Bhoi

The Bhoi (also known as Bauri) are an ethnic community native to several Indian states.

In the Khurda district of Orissa, the Bhoi community are also known as Bauri and are traditionally agricultural labourers. After India's Independence they are classified as a Nomadic Tribes Nomadic tribes in India in India's system of positive discrimination. But originally they belong to Kshatriya category. Their occupation in history was to Guard and Litter (vehicle)(class of wheel less vehicles, a type of human-powered transport) Important class of People, also considered much more ritually pure than many other similarly-classified communities in the state, although their penurious condition means that they often resort to eating ritually impure foods, such as frogs, oysters and snails.[1]

In Gujarat, their traditional occupations include acting as palanquin-bearers, fishermen and water-carriers. They are a very low-ranked caste but not so low as to be untouchable.[2] There, according to The People of India, the community comprises various endogamous sub-groups.[3]

According to The People of India, the Bhois of Maharashtra originally lived in Mumbai, Nashik, Dhulia, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sholapur districts of Maharshtra. They now live throughout the state. After India gained independence in 1947, they were included in the list of the Nomadic tribes for Maharashtra. The 22 sub-groups of the community found there use the Ahirani language within their family and within kin groups but speak in Marathi while talking to the others.[4]

The Bhoi are also found in Assam, where they are a Scheduled Tribe.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mohanty, Ramesh P. (2003). Dalits Development and Change: An Empirical Study. Discovery Publishing House. p. vii. ISBN 978-8-17141-696-7.
  2. ↑ Hockings, Paul, ed. (1987). "Untouchability, the Untouchables and Social Change in Gujarat". Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in Honor of David G. Mandelbaum. Walter de Gruyter. p. 499. ISBN 978-3-11084-685-0.
  3. ↑ Ghatak, N. K. (2003). "Bhoi". In Singh, K. S.. The People of India: Gujarat, Part 1. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. pp. 239–42. ISBN 81-7991-104-7.
  4. ↑ Bose, D. K. "Bhoi". In Bhanu, B. V. The People of India: Maharshtra, Vol. 30, Part 1. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. pp. 342–348. ISBN 81-7991-100-4.
  5. ↑ Dikshit, Kamal Ramprit; Dikshit, Jutta K. (2013). North-East India: Land, People and Economy. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 370. ISBN 978-9-40077-055-3.