Mahishya
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Malda Division) • Dhaka Division | ~2.38 million (around a quarter of province's Hindu population c. 1931) |
Languages | |
Bengali | |
Religion | |
Hinduism |
Mahishya (
Mythology
According to the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Kaivarta was one born of a Kshatriya father and a Vaishya mother.[6] Some ancient or mediaeval texts like Yājñavalkya Smṛti and Gautama Dharmasutra give identical parentage, that is, one born to a Kshatriya father and a Vaishya mother for Mahishya, who was supposed to be engaged in the profession of astronomy or agriculture.[7][8] According to the Brihaddharma Purana, children of Shudra fathers and Kshatriya mothers are dāsa, an Uttam Sankar (literally, good mixed) and their occupation is agriculture.[9]
History
The group now known as Mahishyas were originally known as Kaibartas or Kaivartas. From eighth to thirteenth century, there are numerous examples of Kaibartas holding posts of administrators and legal officers.[10] During Pala regime, many Kaivartas, alternately with many Brahmins, acted as ministers in royal courts.[11] In eleventh century, in a rebellious hostility, Divya, originally a feudal chief (Samanta), killed Mahipala II , seized Varendri and established a regime there. For a short time Varendri bowed to the supremacy of three Kaibarta kings - Divya, Rudok and Bhima.[12][13][14] According to historian Romila Thapar, this is perhaps the first peasant rebellion in Indian history.[15][16][17][18] In his rule Bhima dispossessed the brahmanical and other beneficiaries and levied taxes from them, and prioritized the interests of the peasants.[19] During eleventh and twelfth centuries some of the Kaibartas were versed in Sanskrit and composed poetry.[12]
At the end of 19th century scholars appeared to differ on the rank of the Mahisyas in Bengal society. Sankritist and antiquarian Rajendralal Mitra appeared to believe that Mahisyas were a caste of small farmers and could not afford forces of modernity such as school education. But the president of the college of Nadia pandits, Jogendranath Bhattacharya, who published a major book "Hindu Castes and Sects" in 1896, wrote that in the
Although many are still involved in traditional work in rural areas, within a generation Mahishyas gave up agriculture in large numbers in favour of engineering and skilled labour in the urbanised areas of
Role in Independence Movement
Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Charan Biswas, small zamindars and moneylenders of Nadia, organized the peasants of Nadia and Jessore, and raised an army of Lathiyals and spearmen. They led the Indigo revolt in the region and paid off the peasants' debts after the rebellion. Disgruntled former employees of Indigo factories, village headmen (Mandals), and also members of some other peasant communities participated largely in this rebellion against European planters.[31][32]
Mahishyas played a prominent role in the nationalist movement.
By the 1940s, Mahisyas were the backbone of the
Varna status
In 19th century Bengal, Chasi Kaibartas were identified as one of the Sat Shudras (clean Shudras), though the Jalia Kaibartas and the priests of the Kaibartas were considered as unclean.[40] The Mahishyas have generally been considered as 'middle-ranking shudras' in the caste structure of Bengal.[41][42] Like South India, the social groups of eastern India have traditionally been divided in two groups - Brahmins and Shudras.[43] In 1901, Mahishyas claimed to be Vaishyas, which status was also claimed by their priests Gaudadya Brahmins for Mahishyas. In 1931 census, they claimed to be recorded as Kshatriyas or Mahishya Kshatriyas. Historian Jyotirmoyee Sarma has opined that the Varna status of Mahishyas is disputed.[44]
Socio-economic condition
Although the financial, social, and political success of Mahishyas is notable, they have often been stigmatised due to their agrarian roots. Mahishyas have not been averse to manual labour, which has often been considered demeaning by elite among "higher castes".
In 1921 census Mahishyas were included in the list of "depressed classes" as Chasi-Kaibarta, but affluent individuals refused to accept the depressed class status since they believed that it would seriously jeopardize their claims to "high caste Hindu" status.
As of late twelfth century Partha Chatterjee considered Mahishyas as the single most important 'middle-caste' group in south-western Bengal, where they are very numerous, consisting districts of Midnapore, 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah; whereas Beech & Beech recognised them as the dominant caste in southern part of former two districts. Nadia and Murshidabad are other two districts where Mahishyas are numerically most dominant caste.[50][51][52][53]
During 1980s there was lack of political will from the West Bengal government in recognising the backward castes in the state.
Notable people
- Rani Rashmoni, Indian Zamindar, businesswoman, philanthropist, founder of Dakshineswar Kali Temple[57][58]
- Sirajuddaula[59]
- Birendranath Sasmal, freedom fighter, barrister and politician[60][61]
- Hemchandra Kanungo, one of the first revolutionaries to go abroad to learn bomb-making, co-creator of India's first unofficial flag[62]
- Basanta Kumar Biswas, freedom fighter, one of the youngest martyrs, attempted assassination of Lord Hardinge[63][64]
- Matangini Hazra, freedom fighter, martyr during the Quit India Movement, popularly known as "Lady Gandhi"[65][66]
- Satish Chandra Samanta, freedom fighter, devoted Gandhian, established a parallel government in Tamluk during the British Raj[65][67]
- Sushil Kumar Dhara, freedom fighter, established a parallel government in Tamluk during the British Raj[65][67]
- Alamohan Das, pioneering industrialist and founder of India Machinery Co., namesake of Dasnagar[68][69]
- Sunil Janah, leftist photojournalist and documentary photographer[25]
- Mani Lal Bhaumik, Indian American physicist, entrepreneur, an internationally bestselling author and philanthropist[70]
- Anil Kumar Gain, Indian mathematician and statistician, founder of Vidyasagar University[71]
- Dinesh Das, Bengali poet, Independence activist, Marxist[62][72]
- Abha Maiti, freedom fighter, politician, refugee relief and rehabilitation minister of West Bengal (1962-1967), minister of state for industry of Government of India from 1977 to 1979[73][74]
See also
Notes
- ^ Refer Mohanty, Nivedita (2005). Oriya Nationalism Quest for a United Orissa 1866-1956. Prafulla. Page 263: "In 1924, when Birendranath Sasmal claimed the post of Chief Executive Officer of Calcutta corporation an untoward situation occurred. A newspaper reported that he was greeted with derogatory slogans because of his Oriya origin and his claim for the post was overruled."
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