Kudmi Mahato

Not to be confused with the Kurmi of Bihar.

The Kudmi Mahato^{[note 1]} are a tribal community in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha of India. They are primarily agriculturalist.^[2][3]

Kudmi/(kurmi)Mahato
Mahato, Kudmi
Languages	Native language – Kurmali Secondary language – Hindi, Odia, Bengali
Country	India, Nepal and Bangladesh
Populated states	Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Nepal and Bangladesh
Status	OBC (in India)[1]

Population

Census data for Kudmi in 1931^{[note 2]}

Bengal Province[4]
Area	Population
Burdwan	4161
Birbhum	499
Bankura	20564
Midnapore	85711
Hooghly	2835
Howrah	4348
24 Parganas	15444
Calcutta	9628
Nadia	3955
Murshidabad	1693
Jessore	546
Khulna	527
Rajshahi	6805
Dinajpur	7712
Jalpaiguri	1693
Darjiling	632
Rangpur	3692
Bogra	2894
Pabna	4228
Malda	6777
Dacca	1491
Mymensingh	4289
Faridpur	1941
Bakarganj	87
Tippera	483
Noakhali	78
Chittagong	463
Cooch Behar	1138
Tripura	338
Sikkim	20
Assam	22,304[5]

Bihar and Orissa Province[6]
Area	Population
Patna	173,146
Gaya	42,459
Shahabad	59,040
Saran	108,512
Muzaffarpur	130,683
Darbhanga	67,295
Monghyr	58,891
Bhagalpur	35,645
Purnea	12,774
Santal Parganas	22,630
Hazaribagh	105,725
Ranchi	62,198
Palaman	5,985
Manbhum	323,068
Singbhum	22,463
Orissa States	95,422
Chota Nagpur States	25,807

Classification

Kudmi were classified as a Notified Tribe by the British Raj under the terms of the Indian Succession Act introduced in 1865 as they have customary rules of succession.^{[7][page needed][8][9]} Kudmi of Chotanagpur are different from Kurmi of Gangetic plain.^[10] According to Mahanta (2003) kudmi follow totemism which stamps them as Dravidian descent and resembles to Dravidian tribe around them according to book The Tribes and Castes of Bengal (1891) written by Herbert Hope Risley.^{[11][12][13][14]} Subsequently, in 1913, they were classified as a Primitive tribe. Then they were omitted from the list of communities listed as tribes in the 1931 census.^[15]

They were not in the list of Scheduled Tribes drawn up in 1950. They are included in the list of Other Backward Classes in the States of Jharkhand,^[16] West Bengal^[17] and Odisha.^[18][19] In 2004, the Government of Jharkhand recommended that they should be listed as a Scheduled Tribe rather than Other Backward Class.^[20] The Tribal Research Institute of Government of India recommended against this proposal, claiming they are a sub-caste of the Kunbi and thus different to tribal people.^[21][22][23] Therefore, In 2015, the Government of India refused to approve the recommendation of Jharkhand government to list the Kudmi Mahato as Schedule Tribe.^[23]

The language of Kudmi is Kudmali/Kurmali. But according to study, Kurmali language have vocabulary which is neither Dravidian nor Austro-asiatic. The Kudmi people once spoke a distinct language, neither Munda nor Dravidian but also not Indo-Aryan, and at some point switched to the regional Indo-Aryan lingua franca of that time, leaving a distinct substrate in their new language.^[24][25]

In April 2023, a Kudmi organization of West Bengal and Jharkhand engaged in rail blockages and demanded Scheduled Tribe status,^[26] a demand which was opposed by some scheduled tribes.^[27][28]

Religion and culture

Social organisations of this tribal community have agitated for scheduled tribe status and recognition of their traditional Sarna religion.^[29] During the 20th century, some Kudmis of Chhotanagpur underwent a social change of Kshatriyaization along with the other Kurmi of North India^[30] and elevated their status as Kshatriya.^[31][32]

Historically, the Kudmi Mahatos have been a noble class^[33] who were landowning zamindars.^[34][35][36] They exhibit upper-caste status^[37][38] and performed priestly functions in the temples situated in western Rarh region.^[39]

The traditional occupation of Kudmi is agriculture. Kudmi are divided into 81 clans or gushti including Keshria, Hindowar, Bagh Banwar, Nagwar, Punoriar, Bangsoar, Sankhwar, Kanbindha, Katiar, Dumriar, Karwar etc.^[23][40][41]

They are nature worshippers.^{[42][43][44][45]} Bari Puja, Karam, Chait Parab, Jitiya, Bandna, Tusu Parab are some of the major festivals of Kudmis. They worship Budha Baba in Madapthan and Garam at garamthan. Jhumair and Chhau are their folk dance.^[46][47]

Genetics

According to National Institute of Biomedical Genomics(NIBMG), the Kudmi Mahatos genetically cluster together with other Indo-European speaking populations of Bengal & Orissa region^[48] indicating less genetic distance between both the populations. The study also identifies the Kudmi population as Indo-European speaking who have a geographic proximity with the Mundari speaking populations, also mentioned by Genome India Project(GIP).^[49]

Although clustered together with other Indo-European populations such as Rahri Brahmins, Kayastha, Mahishya and Oriya Brahmin, they show a considerable affinity with the Austro-Asiatic populations.^[48]

Roles in Indian's freedom struggle

The Kudmi Mahato community played a role in various rebellions in India's freedom struggle. From the Chuar Rebellion to the Quit India Movement, many Kudmi Mahatos were martyred. Raghunath Mahato was a notable leader of the Chuar Rebellion in India's freedom struggle against the British. The rebellion he waged against the British is known as the Chuar Rebellion. His Slogan "Apna Gaon, Apna Raaj; Dur Bhagao Bideshi Raaj".^{[50][51][52][53][54]}

Buli Mahato was the hero martyr of Kol Rebellion and Bhumij Rebellion.^{[55][56][57][58]} Then came the Neel Rebellion 1843-1848 led by Gopal Mahato. Chanku Mahato then led the Santhal Rebellion in Godda district.^[59] Also in the Sepoy Mutiny eleven were hanged together with Sukdev Mahato. In addition, Kanka Mahato, Rajani Mahato, Suchand Mahato, Kalicharan Mahato, Gopinath Mahato, Kalia Mahato etc. led the Medi Movement of Orissa. After that, the Kudmis also actively participated in the non-cooperation movement. Five Kudmi Mahato youths were martyred in this movement. These are Gokul Mahato, Mohan Mahato, Sheetal Mahato, Sahadeva Mahato, Ganesh Mahato.^[60][61] Many were also jailed. Girish Mahato, Nanku Chandra Mahato, Govinda Mahato, Dasharath Mahato, Chunaram Mahato, Mathan Mahato and others were imprisoned in Hazaribagh Jail during Mahatma Gandhi's civil disobedience movement. Padak Mahato was also imprisoned in Bhagalpur Jail. Sagar Mahato, Bhajahari Mahato, Bhim Mahato, Satyakinkar Mahato, Mohini Mahato were imprisoned for doing satyagraha in 1941. Then in 1942, Satyakinkar Mahato was imprisoned from Manbazar during the Quit India movement. Chunaram Mahato and Govinda Mahato were martyred during the siege of Manbazar police station in 1942. Among the women Bhavini Mahato played a prominent role. Jagadish Mahato of (Dhanbad-Parabasnia) also took an active part in the Quit India movement. Many others are also involved.^{[62][63][64][65][66]}

Notable people

• Raghunath Mahato (1738 – 1778), freedom fighter
• Buli Mahato, freedom fighter
• Chanku Mahato (1816 – 1856), freedom fighter
• Binod Bihari Mahato (1923 – 1991), Lawyer and politician
• Dhananjay Mahato (1919 – 2014), freedom fighter, social activist and politician
• Nirmal Mahto (1950 – 1987), political activist
• Sunil Kumar Mahato (1966 – 2007), politician
• Sudesh Mahato, former Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand
• Bidyut Baran Mahato, member of parliament to the 16th Lok Sabha from Jamshedpur (Lok Sabha constituency), Jharkhand
• Damodar Sekhar, 1st Raja of Panchkot Raj
• Deepika Kumari, 4 time Olympian Archer

See also

• Sadan people
• Mahto

Footnotes

1. Other names include Kurmi, Mahato
2. The 1931 census data for Kudmi (Mahato) is combined with Kurmi Kshatriya, Kurmi, Kumbi, Kunbi, Kurambi, Kurum, Kurumanik, all grouped under the term "Kurmi" due to phonetic similarities. However, the Kurmi (Mahato) are different from others and are inhabiting in a stretch from Manbhum to Medinipur. As author Lacey (1933), p. 293 noted that "It is not possible to give accurate statistics of the Kurmi Mahto community, but something over 660,000 “Kurmis” were enumerated on the Chota Nagpur plateau, and the overwhelming majority of these (about half of whom were found in Manbhum district) would undoubtedly be Kurmi Mahtos."

References

1. Taradatt, Dr; Basa, Kishor K (eds.). Odisha District Gazetteer (Mayurbhanj) (PDF). Gopabandhu Academy of Administration [Gazetters Unit], General Administration Department Government Of Odisha. pp. 86–87. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-07.
2. O'Malley, Lewis Sydney Steward (2011). Bengal District Gazetteers: Sinhbhum, Saraikela and Kharsawan. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7268-215-6.
3. "Bandh in Jharkhand as Kurmi outfits seek inclusion in ST list". Indian express. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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6. Lacey, W. G. (1932). Bihar and Orissa – Census Of India 1931. Vol. VII. Part II, Tables. p. 138.
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8. All India Reporter. D.V. Chitaley. 1925.
9. Bera, Gautam Kumar (2008). The Unrest Axle: Ethno-social Movements in Eastern India. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-145-8.
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11. Aiyar, R. Swaminatha (1987). Dravidian Theories. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 978-81-208-0331-2.
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13. Māhāta, Paśupati Prasāda (2000). Sanskritization Vs Nirbakization. Sujan Publications. ISBN 978-81-85549-29-3.
14. O'Malley, Lewis Sydney Steward (2011). Bengal District Gazetteers: Sinhbhum, Saraikela and Kharsawan. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7268-215-6.
15. Lalan Tiwari (1995). Issues in Indian Politics. Mittal. p. 340. ISBN 9788170996187.
16. "Central List of Castes under Category OBC for Jharkhand" (PDF). jharkhand.gov.in. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
17. "List of Other Backward Classes in West Bengal". wbcbc.gov.in. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
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21. Singh, K. S. (2006). Tribal Movements in India. Ajay Kumar Jain. p. 116. ISBN 978-81-7304-704-6. Another remarkable thing is that the Kurmis of Chota nagpur have no sub-division, no sub-caste or even no sub groups. This singleness of the unity of the community totally differentiates it from the Kurmis of Bihar who are divided into sub-castes, e.g., the Awadhia, Ghamaila, Kochaisa, Dhanuk, Joshwar, Sindriya, etc. This lack of division singularly confirms that the Kurmis of Chotanagpur have migrated somewhere from central part of India, where they have their original kinsmen, Kunbis. .. The totemistic organization of the Kurmis further indicate that Kurmis of Chotanagpur are distinct and different from the Kurmis of North Bihar who have titular gotras.
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23. "कुरमी को ST का दर्जा तभी, जब TRI अनुशंसा करे, लेकिन रिसर्च वाला ही कोई नहीं है". www.bhaskar.com.
24. Paudyal, Netra P.; Peterson, John (2020-09-01). "How one language became four: the impact of different contact-scenarios between "Sadani" and the tribal languages of Jharkhand". Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics. 7 (2): 327–358. doi:10.1515/jsall-2021-2028. ISSN 2196-0771. S2CID 233732014.
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30. Pinch; R., Wiliiam (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. Berkeley : University of California Press. p. 89. A striking feature of these peasant based social movements in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is the quality of their leadership. A new educated elite, which had begun to penetrate the lower and middle rungs of government service, provided the organizational frame for the status claims among communities formerly identified as servile. This is most evident among Kurmis, the first peasant community to organize a campaign for Kshatriya identity. By the 1890s the Kurmi-Kshatriya movement was being coordinated on a broad, transregional level.
31. W.G., Lacey (1933). "Some Aspects Of The Census Operations Of 1931". archive.org. p. 126. Retrieved 10 April 2024. And there was much wonder in the mind of the non-Kurmis of Manbhum that Panchet raja, having come up from the ancient Kshatriya royal family of the district, accepts the Kurmis as Kurmi Kshatriyas.
32. W.G., Lacey (1933). "Some Aspects Of The Census Operations Of 1931". archive.org. p. 124. Retrieved 10 April 2024. There can be no question but that the Kurmi Mahtos are completely Hinduized and have been for many years. They are in general much better educated, much more prosperous and enterprising, than the other aboriginal tribes or the low-caste Hindus, and they have succeeded in retaining their self-respect in a degree which is uncommon among primitive tribes converted to Hinduism. It is doubtless this circumstance which is now leading them not only to identify themselves with a Hindu caste which happens to bear the same name but also to join with that caste in affirming their Kshatriya origin.
33. Dalton (1872). Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal. India. p. 318. Though the Kurmis include so many noble families, their social position in Bengal Proper is not high.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
34. Mondal, Bikram (2021-09-07). Broken Palace: The Lost Majesty of Bengal. Notion Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-68554-408-9. Panchkote Raj, also known as Panchkot Zamindari or Kashipur Raj, was a family of Kudmi (Kurmi) community Zamindars who ruled in the western fringe areas of present-day West Bengal, India and some of the adjacent areas in present-day Jharkhand.
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36. Coupland, H. (1911). Manbhum - Bengal District Gazetteers (PDF). Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. pp. 94–95. Both the Ind and the Chhata festivals are closely connected with what may be called the semi-feudal zamindari system of the district, and the celebrations take place only at present or past headquarters of one or other of the local Rajas, and by way of imitation, of one or two wealthy Kurmi landholders.
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