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. |
