The Banaut [1] (also known as Bandaut) [2] is a Bundela Rajput clan found in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Their loved ones called them banaut which means who meditate and save Ban (forest). [3] They are said to have left Orchha, Jhansi, Mahoba and other parts of Bundelkhand during Mughal period and migrated to Bihar and Jharkhand. [3]
Bundelas originated from Bundelkhand, but later came to parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. [4] As they were from land owning community, they became wealthy zamindars with time and also had strong political positions. [5]
Banaut have their particular village deities such as Maa Kali, HanumanJi, Ram- Janaki and Radhakrishna. [5]
The Gotras of Banaut Rajputs are Bhardwaj, Dhenu, Vaksh, Kaushik, Garg, Sandilya and Vishwamitra. [2]
Most of the Banauts live in the native villages of Anga Region of Bihar namely Bhagalpur, Munger, Katihar, Purnia, Banka and in some parts of Saharsa and Araria too. They live in parts of Jharkhand namely Hazaribagh and Chatra and Santhal Pargana Division . Many have migrated to bigger cities like Patna, Ranchi and Delhi for better job opportunities and lifestyle.
Majority of the Banaut Rajputs speak the regional language of Anga Region - Angika along with other languages like Hindi, English. [3]
Some of the Villages of Bundela with significance: [6]
Their marriage relations are in those twenty and odd villages making them a closely connected and well-knit community.
Singh is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Singh for all male Sikhs as well, in part as a rejection of caste-based prejudice and to emulate Rajput naming conventions. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the world across communities and religious groups, becoming more of a generic, caste-neutral, decorative name.
Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central & North India. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lying in the latter state.
The Bundela is a Rajput clan. Over several generations, the cadet lineages of Bundela Rajputs founded several states in area what came to be known as Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom from the 16th century.
Bhumihar, also locally called Bhuinhar and Babhan, is a Hindu caste mainly found in Bihar, the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, and Nepal.
Ahir is a caste found in the Indian subcontinent, mainly modern-day Northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. The Ahir clans are almost spread over all the Northern India. Historians such as P. M. Chandorkar, using both literary and epigraphic sources has argued that the modern Ahirs should be identified with the Yadavas of the classical Sanskrit texts.
Most of the languages of Bihar, the third most populous state of India, belong to the Bihari subgroup of the Indo-Aryan family. Chief among them are Bhojpuri, spoken in the west of the state, Maithili in the north, Magahi in center around capital Patna and in the south of the state. Maithili has official recognition under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The official language of Bihar is Modern Standard Hindi, with Standard Urdu serving as a second official language in 15 districts.
Gopa or Gop or Gope is a synonym of the Yadav (Ahir) caste. It is generally used as a title by the Ahir caste in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal of East India and even in Terai region of Nepal.
Angika is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language spoken in some parts of the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, as well as in parts of Nepal.
The Kudmi Mahato are a tribal community in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha of India. They are primarily agriculturalist.
Chandel or Chandela is a Rajput clan from India. Families belonging to this clan ruled several kingdoms in north India and held various feudal estates. The most notable of these were the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, who ruled the Bundelkhand region.
Chauhan is a surname of various Indian communities.
Ghasi is a caste found in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. They are traditionally caretakers of horses and village musicians. They are known as Ghasiya in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajputs in Bihar are members of the Rajput community living in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. They traditionally formed part of the feudal elite in Bihari society. Rajputs were pressed with the Zamindari abolition and Bhoodan movement in post-independence India; along with other Forward Castes, they lost their significant position in Bihar's agrarian society, leading to the rise of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Krishnaut or Kishnaut Ahir is a clan of the Yadav (Ahir) caste found in Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal. The term Krishnaut which to them denotes their descent from Lord Krishna.
Bagal is a cattle herding caste of East India. Bagal people are living in the state of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. They use Kudmali/ Manbhumi dialect of Bengali as mother tongue and use Bengali, Hindi and Odia language to communicate with the society.
Rajwars or Rajuar is a shifting cultivation community. The people of this community mainly live in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. In Odisha, they are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe, while in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, they are classified as Scheduled Caste. In other states, the community is considered part of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) or general population.
Yadavs in Bihar refers to the people of Yadav community of the Indian state of Bihar. They are also known as Ahir, Gope, etc. The Yadavs form nearly 14.26 % of the state's population and are included in the Other Backward Class category in the Bihar state of India. Ahirs are among the land owning caste in the plains of Bihar.
Gour or Goud is a caste of Jharkhand similar to Gopal (caste) of Odisha. Locally they are also known as Ahir, Gour Gowala. Most of them speak the local form of Odia language which they lebel as Singhbhumi Odia.
The Majhraut or Majraut is a clan of Ahir (Yadav) that inhabits the Indian state of Bihar and Jharkhand. They are also found in different parts of Nepal. They are believed to be descended from the Yadav king Madhu who ruled Mathura.
Chanku Mahato was a freedom fighter of British India hailing from Kudmi Mahato community. Born in Rangamatia village of Godda district in British India. He was one of the leaders of Santhal rebellion, who mobilized Mahatos to fight against the atrocities of Britishers.
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