| People
In Bihar there has been a good deal of mixture among the various castes.
Though Brahmans and Kshatriyas belong to the same racial stock, the Kshatriyas
are more mixed because of their marriage with various stocks of people.
The lower castes like the Koiri, Kurmi, Kahar and Ahir represent
various racial strains. Caste rivalries and prejudices are numerous in
Bihar. The narrow-mindedness of the people is one of the chief causes
of the unsatisfactory state of Bihar politics. But now though modern life,
better education and above all the efforts of its enlightened youth, are
gradually doing away with the prejudices.
Brahman, Bhumihar, Rajput, Banias and Kayastha are the
dominant castes. Kayasthas and Banias are the two important caste groups
in the cities and towns. The Kayasthas are prominent in all modern professional
occupations and are generally given the status of elite castes. The Banias
predominate in trade and commerce. Bhumihars are regarded as a caste different
from the Brahmans who consider the former inferior in the social hierarchy.
Members of all these caste groups have occupied prominent positions in
the educational and political life of the state.
The other land owning castes are Ahirs (Yadavas), Kurmis
and Koiris in the plains of Bihar. The Ahirs or Yadavas are agricultural
caste. Cattle-raising is their hereditary occupation most are settled
cultivators. Some still roam about selling milk and ghee. Koiris are agriculturists.
They are distinguished from Kurmis and other purely cultivating castes
by their skill in growing vegetables and other special cash crops. In
the neighbourhood of large towns they work as market-gardeners. Many Koiris
are rich land owners. Some of them are still prosperous cultivators, holding
occupancy rights.
The most notable among the schedule castes are Bhumij,
Chamar (Mochi), Dhobi, Dom, Dusadh, Musahar, Nat and Pasi. Their means
of livelihood still being hard manual and menial. About 92 percent of
the total population of these castes are confined to the village while
those in the towns and cities are slum-dwellers who work on pavements.
Although education is free for them, the vast majority of them still continue
to wallow in illiteracy.
The Musahars are field labours whose wages are paid in
cash or in kind according to the traditional custom in the villages. Most
of them live apart from the basti.
Only a few have attained the dignity of cultivating on their own account.
Another caste, Dusadhs are probably of aboriginal descent. A large
number of them serves as watchmen or chaukidars, they are also employed
as village messengers, grooms, elephant drivers and wood cutters, punkha
coolies and porters.
The Dhanuks are servant class found
in every place where there are high caste Hindus. The poor among
them perform the menial household duties along with their family. Some
Dhanuks are also cultivators while the females act as maid servants.
Insane prejudice which was prevalent against the lower
castes is gradually disappearing in Bihar. The rich titled classes in
the state are regarded as ordinary mortals. In the country districts the
influence of Zamindar (land lords) families is considerable. It depends
more on their position as landlords than as persons of title. In small
towns they have a certain importance on account of their historic descent.
In the larger towns the members of the upper classes are of small account
unless accompanied by wealth.
The middle classes in Bihar are mostly caste-ridden.
They are mostly professionals and doesn't have caste prejudices. They
are the ones who almost monopolize the bar, the bench, the medical profession,
trade and industry, the civil service and educational appointments.
Many important posts in the secretariat are held by men of humble birth.
The middle classes merge imperceptibly into the lower middle class and
then into the masses. |
