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Turaiha (Turai) is a fishing related Hindu caste, mostly found in Northern Indian states of United Province, Delhi, Bihar, Bengal and Maharashtra. 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, Padrauna (kushinagar) Meerut, Shahjahanpur, Moradabad, Oudh and Benares divisions of United Province. Turha or Turaiha is a caste mainly found in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Some parts of West Bengal. They worship Lord Shanichara Baba. Their main occupation is to sell and grow agricultural products like fish, fruits, and vegetables. Synonym of Turha are Turah, Turaha, Turai, Turaiya, Turaiha, Turahiya, Turi, Tur, Toriya, etc.

History

The synonyms of Turaiha people are Turi, Toriya, Turai, Turahiya, Turha or Turaha and Turaiya, These are all fisherman and where they are, they usually engaged in fishing, cultivational and fruit selling job. 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). They worship son god and Chaat mai for their Happiness. They are growing are moving towards the economically stable condition. There is also a small community of Turai people in Sangli, Maharashtra.

Origin

According to page number 106 of book, Brief view of the caste system of the North – western provinces and Oudh, 1885, written by John C. Nesfield - The Dom Tribes become gradually dispersed into Turha or Fishing Caste. In order to illustrate the process by which tribes become gradually dispersed into caste, after they (the tribes) have been first amalgamated into a nation as parts of a larger whole, we will select a few examples from the tribes and castes existing at this day in Upper India.Example may be taken from the tribe of Dom. The sites of ruined forts and the names and traditions attaching to them show that Doms, Dom- Katars, Domras, or Donwars (for all these namea occur) were once a powerful race in Hindustan, especially in the districts of north of the river Gogra. While some few succeeded in acquiring territorial sway and raised themselves into the ranks of the Chattri caste by attaching bards and Brahmans to their persons and learning the ways and manners of orthodox Hindus, the rest can be traced only in castes standing much below them in rank and function. Some have gone into the Bhangi or sweeper caste; others into the Dharkar or basket – making caste; others have contributed to the Turha or fishing caste; others to the Dhobi or washer man caste; others to the Dhanuk or bow- making caste. https://archive.org/details/BriefViewOfTheCasteSystemOfTheNorth-westernProvincesAndOudh

According to page number 195 of book, An Ethnographical hand – book for the North – western provinces and Oudh, 1890, by William Crooke- Toriya, Turai, Turi – A tribe of basket makers and coolies: found in Dehra Dun, Ballia, Ghazipur and Mirzapur. They are perhaps thesame as the Turha or turaha who are a branch of the Kahar tribe. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279514

According to page number 152 to 159 of book, The DOMS & their near relations, 1953, by George Weston Briggs- Turi, Bhangi, Basor, Domar, Kahar, Mallah, Dhuriya, Turai, Turah, Shilpkar etc. are Endogamous Caste or sub caste of Dom. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.507460 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.507460 According to page number 310 of book, Hindu castes & Sects, 1896, by J. N. Bhattacharya - The Turahs, who are boatmen and fishermen, are to be found chiefly in Behar and North Western provinces. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.109813 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.109813 According to page number 333 of book, Tribes & Castes of Bengal, Ethnographic glossary, volume 2, 1892, by H.H. Risley - Turaha, Turha is low caste who blow horns (Turhi). Turha, players on the wind instruments called Turhi. https://archive.org/details/TheTribesAndCastesOfBengal_201509/page/n347/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/TheTribesAndCastesOfBengal_201509/page/n347/mode/2up According to page number 107 to 108 of book, Ethnography, castes & Tribes, 1912, by Athelstane Baines - Turaha blow horns (Turhi). https://archive.org/details/ethnographycaste00bainrich https://archive.org/details/ethnographycaste00bainrich

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(because they workship God Shani as their east dev or kul devta). 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. Turahas take Pakki prepared by Ahirs, Kahar, Nai, Kumhar, Kalwar, Teli, Chamar and Pasi. After independence, Turaiha was declared as scheduled caste in constitution of India."

Belief

The Turaiha are Hindu. 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 last Saturday with offering seven chief grains (Wheat, Rice, Gram, Urd, Barley, Peas and Til) with Bread and Kheer (Jenar). Many people scarifie goats to Sanichar Raja (Sanichara Baba) (Kalaiyan Baba) (Kalu Baba). Sanichar Raja (Kalu Baba)(Kalaiyan Baba) is the chief deity (kul Devta) 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

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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. Khanduva Khandua (Moradabad)UP.

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
  • Maharashtra 10,000

References

  1. As described by W. Crooke 1896
  2. Census of India 1961 , Appendices to census manual- part 1 Uttar Pradesh , issued by superintendent census operations Uttar Pradesh Lucknow (September 1960 ) में अनुसूचित जाति Name of Scheduled castes के सम्मुख Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name का उल्लेख है। जिसके क्रमांक 63 पर Shilpkar अनुसूचित जाति के सामने उसकी Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name का उल्लेख है। क्रमांक 64 पर Turaiha अनुसूचित जाति का उल्लेख है -Turaiha . . „ (Symbol „ means The ditto mark ( „ ) is a typographic symbol indicating that the word(s) or figure(s) above its are to be repeated or same as above ) इस प्रकार से Shilpkar अनुसूचित जाति के सामने जो उसकी Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name का उल्लेख है वही हु बहु Turaiha अनुसूचित जाति की Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name है। जिसमे Turi Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name का उल्लेख है।
  3. W. Crooke - An ethnographical handbook for North Western Province & Oudh 1890, Page Number 195( 1890 में William Crooke द्वारा लिखित किताब An Ethnographical Hand-Book for the North-Western Provinces & Oudh के page no. 195 में Turi के Synonyms पर्यायवाची or generic name का उल्लेख है जो की Toriya, Turai, Turha or Turaha हैं।)
  4. E.J. Kitts, in their compendium of Tribe & Castes of India: 1885
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