Mal (caste)

The Mal is a Hindu caste found in the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Mal
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Bengali, Assamese, Maithili, Hindi
Populated states	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bangladesh
Population	205,000 (West Bengal, 1981 census) 273,641 (West Bengal, 2001 census)[1] 306,234 (West Bengal, 2011 census)[2]

Mal and Malla are derived from the Sanskrit word malla, meaning wrestler.^[3][4]

Paharia Mal or Mal Paharia is considered as Scheduled Tribe while the other Mal groups are considered as Scheduled Castes by the Government of West Bengal.^[5][6][7]

Demographics

Mal numbered 273,641 in the 2001 census and were 1.5 per cent of the total Scheduled Caste population of West Bengal. 39.6 per cent of the Mal were literate - 51.9 per cent males and 26.8 per cent females were literate.^[8]

Divisions

Raja Mals were rulers of Bengal-Jharkhand junction area. Chatradhari Mals were supposed to be ministers of Raja Mals.^{[citation needed]} Sapure Mals are mainly snake charmers. Paharia Mals generally live in hilly areas, and have their own distinct language. Raja Mals do not practice widow marriage like other orthodox Hindus.^[3]

See also

• Mal Muslim

References

1. "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights - The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
2. "(SC)2011census". censusindia.gov.in.
3. Singh, Kumar Suresh (29 Aug 2008). The scheduled castes (2, illustrated ed.). Anthropological Survey of India, 1993. ISBN 9780195632545.
4. Dasgupta, Biswas & Mallik 2009, p. 19.
5. "Scheduled Caste List Of West Bengal State". anagrasarkalyan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2015-03-08.
6. "Scheduled Caste Welfare - List of Scheduled Castes". socialjustice.nic.in(Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment). Archived from the original on 2012-09-13.
7. "Scheduled Tribe List Of West Bengal State". anagrasarkalyan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2009-08-29.
8. "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights - The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2009-06-28.

• Dasgupta, Gautam Kumar; Biswas, Samira; Mallik, Rabiranjan (2009), Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur, A Mittal Publication, p. 19, ISBN 978-8183242943