Arikah Map

Bhumihar

Castes of India
Bhumihar
Bhumihar:Flag of India.svg
Classification Caste/Brahmin
Subdivisions five main clans
Significant populations in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra and Nepal
Languages Hindi, Bhojpuri and Magahi
Religions Hinduism

Bhumihar Brahmins (भूमिहर ब्राह्मण), also known as Bhumihars (भूमिहार) are an influential Brahmin subcaste who have traditionally resided in fertile regions of Indo-Gangetic plains of North India, in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. They were referred to as Baabhans (बाभन) too, an apabhramsha word for Brahmin.


Contents

Etymology

The word Bhumihar consists of the Sanskrit word, bhoomi (भूमि), meaning "land" and the Apabhramsha har (हार), meaning 'owner'.

It is generally believed that they are called Bhumihars because they are agriculturists but there may be slight variation in the meaning of the word Bhumi, which generally means land. Take the example of district names as Singhbhum, Manbhum, Birbhum or Dhalbhum. These are all administrative units at present and were also revenue units during the British and Mughal periods.

Traditions

Mentions by Historians

Mr Crook

Mr Crook in his book, The Tribes and castes of UP and Oudh: Part II, page 64, has written:Bhumihar (Sanskrit Bhumi, 'land' and Kara(har), 'maker'): An important tribe and landowners and agriculturists in eastern districts. They are also known as Babhan, Zamindar Brahmin, Grihastha Brahman or Pachchima (Western) Brahmin.

Sir Elliot

According to Sir Elliot's supplemental glossary, there are five divisions of the Kamkoobj Brahmins. They are Kamkoobj proper, Sunadh, Surwaria, Jijhotia and Bhoinhar.

Mr William Oldham

Mr William Oldham in his book North Western Provinces Historical And Statical Memoir, has categorically mentioned that Bhoinhars, both by themselves and by ethnologists, are believed to be the descendants of Brahmins, who on becoming cultivators and landholders gave up their priestly functions.

Pundit Yogendra Bhattacharya

Pundit Yogendra Bhattacharya in his book Hindu Castes and Set, writes that Bhumihar Brahmin literally means landholder. The Bhumihar Brahmins are evidently those Brahmins who held grants of land for secular services. Any Brahmin who held a secular fief was a Bhumihar.

Mythology

In the context of mythological perspective, Bhumihar Brahmins wrongly identify themselves with Bhagwan Parashurama, who was a Brahmin and who is believed to have killed all those Kshatriyas 21 times from the earth who had failed or forgotten their duties and had become retrograde. The descendants and associates of Parshuram are called Bhumihar brahmins in Eastern U.P. and Bihar, Goud Brahmins in U.P. and Rajasthan, Chitpawan Brahmins in Maharashtra, Anavil Brahmins in Gujarat, Havyak Brahmins in Karnataka, Iyer Brahmins, Namboothiri Brahmins in Kerala and Mohyals in the Punjab region. Their variants are found with different names all across the Indian sub-continent. But one thing more important to note that generation of Brahmins remain Brahmins not changed as Bhumihar Brahmins. Parshuram ji was only Brahmins not Bhumihar Brahmins.

The Namboothiris' own mythology holds that Parashuraaman created the land (of Kerala) and bestowed it upon them. Thus their reverence of Parashuram shows that these two brahmin castes might be sharing the same lineage. The legend of Parasurama also exists amongst Brahmins of all India and he is worshipped in UP. Hence it has to be seen as a myth not exclusive to Namboothiris and Kerala alone. However, this myth also exist in an old Chera lore about King Velkezu Kuttavan. According to this myth, the king flings his spear into the sea to claim land from it. This lore must have modified later in Malayalam language by the Namboothiris as part of their campaign to establish themselves in Kerala. In the Namboothiri version, Parashuraaman uses his Parashu (Axe), to create new land for the Brahmins.

Present

The Bhumihars are or were predominantly farmers. Some are owners of vast quantities of land but many are small farmers too. Presently, the majority of Bhumihars have been reduced to the status of peasants with the fall of zamindars and elite class.

Marriage of people in this community, like most of other social groups of India, is restricted to their own subcaste. In fact, it is one of the five most endogamous castes of India (Allele frequencies for STR loci of the Powerplex 16 multiplex system in five endogamous populations of India). English education was adopted very late by Bhumihar Brahmins because they have been very orthodox Brahmins alongwith being well off from the rest. There had been some exceptions to this but nowadays they are doing very well in all walks of life.

Bhumihar Brahmin clans

Usually Bhumihar clans are known by the original place from which they come. For example Bhumihars from Dighwa went to Barahiya and settled there and known as Dighwait Bhumihars, similarly, Eksaria Bhumihars belongs to Eksaar village in Balia but spresed over complete Saran district of Bihar. But there are others like Jijhoutiya Bhumihar Brahmins who reside in Eastern U.P. and the region of Jhansi. Chitponia Bhumihar of Nawada are form Maharastra. In fact at times they are considered as a separate Brahmin sub-caste altogether. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was from this clan of Bhumihar Brahmins. Then there are others like Bhriguvansh, claiming lineage from Maharishi Bhrigu as the name suggests. There are around two to three dozen such clans. Drona Ticar (Domkatar colloquially) is another Bhumihar clan.And the other idea is that this caste is a mixture of brahmans and khastriya

The Village Eksar from where the origination of Eksaria started is situated in Ballia. The First clan of Eksaria Bhumihar Brahmins was Jaganath Dixit, who mirated probably from Indraprasth or from Hastinapur in the year 1551A.D. and became mantra guru of Nepal Mahraj. The eksaria migrated to Parsa garh and subsequently to Chainpur, Bagaura, Chittauli etc and famous "REOTITH-HAKAM" villages Zamindaars are Eksaria Bhumihars.

Bhumihar Brahmin Surnames

As Bhumihar Brahmin adopted Surnames from Brahmins,Muslman,Rajput and so many others community. Some are given below.

Notable Bhumihars

Freedom Fighters , Politicians and Philanthropists(Pre Independence )

Basawon Singh (Sinha) has been among the greatest nationalists who joined into the freedom struggle at a tender age of 13 and kept on his struggle for the independence of the country from the colonial yoke and fighting for the rights of the underprivileged, industrial labours and agricultural workers all throughout his life. He had spent more than 16 years in prisons in British India fighting for India's independence. He lived uptill the ripe age of 80 years and died on April 7, 1989. His commitment to Democratic Socialism remained unflinching till the last day of his life.

Basawon Singh (Sinha) was born in a poor Bhumihar Brahmin family in Jamalpur (Subhai), Vaishali on March 23, 1909. He used to walk eight miles to go to the nearest school to get education. His formal education came to an abrupt end when he was rusticated from college in Matriculate because of joining the Nationalist Movement.

He first participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement after Gandhi's visit to Hajipur in 1920-21 when he was only 13 years old.

He joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army headed by Yogendra Shukla in 1925. He absconded in 1929 after the famous Lahore Conspiracy Case. He was co-accused in many conspiracy cases namely Bhusawal, Kakori, Tirhut and Deluaha cases. He carried on the movement along with Chandrashekhar Azad and Keshav Chandra Chakravarty. He was arrested and thrown in Bankipore Central jail (June, 1930) from where he escaped on the third day, but was rearrested. He was served a seven -year sentence when he undertook a 57-day hunger-strike against the imposition of cross-bar fetters in jails. He was released in June, 1936 due to frail health due to his fasting.

He Joined CSP in December,1936 and was appointed its labour secretary. He established trade unions in the coal fields, sugar mills, mica mines and railways of Bihar. He formed Japla labour union in 1937, Baulia Labour union in 1937, organized the workers of Jamalpur Workshop along with Shivnath Bannerjee, formed the Gaya cotton and Jute Mill Labour Union, formed the Tata Collieries Labour Association along with Subhash Chandra Bose, went on to become its president when Bose left India in 1941. He organized coal workers of Talcher, Rajgangpur (Orissa) and Satna (MP); established Mica Workers Union, Gomia Labour Union (Explosives), later these unions affiliated to HMS. He was active in AIRF since 1936, president of OT Railway Union from Agra to Nefa and NE Railway Mazdoor Union.

He was rearrested in April, 1937 along with Jayaprakash Narayan, Benipuri and others in Patna for "unconstitutional" works for six months. During the Second World War he was the first man in Bihar to be arrested under Defence of India Ordinance on 26th January, 1940 in Husainabad, Palamu and released after eighteen months. During the Quit India Movement, after the interception of Jayaprakash Narayan's Deoli letter addressed to him, he went underground in 1941 and went to Afghanistan to collect firearms and ammunition. He attended the Bombay AICC session (9th August, 1942) and conducted the movement from the underground. He was held in Delhi on January 8, 1943 to be freed only on 3rd April,1946 after which he continued his nationalist and Trade Union work.

One of the architects of the Socialist Party after its break with the Congress. He was a member of the National Executive of the Socialist Party. He is the founder of HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha), one of the six national federations affiliated to the Socialists. He was held for Gomia strike in 1965 fighting for the rights of workers.

He won from Dehri-on-Sone in the first General Elections of 1952 and becomes the first leader of the opposition from 1952 uptill 1962. He became a Member of the Legislative Council from 1962-68. He became one of the most powerful Cabinet Miniters (Cabinet Minister of Labour, Planning and Industry) in the 1967 Coalition Government. During the Emergency of 1975 he stayed underground for 19 months conducting the movement and his wife was jailed under MISA as a potential "threat" to the Government.

In 1977 he wins from Dehri-on-Sone and again becomes the Cabinet Minister for Labour, Planning and Industry in the Janata Party government in the state. He kept on guiding the Trade Union Movement and kept on fighting to keep the Janata Party intact till the last day of his life. He died on 7th April, 1989.

He lived within very frugal means and was respected for his honesty and forthrightness. He was committed to the country for whose independence he was also instrumental. He kept guiding and working for the underprivileged, working class and agricultural labourers till the last day of his life.

He did not believe in the existence of God, much like the rest of his socialist comrades. He did not wear the sacred thread because he did not believe in segregation from the rest. Even his widowed mother supported the ideas of his only son. When he used to take his fellow revolutionaries to his mud house to have food, his mother never enquired about their caste even after being an orthodox Brahmin and used to serve them food. And after his son alongwith other nationalists was gone she used to wash the place with gangajal so that their feelings were not hurt.

The room of his house where he was born has fallen down and the whole house was in a dilapidated condition till recently when it was renovated to some extent by his descendants rather than the Government.

Basawon Singh (Sinha) was an extremely handsome personality with six feet five inches in height and extremely sharp featured with weatish complexion.

In India’s struggle for Independence the "Champaran Satyagraha", marks a very important stage. Raj Kumar Shukla drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi, who had just returned from South Africa, to the plight of the peasants suffering under an oppressive system established by European indigo planters. Besides other excesses they were forced to cultivate indigo on 3/20 part of their holding and sell it to the planters at prices fixed by the planters. This marked Gandhiji’s entry into the India’s Struggle for Freedom. On his arrival at Motihari, the district headquarters, accompanied by Raj Kumar Shukla, Gandhiji was ordered to leave by the next available train which he refused to do and was arrested. He was released and the ban order was withdrawn in the face of a, "Satyagraha" threat. Gandhiji conducted an open enquiry into the peasant’s grievances. The Government had to appoint an enquiry committee with Gandhiji as a member. This led to the abolition of the system. Raj Kumar Shukla has been described by Gandhiji in his "Atmakatha", as a man whose suffering gave him the strength to rise against the odds. In his letter to Gandhiji he wrote "Respected Mahatma, You hear the stories of others everyday. Today please listen to my story….. I want to draw your attention to the promise made by you in the Lucknow Congress that you would come to Champaran. The time has come for you to fulfil your promise. 19 lakhs suffering people of Champaran are waiting to see you." Gandhiji reached Patna on 10 April, 1917 and on 16 April he reached Motihari accompanied by Raj Kumar Shukla. Under Gandhiji’s leadership the historic "Champaran Satyagraha" began. The contribution of Raj Kumar Shukla is reflected in the writings of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first President of India, Acharya Kriplani and of course, Mahatma Gandhi himself. Raj Kumar Shukla maintained a diary in which he has given an account of struggle against the atrocities of the indigo planters, atrocities so movingly depicted by Deen Bandhu Mitra in "Neel Darpan", a play that was translated by Michael Madhusudan Dutt. This movement by Mahatma Gandhi received the spontaneous support of a cross section of people, including Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who ultimately became the first President of India.


Arts, Culture and Intelligentsia



He has been among the most renowned historians of ancient India. He belongs to the Marxist school of thought. His works include: Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India (ISBN : 8120808983, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers), Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Early India (ISBN : 8121506727), Urban Decay in India c. 300-c. 1000 (ISBN : 8121500451), Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order Down to Circa A D 600 (ISBN : 8120808738), Higher Education (ISBN : 8171693202), Looking for the Aryans (ISBN : 8125006311)and many other scholastic works.


Famous Politicians

Doctors , Engineers & Lawyers "


Date of birth : February 12, 1928Place of Birth : Gaya (Bihar)Passed B.A. Hons. (Patna University ) in 1946. Passed B.L. (Patna University) in 1948. Enrolled as articled clerk in High Court, Patna in 1949. Started practice in High Court, Patna as an Advocate - Feb. 6, 1950. Enrolled as Supreme Court Advocate - March 6, 1957. Later nominated as Senior Advocate. Took charge (oath) as Judge, Patna High Court on April 12, 1973. Took charge (oath) as Judge, Supreme Court of India on October 5, 1987. Appointed Chief Justice of India on November 18, 1992. Retired on Feb. 11, 1993.

Mr. Singh started working as an advocate in the Supreme Court since 1990 and was designated as Senior Advocate in December 2004. He has handled constitutional, administrative, corporate, criminal and arbitration matters in the apex court and Delhi and Bombay High Courts.


Civil Servants

" Others"


Former States and Big Zamindars


INDUSTRIALISTS

Mahendra Prasad [4]

See Also

Further reading

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