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| {{Short description|Dalit community of West Bengal, India}} | {{Short description|Dalit community of West Bengal, India}} | ||
| '''Poundra''', earlier known as '''Pod''', is a Hindu community originating from ].<ref name=":2" /> Traditionally located outside the four-tier ritual '']'' system, the Poundras have been historically subject to acute discrimination — including ] — and remain a marginal group in modern Bengal.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Antara |title=Caste Matters in Public Policy: Issues and Perspectives |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |isbn=9780367612672 |editor-last=Choragudi |editor-first=Rahul |location=London |chapter=Caste and public policy: The case of West Bengal |quote=There has been no serious effort to eradicate any of these caste disabilities as there is no policy to address the issue related to caste dynamics. This situation continued in the politics and administration of Bengal for thirty-four years of the Left Front rule in the state that systematically erased caste from policy-making process, which was supported by the educated-Bengali-middle-class-''bhadralok''. Thus, the lower-caste identity has been rendered invisible in West Bengal. The Rajbansis and the Poundra, the two major ex-untouchable castes of Bengal, neither could mobilise themselves under one ideology locally nor could they align with the mainstream ''dalit'' ideology in the rest of the country. |editor-last2=Pellissery |editor-first2=Sony |editor-last3=Jayaram |editor-first3=N.}}</ref> As of 2011, their population was around two and a half million;<ref name="censusindia.gov.in">{{cite web |title=West Bengal : DATA HIGHLIGHTS: THE SCHEDULED CASTES : Census of India 2001 |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf |accessdate=1 December 2018 |website=Censusindia.gov.in}}</ref> they are classed as a ] in West Bengal.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
| '''<u>Poundra Kshatriya (পৌন্ড্রক্ষত্রিয়)</u>''', currently living in the northern part of West Bengal, Bihar state of India, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, Nepal, Bhutan, northern part of Bengal. | |||
| == History == | |||
| === Medieval Bengal === | |||
| In the middle of the 4th century AD, Maharaja Mahapadma Nanda of Magadha attacked Pundravadhana and the Maharaja of Pundravadhana was defeated in that battle. We all know that Mahapadma Nanda was a Kshatriya Nidhana Vrathi. That's why Mahapadma Nanda came to be known as '''"Sarva-Kshatrantaka".''' That is why at that time the people of the Kshatriya race went to different places to escape from the hands of Mahapadma Nanda, the king of Magadha. Eg: Ratnapeeth in Kamrup, Nepal, Orissa (Even today Sambalpur area of Orissa has Pundrakshatriya (Rajbanshi Kshatriya) population and the language is also Rajbanshi.) | |||
| No mention of the Pods is found in the ] (c. 13th century{{efn|Ludo Rocher however notes the text to contain multiple layers (like all other Puranas) making any dating impossible. However, he agrees with R. C. Hazra that a significant part was composed as a response to the Islamic conquest of Bengal.}}), which is the earliest known document to chronicle a hierarchy of castes in Bengal.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Furui|first=Ryosuke|title=Revisiting Early India: Essays in Honour of D. C. Sircar|publisher=R. N. Bhattacharya|year=2013|editor-last=Ghosh|editor-first=Suchandra|location=Kolkata|chapter=Finding Tensions in the Social Order: a Reading of the Varṇasaṃkara Section of the Bṛhaddharmapurāṇa|editor-last2=Bandyopadhyay|editor-first2=Sudipa Ray|editor-last3=Majumdar|editor-first3=Sushmita Basu|editor-last4=Pal|editor-first4=Sayantani}}</ref>{{efn|Older sources on social setup (not caste) include inscriptions of the ] and the ] periods but these do not refer to Pods.}} The ], notable for a very late Bengali recension c. 14/15th century, records "Paundrakas" to be the son of a Vaisya father and Sundini mother but it is unknown if the groups are connected.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rocher|first=Ludo|date=1986|title=Mixed Castes in the Brahmavaivartapurāṇa|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/601589|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=106|issue=2|pages=254|doi=10.2307/601589|jstor=601589|issn=0003-0279}}</ref> Mentions are scarce in medieval vernacular literature. | |||
| === Colonial Bengal === | |||
| '''Culture:''' According to a 2019 study, the Rajbanshi community has oral traditions of agriculture, dance, music, medical practice, song, house building, culture and language. Rajbanshis are mainly Shivite and Vaishnava devotees, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Mansa Puja, Ganga Puja, Vishwa Puja, Tistaburi Puja, Yatra Puja, etc. Patriarchalfamily. Frog wedding held on the occasion of drought, lack of rain, etc. is one of the main religious ceremonies of Rajbansi. By profession they are mainly farmers and believe in independent work. Independent minded people. | |||
| In his 1891 survey of castes, ] documented the Pods to be a branch of the ]; they were subject to untouchability by the Brahmins as well as the Navasakhas.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Barman |first=Rup Kumar |date=2014-01-01 |title=From Pods to Poundra: A Study on the Poundra Kshatriya Movement for Social Justice 1891–1956 |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0974354520140108 |journal=Voice of Dalit |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=121–138 |doi=10.1177/0974354520140108 |issn=0974-3545 |s2cid=148661602}}</ref> A majority were peasants though some had become traders, and even ]s.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
| In the late nineteenth century, two influential members of the Pod community — Benimadhab Halder and Srimanta Naskar — produced numerous tracts of caste history, as was a common feature of that time. Arguing a descent from the "Poundras" — mentioned across a spectrum of Brahminical literature — they sought to establish the Pods as ]s, thereby removing the stigma of untouchability.<ref name=":2" /> In what might be construed as a self-respect movement, it was also demanded of all Pods to ].<ref name=":2" /> In 1901, Halder organized a pan-Bengal conference of the Pods, wherein it was resolved to have the government rename the caste as "Poundra".<ref name=":2" />{{Disputed inline|date=October 2021}} Further mobilisation happened under the leadership of Raicharan Sardar, a lawyer and the first university graduate from the community.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
| '''Surname:''' The surnames of Rajvanshis are - Ray, Burma, Das, Burman, Singha, Rajvanshi, Adhikari, etc. | |||
| === Contemporary Bengal === | |||
| The Poundras remain vulnerable to casteist discrimination in 21st century Bengal.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barman|first=Rup Kumar|date=2020-02-17|title=Casteism and Caste Intolerance in India: A Study on Casteism of Contemporary West Bengal|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2455328x19898451|journal=Contemporary Voice of Dalit|volume=12|issue=2|pages=165–180|doi=10.1177/2455328x19898451|s2cid=214164973|issn=2455-328X}}</ref> | |||
| '''Foods:''' The Rajbanshi community was traditionally a largely agricultural community, mainly cultivating rice, pulses and maize. Rice is the staple food of most of the population. Even in the 21st century, a large part of this community still adheres to a rural lifestyle, although urbanization continues to increase. Assam, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh food and food styles are similar. Rice and pulses are eaten regularly along with vegetables and bhaji (fries – mainly potatoes). Usually vegetable preparations, mostly cooked with very little oil. Cooking is done mainly using mustard oil, although sometimes sunflower oil is used. In terms of non-vegetarian diet, the Rajbanshi population consumes a lot of meat and eggs compared to other neighboring communities of Bengal, who consume a lot of fish. Duck and chicken eggs are consumed. | |||
| '''Home:''' A typical Rajbanshi house design is rectangular in pattern, with an open space (Agina) in the middle. This is mostly done to protect against wild animals and strong winds. Every Rajbanshi house has Mansa or Kali Tagore at the entrance. The north side has betel and fruit plantations, the west has bamboo plantations while the east and south are generally left open to allow sunlight and breeze to enter the house. Although such a pattern is more common among landed gentry. | |||
| '''Clothing:''' Among the traditional clothes of Rajbanshis mainly women use sarees, chadars, patanis etc. and men's traditional clothes are dhoti, punjabi, lungi, jama, genji, chadar. Although modern clothes are widely available. | |||
| '''Music:''' Music is an integral part of royal culture. The main styles of music of Rajbanshi culture are Bhavaiya, Chatka, Chorchunni, Palatia, Lahankari, Tukkhaya, Bishahari Pala etc. Various instruments are used for such performances, stringed instruments like dotara, sarindra and bena, two-membrane instruments like tasi, dhak, khol, desi dhol and mridanga, kansi, khartal like ganga and bells and sanai, mouth flute and kupa- Wind instruments like this. | |||
| Rajbansi people have their own language and culture. Their language is Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi language. Although the West Bengal government recognizes this language, it is still not listed in the Eighth Schedule of India. Their Bhavaiya music is one of the most famous music of India. From Cooch Behar, India, a periodical named Dotrar Dang in Rajbanshi language was published from 1417 Bengal. | |||
| Rajbanshi Language Academy has been formed in West Bengal. Poetry, stories, songs written in Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi language are increasing. Rajbanshi songs have gradually become the heartbeat of the people of this area. These beautiful songs are played in all kinds of events of Rajbanshi. But now a day several modern songs have been created which are at the peak of popularity. | |||
| '''Language:''' Now everything is proven through modern research that Kamrupi / Kamtapuri / Rajbanshi / Goalpariya / Rangpuri / Tajpuri / Suryapuri / Barendri / Banga-Kamrupi / Banga-Assamese language, the same language and different names are known in different places. | |||
| That means Rajbanshi / Kamtapuri language is recognized as official language in West Bengal and Nepal. That is, Rajbanshi language now means international language. | |||
| Currently living in the northern part of West Bengal, Bihar state of India, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, Nepal, Bhutan, northern part of Bengal. | |||
| == Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| {{Notelist}} | |||
| '''Mahapadma Nanda''' (]: ''Mahāpadmānanda''; c. mid 4th century BCE), according to the ], was the first Emperor of the ] of ancient India. The Puranas describe him as a son of the last ] king ] and a ] woman. These texts credit him with extensive conquests that expanded the Empire far beyond the ] region. The different Puranas variously give the length of his reign as 28 or 88 years, and state that his eight sons ruled in succession after him. | |||
| The Buddhist texts don't mention him, and instead name the first Nanda ruler as robber-turned-king '''Ugrasena''', who was succeeded by his eight brothers, the last of whom was ]. | |||
| According to the Puranas, Mahapadma or Mahapadma-pati (literally, "lord of the great lotus") was the first Nanda king. He was the son of the last ] king ] and a ] woman. | |||
| The ''Puranas'' describe him as ''ekarat'' (sole sovereign) and ''sarva-kshatrantaka'' (destroyer of all the '']''). The Kshastriyas (warriors and rulers) said to have been exterminated by Mahapadma include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| The '']'' assigns Mahapadma an incredibly long reign of 88 years, while the '']'' mentions the length of his reign as only 28 years. The Puranas further state that Mahapadma's eight sons ruled in succession after him for a total of 12 years, but name only one of these sons: Sukalpa.{{Notelist}} | |||
| ⚫ | ==References |
||
| ⚫ | ==References== | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} | {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} | ||
Latest revision as of 11:00, 7 August 2024
Dalit community of West Bengal, India
Poundra, earlier known as Pod, is a Hindu community originating from Bengal. Traditionally located outside the four-tier ritual varna system, the Poundras have been historically subject to acute discrimination — including untouchability — and remain a marginal group in modern Bengal. As of 2011, their population was around two and a half million; they are classed as a Scheduled Caste in West Bengal.
History
Medieval Bengal
No mention of the Pods is found in the Bṛhaddharma Upapuraṇa (c. 13th century), which is the earliest known document to chronicle a hierarchy of castes in Bengal. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana, notable for a very late Bengali recension c. 14/15th century, records "Paundrakas" to be the son of a Vaisya father and Sundini mother but it is unknown if the groups are connected. Mentions are scarce in medieval vernacular literature.
Colonial Bengal
In his 1891 survey of castes, Herbert Hope Risley documented the Pods to be a branch of the Chandala; they were subject to untouchability by the Brahmins as well as the Navasakhas. A majority were peasants though some had become traders, and even zamindars.
In the late nineteenth century, two influential members of the Pod community — Benimadhab Halder and Srimanta Naskar — produced numerous tracts of caste history, as was a common feature of that time. Arguing a descent from the "Poundras" — mentioned across a spectrum of Brahminical literature — they sought to establish the Pods as Kshatriyas, thereby removing the stigma of untouchability. In what might be construed as a self-respect movement, it was also demanded of all Pods to follow Kshatriya rituals. In 1901, Halder organized a pan-Bengal conference of the Pods, wherein it was resolved to have the government rename the caste as "Poundra". Further mobilisation happened under the leadership of Raicharan Sardar, a lawyer and the first university graduate from the community.
Contemporary Bengal
The Poundras remain vulnerable to casteist discrimination in 21st century Bengal.
Notes
- Ludo Rocher however notes the text to contain multiple layers (like all other Puranas) making any dating impossible. However, he agrees with R. C. Hazra that a significant part was composed as a response to the Islamic conquest of Bengal.
- Older sources on social setup (not caste) include inscriptions of the Gupta and the Pala periods but these do not refer to Pods.
References
- ^ Barman, Rup Kumar (2014-01-01). "From Pods to Poundra: A Study on the Poundra Kshatriya Movement for Social Justice 1891–1956". Voice of Dalit. 7 (1): 121–138. doi:10.1177/0974354520140108. ISSN 0974-3545. S2CID 148661602.
- Ray, Antara (2022). "Caste and public policy: The case of West Bengal". In Choragudi, Rahul; Pellissery, Sony; Jayaram, N. (eds.). Caste Matters in Public Policy: Issues and Perspectives. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367612672.
There has been no serious effort to eradicate any of these caste disabilities as there is no policy to address the issue related to caste dynamics. This situation continued in the politics and administration of Bengal for thirty-four years of the Left Front rule in the state that systematically erased caste from policy-making process, which was supported by the educated-Bengali-middle-class-bhadralok. Thus, the lower-caste identity has been rendered invisible in West Bengal. The Rajbansis and the Poundra, the two major ex-untouchable castes of Bengal, neither could mobilise themselves under one ideology locally nor could they align with the mainstream dalit ideology in the rest of the country.
- "West Bengal : DATA HIGHLIGHTS: THE SCHEDULED CASTES : Census of India 2001" (PDF). Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- Furui, Ryosuke (2013). "Finding Tensions in the Social Order: a Reading of the Varṇasaṃkara Section of the Bṛhaddharmapurāṇa". In Ghosh, Suchandra; Bandyopadhyay, Sudipa Ray; Majumdar, Sushmita Basu; Pal, Sayantani (eds.). Revisiting Early India: Essays in Honour of D. C. Sircar. Kolkata: R. N. Bhattacharya.
- Rocher, Ludo (1986). "Mixed Castes in the Brahmavaivartapurāṇa". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 106 (2): 254. doi:10.2307/601589. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 601589.
- Barman, Rup Kumar (2020-02-17). "Casteism and Caste Intolerance in India: A Study on Casteism of Contemporary West Bengal". Contemporary Voice of Dalit. 12 (2): 165–180. doi:10.1177/2455328x19898451. ISSN 2455-328X. S2CID 214164973.