashcha Iti Panchabhedastasya Prakartitah[6]

Bhumihar of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins.[7][8] Some Dutt Brahmins migrated eastward and mingled with Bhumihar Brahmins and became one with them.[9] An eminent example was Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh. Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, who was a freedom fighter, administrator and educationist in which capacity he did a lot for improving education and health services in the state in the pre-independence era.[10][11] Sir Ganesh Dutta made generous donations from his earnings and personal property for the development of educational institutions, like radium institute in Patna Medical College, Darbhaga Medical College, Ayurvedic College and schools for the blind, deaf and dumb, among others.[12] A short film based on the life and works of Sir Dutt has been made by Prakash Jha.[13] Gorakh Rai, a scion of the Brahmin Shahi(Brahmin Shahi dynasty) family, was killed while fighting alongside Prithvi Raj Chauhan against Mohammad Ghauri at Taraori, in 1192 CE. Gorakh Rai’s descendants are among the present day Vaid Caste of Mohyal Brahmins and they still prefix the honorific Raizada (prince) to their names. Another branch of this clan, that first set up residence at a place called Jai Theriya near Lucknow, later moved east and established a state at Bettiah in Bihar. They were known as Jaitheriyas, now a sect of Bhumihar Brahmins.[14]

Occupations

A part of the Bhumihar belief that they are more privileged than other Brahmins is based on their perceived kingly roles.[15] In late-nineteenth century British India, Bhumihars were significant landholders in the Saran district of Bihar. Particularly notable among these zamindars was the Hathwa Raj, for which extensive records survive, but there were also many among the caste who had less elevated social standing, being ryots or even agricultural labourers. The lower-status members were not, however, treated as poorly as, say, the Chamars: the expansion in production of indigo at this time was reported by administrators to have caused a land shortage that resulted in increased rents being charged but the Bhumihar ryots suffered to a lesser extent from these than some other communities, presumably because they were favoured.[16] Nirmal Sengupta describes the Bhumihars of Bihar as then comprising some zamindars with "fairly big" estates, such as Ganesh Dutt, and of the rest the majority "constituted the substantial tenantry which, in economic terms, would constitute a section of the upper-middle and rich peasants"; other agriculturalist caste groups in the area, such as the Yadavs and Kurmis, were significantly less diverse in their status.[17]

Some Bhumihars served as soldiers in the Bengal Army, which comprised a greater number of upper caste recruits after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 but had fewer Brahmins from that time because it was believed that they had been significant players in the rebellion. As early as 1842, there had been 28,000 Rajput and 25,000 Brahmin members among the 67,000 Hindus in the force, with Bhumihars being classified as Brahmins.[18]

Unlike other Brahmin groups, the Bhumihars would not accept alms.[15]

Political and social movements

The Permanent Settlement introduced by the East India Company in 1793 to secure revenue from land rents dramatically affected land ownership and social standings in Bihar, giving considerable power to the zamindar class in whom the land was vested. These people became more and more alienated from the traditional village structure and were not generally known for their benevolence, even on the mostly small estates: they led profligate lifestyles, engaged in conspicuous consumption, attempted to extract money and services by illegal as well as licit means and, according to Mitra, were "ignorant idlers, slothful, devoid of education and abilities and therefore totally unable to play the role expected of them". The change in emphasis from rents based on production to rents based on ownership gave them no incentive to invest in such things as irrigation and every incentive in times of economic hardship to seek evictions of tenants so as to achieve higher rents from new occupants. A change in official tack from 1885, when the Bengal Tenancy Act was introduced and first guaranteed some tenant rights, served to annoy the zamindars and increase expectations among lesser groups. Agrarian tensions were thus not uncommon and further tensions were caused by the British census administrators, whose desire to categorise the numerous castes in terms of their standing socially and in the ritual varna system led to a politicisation of communities in the quest for a favourable official recognition.[19]

The Brahmanic status of the Bhumihars was a matter of debate. They were accepted socially as such but not in ritual terms because they were cultivators. They were not allowed, for example, to perform priestly duties and they had no knowledge of Sanskrit but as they made economic gains it was this recognition that they sought. Like many other aspirational castes, they followed the process of sanskritisation to achieve their ends, forming the Bhumihar Brahmin Mahasabha (BBM) in 1896 as a pressure group.[20][a] One significant figure in the BBM was the sanyasi (mendicant) Sahajanand Saraswati.[15][22][b]

In 1899, the Bhumihar Brahmin Mahasabha, with financial aid from a zamindar, established a college at Muzaffarpur in northern Bihar.[20] This was accredited to award degrees in the following year and it was a significant development because education in the area was improving rapidly but students desirous of furthering it had to travel to Bhagalpur, Calcutta or Patna. By 1920, 10 per cent of Bhumihars in Bihar were literate, making them one of the few castes of whom this could be said; in this achievement, however, they were well behind the Kayasthas (33 per cent) and some other groups.[23]

As with the Rajputs, Kayasthas and other high castes of Bihar — and as opposed to the methods used by most lower castes — neither the Mahasabha nor any other formal body exercised power to make and enforce caste rules.[24]

According to historian Ashwani Kumar, the Bhumihar claim to Brahmin status means that today "unlike other upper castes, [they] guard the local caste hierarchy more zealously for they perpetually feel the pressure of being dislocated and discredited in the topsy-turvy world of caste."[21]

Bhumihars are considered a politically volatile community.[25][26] Sri Krishna Sinha, born into a Bhumihar Brahmin family is considered the architect of modern Bihar.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ The name of Pradhan Bhumihar Brahman Sabha is also used and appears to refer to the same organisation as the Bhumihar Brahmin Mahasabha.[21]
  2. ^ Some sources say that Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was in fact of the Jujhautiya Brahmin community but his involvement in the Bhumihar Brahmin Mahasabha is not doubted.[22]

Citations

  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ Yang, Anand A. (1989). The Limited Raj: Agrarian Relations in Colonial India, Saran District, 1793-1920. University of California Press. p. 44. ISBN 9780520057111.
  3. ^ Nedumpara, Jose J. Political Economy and Class Contradictions: A Study. Anmol. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  4. ^ Thapan, Meenakshi, ed. (2005). Transnational Migration and the Politics of Identity. SAGE. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-7619-3425-7.
  5. ^ Saraswati, Swami Sahajanand (2003). Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1). Delhi: Prakashan Sansthan. pp. 519 (at p 68–69) (Volume 1). ISBN 81-7714-097-3.
  6. ^ Saraswati, Swami Sahajanand (2003). Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1 at p. 518, Parishist by Acharya Tarineesh Jha, 515-519). Prakashan Sansthan. ISBN 81-7714-097-3.
  7. ^ Saraswati, Swami Sahajanand (2003). Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali in Six volumes (in Volume 1). Delhi: Prakashan Sansthan. pp. 519 (Volume 1). ISBN 81-7714-097-3.
  8. ^ Sherring, M.A. (First ed 1872, new ed 2008). Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras. 6A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi-110049, India: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-2036-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hindus participate in Muharram was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Chaudhary, Pranava K (14 January 2003). "Sir Ganesh Dutt's contributions recalled". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  11. ^ Pranava K Chaudhary (3 March 2003). "Rishis, Maharshis, Brahmarshis..." The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  12. ^ Chaudhary, Pranava K (14 January 2003). "Sir Ganesh Dutta's contributions recalled". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  13. ^ "Sir Ganesh Dutt birth anniversary celebrated". PatnaDaily.com. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. [dead link]
  14. ^ Raizada Harichand Vaid, Gulshane Mohyali, Part I, p. 53 and Part II, pp. 134–135.
  15. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Kumar125 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Yang, Anand A. (1989). The Limited Raj: Agrarian Relations in Colonial India, Saran District, 1793-1920. University of California Press. pp. 46, 49–50. ISBN 9780520057111.
  17. ^ Sengupta, Nirmal (1982). "Agrarian Movements in Bihar". In Das, Arvind N. (ed.). Agrarian Movements in India: Studies on 20th Century Bihar. Psychology Press. pp. 20, 51. ISBN 9780714632162.
  18. ^ Yang, Anand A. (2007). "(A) Subaltern's Boxer(s): An Indian Soldier's Account of China and the World in 1900-1901". In Bickers, Robert A.; Tiedemann, R. G. (eds.). The Boxers, China, and the World. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 51, 63. ISBN 978-0-7425-5395-8.
  19. ^ Sengupta, Nirmal (1982). "Agrarian Movements in Bihar". In Das, Arvind N. (ed.). Agrarian Movements in India: Studies on 20th Century Bihar. Psychology Press. pp. 17–20. ISBN 9780714632162.
  20. ^ a b Siba Pada Sen (1979). Social and Religious Reform Movements in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Insitute of Historical Studies. p. 117.
  21. ^ a b Kumar, Ashwani (2008). Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar. Anthem Press. p. 126. ISBN 9781843317098.
  22. ^ a b Sengupta, Nirmal (1982). "Agrarian Movements in Bihar". In Das, Arvind N. (ed.). Agrarian Movements in India: Studies on 20th Century Bihar. Psychology Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780714632162.
  23. ^ Pandey, Shreedhar Narayan (1975). Education and Social Changes in Bihar, 1900-1921: A Survey of Social History of Bihar from Lord Curzon to Noncooperation Movement. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 6–7, 161, 172–173. ISBN 9780842609869.
  24. ^ Pandey, Shreedhar Narayan (1975). Education and Social Changes in Bihar, 1900-1921: A Survey of Social History of Bihar from Lord Curzon to Noncooperation Movement. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 171. ISBN 9780842609869.
  25. ^ Abhay Singh (6 July 2004). "BJP, Cong eye Bhumihars as Rabri drops ministers". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  26. ^ These days, their poster boys are goons. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 16 March 2004
  27. ^ Dipak Mishra (29 September 2004). "Parties 'use' Legendary names as caste icons". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  28. ^ Walter Hauser (February 1997). "Changing images of caste and politics". Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  29. ^ Abhay Singh (6 July 2004). "BJP, Cong eye Bhumihars as Rabri drops ministers". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 21 March 2008.

Further reading

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