Dhanuk

Last updated

Dhanuk
Regions with significant populations
India and Nepal
Bihar2,796,605
Languages
• Hindi • Maithili • Bhojpuri
Religion
Predominantly:
Hinduism

The Dhanuk is an ethnic group found in India. In Bihar where they are significantly present, they have been categorised as the "lower backwards", along with several other castes constituting 32% of the state's population. [1] In recent times they have been identifying themselves with the Kurmi caste along with the Mahto of Chhotanagpur. [2] In Bihar, they are considered as a sub-caste of the Mandal caste [3] and are often found using Mandal surname. [4] In recent times, there has been attempt to forge a socio-political alliance between them and the twin castes of Koeri and the Kurmi, as a part of Luv-Kush equation. [5] [6]

Contents

Distribution

Dhanuks are found in the Indian states of Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Dhanka people in Rajasthan claim that their name is a variant and they are the same community. However, the veracity of this claim is extremely difficult to ascertain due to the numerous other claims. Their claim sometimes seems contradictory to the Madheshi people who are found in Terai Nepal. [7] The state has a community called Dhanuk or Dhanushk, whose traditional occupation was watchmen. [8]

Culture and tradition

Oral traditions

Like many other aspirational communities of India, the Dhanuk community also embarked upon the path of Sanskritisation by tracing their community hero in epic and historic figures. This made them find their community hero in Panna Dhai, the maid of Uday Singh's mother in the Mewar who sacrificed her son Chandan to save the life of her infant master. The legend of Panna Dhai has become a popular glory tale among the members of the Dhanuk caste, particularly in some selected pockets of Uttar Pradesh. The community – which is distributed in Kanpur, Ettawah, Farrukhabad, Manipuri and nearby areas – celebrates the anniversary of the Panna Dhai. According to social historian Badri Narayan, the legends of Panna give the untouchable community a cause to consolidate their "caste identity". [9]

Tracing own identity

Anthropologist Megan Moodie narrates the caste history of Dhanuks, who is known by different names such as Dhanka, Dhanak, and Dhanakiya in different parts of India, through a pamphlet published by the community itself. According to their accounts, Dhanuk people claim that they have a special position among all castes and trace the origin of the history of the word "Dhanak" from the scriptures like Rig Veda and Puranas . The community history claims that they were warring tribes who used to wear Dhanush (bow and arrow) in the ancient past. In the medieval period, they claim to have helped the Rajput kings in the fight against Mughals. Consequently, with the defeat of Hindu Rajas, they were harassed by the other rulers including the Mughals and this led them to migrate to the different parts of the country which include present-day Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. [10]

As described by them, they have roots in Rajasthan and several of their customs and traditions have Rajput influence. Some of the customs like taking the ring and jewelry of the bride and groom's striking ornamental archway reflect the impact of Rajput influence. The Dhanuk people claim that their ancestors in Rajasthan worked upon the bamboo to make bows and arrows, as well as baskets. They also depended upon other minor forest products for their livelihood and widespread deforestation in the later periods left them with no other choice to shift towards other subsistence activities. Those who moved to other states were employed in the grain market and started working as the cleaner of grains (Dhan) and also provided cheap labour to transport it from the market to its destination. Presumably, the association with the grain market brought them the name with which they were known later. Further, the occupational diversity in Dhanuks was much more pronounced than in the other castes who were fixed in a predetermined Varnasharma setup. The Dhanuks and the other associated subcastes also claim to have worked as water carriers, musicians, guards, shepherds, and agricultural labourers. [11]

This claim is also supported by the accounts of William Crooke, who in his book Caste and Tribes of Northwestern India describes Dhanuks as people working as water carriers, guards, and musicians in marriages. Crooke also reveals several other synonyms used to describe this caste as Dhankara, Katheriya, Kedi, and Ravar. Bushman has described them as Martial race while Ispel has described them as "Dhanush wielding people", who later converted into guards, hunters, and weavers. Some people also think that Dhanak was a Rishi and his followers were later known as Dhanka/Dhanuk. [12]

In India

Bihar

The Dhanuk of Bihar are deemed to be an Other Backward Class in India's reservation system. [13] In the early phase of history, this cast was said to be a warrior caste. They were frontline warriors who used bows and arrows as their weapons. But the consequent defeat in a series of wars forced them into slavery and forced them to be engaged in different kinds of occupation. Because they had not enough land, they started work as agricultural labourers.

In the 19th century, Dhanuks were among the communities of the region whose landless members were employed as agricultural labourers. Such labourers were considered slaves under the kamia system and were often referred to as Jotiyas. The Dhanuks had largely escaped the system towards the end of the century. Many of the former slave workers took up lowly positions in the industries and commerce of the developing towns, aided by improvements in transport, but were ultimately no better off either economically or socially. [14]

Haryana

The Dhanak of Haryana, also known as Delu (who became Bishnoi in 800 BC), is a community of weavers. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status in the reservation system, and are found throughout the state. [15]

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, Dhanuks are given Scheduled Caste status and at the time of the 2011 Census of India, their population was 651,355 people. [16]

There is some ambiguity in the use of the term dhanuk in the state. As per some scholars, this cast was largely associated with the scheduled tribe Bhil. However, some scholars, like Professor Susan Wadley, have described the Dhanuk as a "midwife caste". Janet Chawla has noted that using the term for midwives and people who work with trash "highlights the idea that birth-related work, indeed vitally important bodywork and trash work can be part of the same matrix of tasks". [17]

Sarah Pinto, an anthropologist has noted that most people are engaged in agricultural work. She believes that there is an "overidentification of caste with iconic labour", and is more a reflection of the worldviews of both Brahmins and the later British colonisers than of reality. [18]

Dhanuks in Nepal

The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Dhanuk as a subgroup within the broader social group of Terai Janajati. [19] At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 219,808 people (0.8% of the population of Nepal) were Dhanuk. The frequency of Dhanuks by province was as follows:

The frequency of Dhanuks was higher than the national average (0.8%) in the following districts: [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adivasi</span> Varied tribal groups in the Indian subcontinent

The Adivasi are heterogeneous tribal groups across the Indian subcontinent. The term is a Sanskrit word coined in the 1930s by political activists to give the tribal people an indigenous identity by claiming an indigenous origin. The Constitution of India does not use the word Adivasi, instead referring to Scheduled Tribes and Janjati. The government of India does not officially recognise tribes as indigenous people. The country ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the United Nations (1957) and refused to sign the ILO Convention 169. Most of these groups are included in the Scheduled Tribe category under constitutional provisions in India.

The Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify communities that are "educationally or socially backward". It is one of several official classifications of the population of India, along with general castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The OBCs were found to comprise 52% of the country's population by the Mandal Commission report of 1980 and were determined to be 41% in 2006 when the National Sample Survey Organisation took place. There is substantial debate over the exact number of OBCs in India; it is generally estimated to be sizable, but many believe that it is higher than the figures quoted by either the Mandal Commission or the National Sample Survey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dom (caste)</span> Ethnic group of India

The Dom, also known as Domra, Domba, Domaka, Dombara and Dombari, are castes, or groups, scattered across India. Dom were a caste of drummer. According to Tantra scriptures, the Dom were engaged in the occupations of singing and playing music. Historically, they were considered an untouchable caste called the Dalits and their traditional occupation was the disposal and cremation of dead bodies. They are in the list of Scheduled caste for Reservation in India in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamar</span> Dalit caste of the Indian subcontinent

Chamar is a Dalit community classified as a Scheduled Caste under modern India's system of affirmative action. They are found throughout the Indian subcontinent, mainly in the northern states of India and in Pakistan and Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lohar</span> Caste or clan in India and Nepal

Lohar is considered to be a caste among. They form traditionally artisanal castes. Writers of the Raj period often used the term Lohar as a synonym for blacksmith, although there are other traditional smiting communities, such as the Ramgarhia and Sikligar, and numerous non-traditional communities, including the Kayastha, Rajput and Brahmin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teli</span> Caste in India, Nepal and Pakistan

Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the oil pressing and trade in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik.

The Mallaah are the traditional boatmen and fishermen tribes or communities found in North India, East India, Northeastern India and Pakistan. A significant number of Mallaah are also found in Nepal and Bangladesh. In the Indian state of Bihar, the term Nishad includes the Mallaah and refers to communities whose traditional occupation centred on rivers. It is also spelled Mallah.

Jatav, also known as Jatava/Jatan/ Jatua/Jhusia /Jatia/Jatiya, is an Indian Dalit community that are considered to be a subcaste of the Chamar caste, who are classified as a Scheduled Caste under modern India's system of positive discrimination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nishad</span> Hindu caste

The Nishad are a Hindu caste, found in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Kushwaha is a community of the Indo-Gangetic Plain that has traditionally been involved in agriculture, including beekeeping. The term has been used to represent different sub-castes of the Kachhis, Kachhvahas, Koeris and Muraos. Under the Indian government's system of positive discrimination, the Kushwahas are classified as a "Backward" or Other backward class. The Kushwaha had worshipped Shiva and Shakta, but beginning in the 20th century, they claim descent from the Suryavansh (Solar) dynasty via Kusha, one of the twin sons of Rama and Sita. At present, it is a broad community formed by coming together of several caste groups with similar occupational backgrounds and socio-economic status, who, over the time, started inter-marrying among themselves and created all India caste network for caste solidarity. The communities which merged into this caste cluster includes Kachhi, Kachhwaha, Kushwaha, Mali, Marrar, Saini, Sonkar, Murai, Shakya, Maurya, Koeri and Panara.

The Dhanka or Dhanak is a Clan & caste of India who believe themselves to be Marathi, they assert their ancestor (Maratha) came from Maharashtra In The battle of 1761 was fought at Panipat between Ahmed Shah Abdali and the Marathas. The archer army of Marathas there is called Dhanak today. The Dhanak caste is a Kshatriya community. They are found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh they are no relation with dhanuk kurmi. They are historically Hindu and their occupations have changed over time, as circumstances have dictated for survival. Although similar groups in India are often referred to as adivasi, the Dhanka generally reject this term.

The Khatik is a caste found in the Indian subcontinent, mainly modern-day India, Pakistan and Nepal. Khatik are located mainly in New Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. In India, most of the khatik belongs to the Hindu religion, with a small percentage of khatik also present in the Muslim community. There is a division among khatik, mainly in two groups: Suryavanshi khatik and Sonkar khatik. Both groups believe themselves to be different from each other in terms of the food they consume and their cultural practices. They also like to avoid martial relations with each other. Suryavanshi khatiks claims their ancestral relations with the Rajputs.

The Kahars are a community of palanquin bearers originating from the Gangatic region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chero</span> Hindu caste in India

The Chero is a caste found in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadvi Bhil</span> Tribal community in India

The Tadvi Bhil is a tribal community found in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in India. They are from the larger Bhil ethnic group, and are a clan of it. They use the surname Tadvi or sometimes the name of their Kul or Gan; the Dhankas of Gujarat and Maharashtra use Tadvi or Tetariya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musahar</span> Dalit community in the Gangetic plain and the Terai

Musahar or Mushahar are a Dalit community found in the eastern Gangetic plain and the Terai. They are also known as Rishidev, Sada, Manjhi, Banbasi. The other names of the Musahar are Bhuiyan and Rajawar. Their name literally means 'rats-ridder' due to their main former occupation of catching rats, and there are many who are still forced to do this work due to destitution and poverty.

The Bhuiyan or Bhuiya are an indigenous community found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. They are not only geographically disparate but also have many cultural variations and subgroups.

The Paswan, also known as Dusadh, are a Dalit community from eastern India. They are found mainly in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The Urdu word Paswan means bodyguard or "one who defends". The origin of the word, per the belief of the community, lies in their participation in the battle against Siraj-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Bengal at the behest of British East India Company, after which they were rewarded with the post of Chowkidars and lathi wielding tax collector for the Zamindars. They follow certain rituals such as walking on fire to assert their valour.

Mahto or Mahato is a surname used by several castes and communities in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha in India. Mahato is also a popular surname in Nepal. In the zamindari villages, "Mahto" was a title given to the headman of a village ward. The mahto's duties were to maintain peace in his area, and collect revenue for the zamindar. In Chotanagpur plateau region of Jharkhand, including in the Oraon tribal society, Mahato was historically a title of the village chief. In Bihar, the surname Mahto is primarily used by people belonging to Kushwaha caste. While in Jharkhand, it is a term most often associated with Koeri and Kurmi caste.

Bari or Baridar are a Hindu caste mostly living in Northern India.

References

  1. ↑ Peter Berger; Frank Heidemann (2013). The Modern Anthropology of India: Ethnography, Themes and Theory. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN   978-1134061112. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Kumar, Ashwani (2008). Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar. Anthem Press. pp. 34–38. ISBN   978-1-84331-709-8. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Renu's caste, not development, into play". Times of India. 31 October 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bihar Elections: For votes, netas remember influential writer 'Renu', target his caste members". Firstpost. November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bihar: Nitish Kumar is Trying to Consolidate the Luv-Kush-Dhanuk Axis to Expand Social Base". News18. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Nitish Kumar's 'Triveni Sangh' of Backward Castes May Threaten BJP's Monopoly in 2024 Polls". The Wire. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Moodie, Megan (2015). We Were Adivasis: Aspiration in an Indian Scheduled Tribe. University of Chicago Press. p. 49. ISBN   978-0-22625-304-6. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Debnath, Debashis (June 1995). "Hierarchies Within Hierarchy: Some Observations on Caste System in Rajasthan". Indian Anthropologist. 25 (1): 23–30. JSTOR   41919761.
  9. ↑ Badri Narayan (2012). Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India: Culture, Identity and Politics. SAGE. p. 46. ISBN   9780761935377. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Moodie, Megan (2015). We Were Adivasis: Aspiration in an Indian Scheduled Tribe. University of Chicago Press. pp. 51–53. ISBN   978-0-22625-304-6. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Moodie, Megan (2015). We Were Adivasis: Aspiration in an Indian Scheduled Tribe. University of Chicago Press. pp. 51–53. ISBN   978-0-22625-304-6. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Moodie, Megan (2015). We Were Adivasis: Aspiration in an Indian Scheduled Tribe. University of Chicago Press. pp. 51–53. ISBN   978-0-22625-304-6. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Jaffrelot, Christophe (2003). India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India. London: C. Hurst & Co. p. 356. ISBN   978-1-85065-670-8. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Faisal, Aziz (2004). "Agricultural Labourers in Patna - Gaya Region During the 19th Century". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 65: 477–483. JSTOR   44144762.
  15. ↑ "Scheduled Caste of Haryana". haryanascbc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix – Uttar Pradesh". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  17. ↑ Chawla, Janet, ed. (2006). Birth and Birthgivers: The Power Behind the Shame. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 215–216. ISBN   978-8-12410-938-0. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Pinto, Sarah (2008). Where There is No Midwife: Birth and Loss in Rural India. Berghahn. pp. 47–48. ISBN   978-1-84545-310-7. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  19. ↑ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  20. ↑ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.