Gandhabanik
Kuladevi (female)Gandheswari mata
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesBengali
Populated statesWest Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, Assam

Gandhabanik is a Bengali Hindu trading caste, who as the caste name suggests, traditionally used to trade in perfumes, cosmetics, spices etc.[1][2] They were also engaged in agriculture.[3][4] As of late nineteenth century they were one of the fourteen castes belonging to Nabasakh group.[5]

It is believed that the legendary sea merchant Chand Sadagar of ancient Champaknagar was from Gandhabanik community.[6][7]

Varna Status

Gandhabaniks have generally been considered as 'middle class shudras' in the caste structure of Bengal.[8][6][9]

References

  1. ↑ The Eastern Anthropologist. Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society. 1963. pp. 66, 68.
  2. ↑ Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress. 1973. p. 589.
  3. ↑ Bhowmick, P. K. (1969). Occupational Mobility and Caste Structure in Bengal: Study of Rural Market. Indian Publications.
  4. ↑ Singh, K. S.; India, Anthropological Survey of (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 946. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  5. ↑ Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus. p. 115.
  6. 1 2 Sengupta, Saswati (2020-11-30). Mutating Goddesses: Bengal's Laukika Hinduism and Gender Rights. Oxford University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-19-099325-2.
  7. ↑ Bhaumik, Sudarshana (2022). The Changing World of Caste and Hierarchy in Bengal: Depiction from the Mangalkavyas C. 1700-1931. Routledge, Taylor & Francis. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-003-14618-6.
  8. ↑ Mitra, A. (1953). The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (Report). Census 1951. Land and Land Revenue Department, Government of West Bengal. p. 21.
  9. ↑ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.
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