Bauri
Total population
c. 1.9 million (2011, census)
Regions with significant populations
India
West Bengal1,228,635[1]
Odisha523,127[2]
Jharkhand186,356[3]
Bihar2,233[4]
Languages
Regional languages (Bengali, Odia)
Religion
Hinduism

Bauri (Bengali:বাউরী) is a community of indigenous people primarily residing in Bengal, and considered as one of the Scheduled Castes of India.[5][6] The Bauris belong to the Bhil tribe.[7] They are usually involved in activities like farming. The Bauris of Purbo Tila Moulvibazar in Bangladesh are usually involved in medicinal practices . The prime festivals they celebrate are known as Mansa Puja, Durga Puja and Kali Puja.

Bauris numbered 1,091,022 in the 2001 census in the state of West Bengal. 37.5 per cent of the Bauris were literate - 51.8 per cent males and 22.7 per cent females were literate. Only 4.7 per cent of the Bauris were matriculates or completed schooling.[8]

Distribution

They are primarily residing in Bengal found in large numbers in Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and other districts in Indian state of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Orissa.[9] The village of Purbo Tila in Chatlapur Tea Garden, Kulaura and Dakchara Tea Garden, Srimangal, Moulvibazar District are also home to Bauri communities in Bangladesh.[10] They are also found in many villages like Chhatna and Beliatore.

Subcastes

Bauris are divided into the following subcastes: Mallabhumia, Sikharia or Gobaria, Panchakoti, Mola or Mulo, Dhalia or Dhulo, Malua, Jhatia or Jhetia, and Pathuria. Some of these subcastes appear to be territorial subdivisions. Mallabhumia, Malua and perhaps also Mola, were residents of Mallabhum, the central and eastern parts of Bankura district. Sikharia were Bauris who hailed from Shikharbhum, the tract between the Kasai and Barakar rivers. The Dhulia subcaste is supposed to be from Dhalbhum, which is the area in Khatra subdivision. Panchakoti refers to the central area of Panchet estate now in Purulia district.

Practices

Traces of totemism still survive in their reverence for the red-backed heron. The heron is looked upon as the emblem of the community.[11]

Classification

The Bauri caste is categorized as a Scheduled Caste in West Bengal,[6] Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar, while in Assam, they are recognized as an Ex Tea garden community and the Bauri of Assam and Tripura placed within the Other Backward Classes.[12][13][14]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), West Bengal - 2011".
  2. ↑ "A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Odisha - 2011".
  3. ↑ "A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Jharkhand - 2011".
  4. ↑ "A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Bihar - 2011".
  5. ↑ Kundu, Santosh Kumar (2008). Bengali Hindu Jati Parichay (in Bengali). Kolkata: Presidency Library. ISBN 978-81-89466-13-8.
  6. 1 2 "বাউরী সম্প্রদায়ের উৎপত্তির ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহাসিক পর্যালোচনা". নবজাগরণ. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  7. ↑ Chakraborty, Goutam; Pattrea, Madhumita (2020-12-07). Know Your State West Bengal. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN 978-93-252-9222-2.
  8. ↑ "West Bengal, Census of India 2001" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  9. ↑ "Bauri". www.scstrti.in. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  10. ↑ Project, Joshua. "Bauri in Bangladesh". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  11. ↑ Bauri. Dr Suresh Kumar Sahu. 2019-03-06.
  12. ↑ "Tea Tribe Community" (Press release). 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  13. ↑ "Central OBC list for Assam" (PDF). ncbc nic.in.
  14. ↑ "LIST OF OBCs IN TRIPURA AS APPROVED BY THE GOVT. OF INDIA" (PDF). www.tripurascobcrm.nic.in.
  15. ↑ "Dasia Bauri" (PDF).

Bibliography


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