Bagal (caste)

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Bagal
বাগাল, ବାଗାଲ/ ବଗାଳ, बागाल
Bagal women.jpg
Bagal women of Kaptipada area are returning from forest after collecting Sal leaves.
ClassificationGeneral Category
ReligionsAnimism with admixture of Hinduism
LanguagesL1 – Kudmali (Similar to the Bengali-Manbhumi dialect)
L2 – Hindi, Odia, Bengali
CountryIndia
Populated statesJharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
RegionBalasore, Jhargram, Mayurbhanj, Paschim Medinipur, Sareikela, East Singhbhum
Populationest. 40,000
Family namesBagal, Gop, Khilar, Rout, Sing
EndogamousAhir Bagal
Khanroal/ Khandait Bagal
Krishna Bagal
Mogodha Bagal
Related groupsBhumij, Rajuar, Mahato
Historical groupingAboriginal race, Pastoralist, Serving Class

Bagal (pronounced as Bāgāl, Hindi: बागाल, Bengali: বাগাল, Odia: ବାଗାଲ୍/ ବଗାଳ) is a cattle herding caste of East India. Bagal people are living in the state of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] They use the Kudmali language in their home domain (with little variation, locally known as Bagal Bhasa, similar to the Bengali Manbhumi dialect) and Bengali, Hindi and Odia language for intergroup communication.[8][9][10][11][12]

Overview[]

As per The People of India project and anthropologist P. K. Bhowmick, Swapan Kumar Chakraborty, Swaran Singh, the Bagal is a pastoralist caste/community of eastern India[13] and the literal meaning of the word 'Bagal' is a group of people whose duty is grazing and taking care of cattle and other domestic animals of the landowners. Additionally, they were given responsibilities of various household chores.[14][9] So most of the Bagal people worked as contractual herder in the affluent families of Hindu caste, hence they are also referred as Bhatua, Baromasia and Munish.[15][16] They are ethnically a tribal derived (semi-tribal) and a marginalized community in the Indian society.[17][18][19][20]

Deep saffron color indicating district level concentration of Bagals in India.
Distribution of Bagal people in India
State Jharkhand Odisha West Bengal
District Paschim Singbhum Baleswar Bankura
Jhargram
Purba Singbhum Bhadrak Paschim Medinipur
Sareikela Kharsawan Kendrapada Purulia
Mayurbhanj Purba Medinipur

Population[]

The Census commission doesn't consider caste as a factor for the Census of India except for Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste, so there is no specifc data available now for the current population. The last census enumerated caste as a factor before the Independence of India i.e., The last census happened in 1931. The Mayurbhanj state census 1931 recorded a total of 1621 people living in Mayurbhanj state i.e., 1321 form Baripada, 234 from Kaptipada, 52 from Bamanghati and 14 from Panchpir Subdivision and the census also referred to census 1901,[21][22] where 7824 from Medinipur, 1404 from Singhbhum, 854 from Orissa tributary states, 602 from Manbhum, 383 from Chota Nagpur tributary states, 10 from Balasore and 5 from Puri. All those Bagals are included in Ahir and Goala except Bankuar where 1520 Bagals are included in Bauri.[23] However, In 1877 W. W. Hunter classified 2077 Bagals in the pastoralist group.[24] By considering Mayurbhanj state census report 1931 and estimation of S. K. Chokroborty in Medinipur district (i.e., 20000 people in Midnapore), it's estimated 40000 Bagals living in the core area (in the Subernarekha valley region) of Bagal inhabitants location.[8]

Social Structure[]

In the Hindu social structure, Bagal people fall in lower section of the Varna system but they perceive themselves in the middle range of caste hierarchy following tribal characteristics[25] and relatively considered as a clean caste by the Adivasi community and unclean caste by upper Hindu caste.[26][27][28]

Though the Bagals call themselves Gopas, the "higher" Hindu castes do not regard them as proper sat-sudras, but do not explicitly state that they are asat-sudras or antyajas. From their features it seems that Bagals have descended from tribal pastoralists and become Hinduized. Radhiya Brahmans do not serve them ritually but Madhya-desiya and Utkal Brahmans do.[29]

There are four endogamous subdivision of Bagal society namely Ahir Bagal, Khanroal/ Khandait Bagal, Krishna Bagal and Mogodha Bagal. There are no lineage in Ahir Bagal and Khanroal/ Khandait Bagal but in the Mogodha Bagal and Krishna Bagal, there are approximately 23–25 mejor lineage i.e., Arikula, Banardiha, Bankuar, Bhatua, Bukuria, Chardiha, Danadiha, Deolia, Gutisukri/ Butisukri, Hajombanda, Jetuar/ Jegoar, Kulmahtu, Kurkutia, Lakul, Manikdiha, Patkam, Punihasa, Samdia/ Samdiha, Sanahatu, Satbhaya, Sikaria, Tetla. Those bigger lineage have sub-lineage also and every lineage has some number of clans (gotra). Nag (Snake), Sal, Kachim (Tortoise), Siyal, Boni (Indian Myna), Singai are totemic clans while Kashyapa and Sandilya are non-totemic clans.[8] Buru Bhatua and Deolia lineage claim that they were the community level priest of the Bagal caste.[8] Most of the Bagal people use their community name Bagal as a surname while others use Rout, Khilar, Gop, Sing.[27][9]

Food habitats[]

The staple food of Bagal people is Rice, Puffed rice, Saag, Dry fish along with other vegitables. They/ Some are non-vegetarian, they eat Meat (except Beef), Chicken, Pork, Fish, Snail, Oyster, Cuchia, Kurkut and some wild animals like Deer. They also consume local alcohol like, Handia, Pan, Bidi, Gudakhu, etc.

Culture[]

The Bagal people mostly practice Animism with admixture of Hinduism and their festivals revolve around agriculture and warships of community deity.[30][9] To note that the Bagal tradition and rituals are observed only in the majority Bagals living in villages or areas whereas not so in minority Bagals living in multiethnic villages or migrant villages.[31]

Rituals of life[]

Humans go through various stages of age, and those steps are observed in a variety of social disciplines. Although the social customs of the Bagal people are influenced by Hinduism, the methods and purposes of observance are different.

When a baby is born in the Bagal race, they immediately announce the good news to their relatives and celebrate a festival on the ninth day of the baby's birth, called Narta Ghar, and the baby is named in the twenty-first day. In adolescence, the boy grazes domestic animals, assists his parents with household chores. During puberty, the boy tries to learn agricultural and other sustainable work. The first menstruation of the girl is not seriously observed. Only the affluent family organise a fest. When a boy or girl reaches their marriage age, the family seeks out a suitable spouse for them in their endogamous subdivision. They don't practice cross cousin or same lineage marriage. There are four types of marriage for the people of Bagal community, namely Dekha Chahan Behaghar (Arrange marriage), Palaniya/ Sindur ghasa Behaghar (Love marriage), Kuta Mala Behaghar (A low cost/ Urgent marriage) and Sanga Behaghar (Widow marriage). During pregnancy, a woman has to follow a variety of traditions, rituals as well as taboos. At seven months of pregnancy, the woman's family member happily brings a variety of food and organizes a small feast with the neighbours which they call the Shad Khia.

They mostly cremate dead bodies with Hindu rituals except if the dead body is a pregnant women or kid, then they bury the dead body.

Festivals[]

There are two types of festivals based on how they give importance to those festivals.

Bangsa puja / Gotar puja/ Ghar puja, Gan puja, Asali puja, Mag puja, Jantal puja, Nua khai are community level festivals, which are celebrated within their lineage, sublineage, clan or family. Meanwhile, Makar parab, Durga puja, Bandhna/ Kali puja, Tusu puja, Raja parab, Gamha parab festivals are celebrated with the neighbouring communities of their locality.[32]

Bandna Parab, a cattle worshiping festival and Karam Puja, a ritual of worship Karam tree (representing the Karam God) are important festival cum culture for the youth of Bagals.[33]

Dance & Music[]

Bagal people dance to a variety of songs during the festival to make life more enjoyable. Their songs often contain stories and experiences from their lives. Karam dance, Pata Nach, Kathi Nach, Chhou Nach and Jhumar Nach are key activities.[8][34][15]

History[]

Mythology[]

The Bagals have a myth about their origin that Lord Krishna used to go to the pasture land to tend the cattle everyday. Sometimes he felt tired thus Lord Krishna wanted to be relieved of the monotonous job of tending the cattle everyday. So he created a Bagal from the grime and sweat of his own body to tend the cattle daily in the pastures. From that story, the Bagals claim themselves as ‘Krishna Gop' and are simply known as Bagal.[16][8]

Origin & Occupation[]

Bagal people migrated from central India and they are one of the original settlers of Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.[27] Over the period they migrated to Bengal province and Mayurbhanj Princely State for better livelihood. The Bagal settlement mostly found on both sides of the Subarnarekha river which is the borderline of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. The origin of this community remained unclear but Mayurbhanj State census 1931 noted that;

The Bagals are the cattle–herds. Herding cattle is their principal occupation. In the census of 1901, the Bagals of Medinapore ware included in the Ahir and Gohala, and those of Bankura in Bauri. ...But a note has been left to the effect that they form a real caste in Mayurbhanj and Saraikela State, which is a fact. Through the large number of Bagals still follow their traditional occupation, many of them have taken to agriculture.[35][36]

and Marvin Davis authored, Rank and Rivalry: The Politics of inequality in rural West Bengal noted that;

The Bagals are traditionally associated with work as cattle herders. In 1971, though, the Bagals of Torkotala village [in Midanapore] worked as agricultural laborers, cultivating smaller plots their own on the side. Based on their traditional association with cattle, the Bagals have recently advanced a claim to be Goalas by caste. It is unlikely that this claim will be recognized by other Hindus [of the village], though, at least not in the immediate future, for Sadgops are aware that their own caste is regarded as a purified section of Goala. For the Bagals to establish their claim as Goalas would be indirectly to link the Sadgop and Bagal castes to each other, a link which the Sadgops adamantly deny.[3]

Although the word Bagal is a occupational term in Kurmali and Bengali language, which means anyone who possesses cattle herding as a profession irrespective of his/ her caste, religion and background is known as Bagal. However, only the Bagals of the Subarnarekha Valley and recent migration from that area are know as people of Bagal caste. Some of them claim they are descendant of Gop, some claim Goala and some claim Ahir, but they might be ethnically Gond or/and Gour, because of various socio historical process they separated from their original identity[9] and formed a separate community by adopting regional language and culture and assimilated themselves with the tribal and non tribal people of their habitat region.[22]

The Bagals live both in forest and revenue village. The people of the revenue village make their livelihood by Agriculture, Manual labor, Fishing and Other unorganised work, whereas the people of forest village make their livelihood by Agriculture along with Hunting, Animal husbandry, Collecting forest products. Although they were pastoralists in nature, nowadays none of them are seen doing their traditional calling profession, cattle herding. Due to modernization, they switched to different occupations from their racial occupation.

Uprising[]

The livelihood of the Bagals was mostly dependent on forest and agriculture. Their livelihood was affected when exploitative zamindari rules were introduced in the Jangal Mahal of Bengal Presidency by the colonial Britishers. Their livelihood became worse when the Britishers imposed high taxes on forest rights. They began to oppose the rules as there is evidence that they were listed in various criminal records of the British India. Thereafter, they became a part of the Santhal rebellion to fight against the zamindari system of the Britishers.[37]

The Bagals of Medinapore were involved in large-scale plundering of grain from railway wagons, a form of food riots caused by a man-made famine in 1943 that fuelled up the Bagals to participate in the Independence India movement.[38]

Politics[]

The areas inhabited by Bagal people were divided into three political zones after independence due to the amalgamation and division of the various states of India, resulting in mobilization of the community. They are losing their identity in society and remaining multidimensionally backward in the society.[20][39][40] They are not scheduled to claim any constitutional benefits either as an ST or as an SC, not even OBC/ SEBC. As a result, some Bagal people are introducing themselves as Bāgatā, Bāigā, Gop and Rajuar people in sake of reservation.[8][a] However, they occasionally raised their voice to their respective state as well as the central government to gain constitutional rights but their demands aren't considered by the Government. Some of the major socio-political events are noted below;

In 1970–75, there was a retribalisation by Bagal people in Jharkhand & West Bengal for inclusion of Bagal caste in Scheduled list.[42] In 1976 Narendranath Raut along with other Bagals of Nayagram tempted to lunch a movement to get into the Scheduled tribe list. Subsequently, In 1978 they demonstrated in large near West Bengal Assembly House.[8] On May 15, 1985, Lok Sabha Debate - Second session; Shri Chintamani Jena (Balesore), Member of Lok Sabha asked Shrimati Ram Dilari Sinha, The Ministry of Home Affairs for the inclusion of Bagal caste in the scheduled tribe. Shrimati R.D. Sinha responded that the proposal is considered and will be included after a comprehensive revision.[43] In 2010–11, On the Demand for Grant No. 94 under the control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs discussion. Dr Pulin Bihari Baske (Jhargram) Member of Lok Sabha mentioned in the Lok Sabha debate that the Bagal community has to be included in the tribal list recommended by West Bengal Government to Central Government through CRI Report.[44] On June 28, 2018, Tribal Advisory Council stated that the people of Bagal caste doesn't possess any tribal characteristic defined by the Government of India after conducting ethnic study of Bagal community. Further, the council recommended to ST & SC Development Department, Government of Odisha not to include Bagal Caste in the Scheduled Tribe list.[45]

However, In the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (know as Mandal Commission) report Bagal people of West Bengal were classified as OBC. Further, they were classified as Depressed Backward Caste by a Dalit member of the commission. Due to various socio-political criticism to the report, it wasn't impingement but in pursuit of social justice, the Mandal Commission recommendations were implemented partially and only half of the recommended community was considered as OBC by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), India. In the new list prepared by NCBC, Bagal caste was left out from the OBC category.[46]

Notes[]

  1. ^ “In West Bengal, there is a group of people who are popularly known as Bagal, which means 'cattle herding'. This group of people are being studied by a scholar and according to him, this group have greater tribal attributes in them. But they do not belong to Scheduled Caste or tribe. As a result, they are trying to rename themselves as 'Baiga', because the Baigas are Scheduled tribe and are getting all Constitutional benefits.” Quoted[41]

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Further reading[]

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