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Turaiha is a fishing related Hindu caste, mostly found in Northern Indian states of United Province, Delhi, Bihar and Bengal. Main population of Turaiha depends on rivers, fish ponds and lakes. In Rohilkhand they known as Turai, Turaha and Turahiya. As similar they found Agra, Gorakhpur, Meerut, Moradabad, Oudh and Benares divisions of United Province.

History

The synonyms of Turaiha people are Turaha, Turai, Turahiya, Turah, Turha and Turaiya, These are all fisherman and Boatman and where they are, they usually engaged in fishing, cultivating Water caltrop (singhara) nut (Trapa Bispinosa) and making hand-held fans and baskets. In Gorakhpur and Benares divisions of United Province, they also grow vegetables, take fruit gardens and fisheries on contract. They are the best fishmongers of India. Turaiha community is near to Bhil tribe and also treated as Dheevara (fishing caste). But now many of them has started daily wage labour, farrywala and rickshaw pulling.

Social status

Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath states in the book "Hindu Castes and Sects" (1896)

Turaiha are regarded as most depressed class of India. No fisherman can be said to have the right of being regarded as clean Sudras. Cause of uncleanness, So The fishing classes are certainly unclean, and they are treated as such. Some people do not catch fish, yet even they ought not to stand in a better position. They used to drink Liquor & Todi. Of Flash they eat Mutton, Fish, Pork, Tortoise and Crabs. Some of them eat field rats also. They are the servant class but untrusty and unworthy."

Origin

In census report of 1931 A.C. Turner describes, "Turaha are an offshoot (Branch) from Kahar, who have a sub caste Turai in the plains and of Turaha in Hills. Now they form a distinct caste apart from Kahar. They are unknown about their origin but they accept, they have a relation with Sun God. They form one endogamous group. The Gotra (Clan) of Turaiha People is Kashyap and they have no sub castes. Marriage by exchange is practiced. The dowry is largely prevalent and is paid in cash and kind but little more. Widow remarriage is freely allowed, and younger brother may take his elder brother's widow to wife if he chooses . Polygamy is permissible but is seldom practiced. The Turahas cremate their dead. Brahman avoids entering in their houses and do not take Pakki cooked by a Turaha. Turahas eat Kachcha food offered by any Brahman. Turahas take Pakki prepared by Ahirs, Kahar, Nai, Kumhar, Kalwar, Teli, Chamar and Pasi. There is one custom, which places Turaha quite apart from Kahar that they will not clean house hold utensils and for this reason they will not enter for domestic services. They are, however, no objection to acting as litter bearers. This difference is important as it differentiates the Turahas from Kahars, and suggests how they may have broken away from them." (United Provinces of Agra and Oudh Part-1 1933). After independence, like another depressed castes, Turaiha also declared as schedule caste in constitution of India .

Belief

The Turaiha are Hindu. They regard themselves higher than Chamar and Bhangi. They belong to Shiva and Baghwat Sects. Their deities are siloman Baba, Amna Bhawani, Biratiya, Bhairo, Pancho Peer, Ghatoria Baba, Maadho Baba and Kalu Dev. They follows themselves to Guru Machchhendar Nath. They accept Mata Shabari and Veer Eklavya as their ancestors and regards them to frame their pictures in their houses. They celebrate their main festival in the month of Sawan held on Saturday with offering seven chief grains (Wheat, Rice, Gram, Urd, Barley, Peas and Til) with Bread and Kheer. Many people scarifies Pigs and goats to Sanichar Raja (Kalu Baba). Sanichar Raja (Kalu Baba) is the chief deity of Turaihas. They have an impermanent panchayat which consists of the whole biradari. The Chaudhri presides and act as the executive officer of the community. Stern action is taken against anyone who fails to obey the panchayat which does not hesitate to order Hukka-Pani band.

Contemporary problems

The main problems of this community are frequent joblessness, lack of education and lifelong poverty. Turaiha people are mostly Landless labour and live in Kachche Houses. 98% population of Turaiha people are living below poverty level. 0.1% people are educated and Socio-economic condition of the whole community is very poor. In Indian political reference, Caste factor plays an important role in election, so due to minority, lack of organization and disunity, there is no political Sound and Godfather of Turaihas. Although the government has declared Turaiha as schedule caste since 1952, but the beneficiaries are some other majority holding schedule castes only. The main organizations of Turaihas are Bhartiya Turaiha Mahasabha (Regd.) led by Dr. Ram Swaroop Verma {Aligarh}, Akhil Bhartiya Turaiha samaaj (Regd.) headed by Dr. Ram Avtar "Madhur" (Meerut) and Turaiha Machhuaara kanyaan Parishad (Regd.) presided by Dr. Kripaal Singh Turaiha (Rampur). Akhil Bhartiya Turaiha Samaj Bilari (Regd.) presided by Dr. Ajay pal Singh turaiha Vill. Khandwa (Moradabad)UP. Suneel Kumar Co-educator Akhil Bhartiya Turaiha Samaj Bilari (Regd.) Moradabad. (U.P.) .) Vishnu Kumar Turaiha Assistant Bhartiya Turaiha Samaj Bilari (Regd.) Moradabad. (U.P.)

Population

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• India about 609,000
• Uttar Pradesh 175,000
• Bihar 248,000
• West Bengal 96,000
• Uttaranchal 10,000
• Delhi 55,000
• Jharkhand 25,000.

References

1. As described by W. Crooke 1896
2. E.J. Kitts, in their compendium of Tribe & Castes of India: 1885

• Crooke, William (1896). The tribes and castes of the North-western Provinces and Oudh. Office of the superintendent of government printing. OCLC 4770515.
• Kitts, Eustace J. (1885). A compendium of the castes and tribes found in India. Education Society's Press. OCLC 221519543.
• Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu castes and sects: an exposition of the origin of the Hindu caste system and the bearing of the sects towards each other and towards other religious systems. Thacker, Spink. OCLC 11383590.
• Turner, A. C. (1933). Census of India, 1931, vol. XVIII. United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Part I. The Superintendent, Printing and stationary, United Provinces. OCLC 79175745.
• Gazetteer of the Rampur State. W.C. Abel, Govt. Press, United Provinces. 1911. OCLC 15933577.
• Rose, H. A. (1911). A glossary of the tribes & castes of the Punjab & North-west frontier province. Superintendent, government printing, Punjab. OCLC 63616288.

• Indian castes
• Fishing castes
• Social groups of Bihar
• Social groups of Bengal