Bind tribe

Bind
Total population
859,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
•  India
Languages
• Hindi
Religion
• Hinduism 100% •
Related ethnic groups
• Panika • Parahiya • Chero

The Bind belongs to Other Backward caste, found in North India. They are different from other caste like Bin in Bihar.[2]

History and origin

They originate from the Vindhya hills in central India. According to their traditions, the daughter of Nisadh, on the way to her husband's house, was passing by a river, when she was charmed by a river nymph. She was taught to make a reed mat by the nymph. The community has since been involved in the manufacture of reed mats, which are as chatai. The Bind are sub-divided into seven occupational groups. These sub-groups are the Suraia, Nisadh, Kulawat, Mallaah, Guria, Kewat and Bind proper. Each of these sub-groups have specialized occupations. The speciality of the Kewat, Nisadh and Kulawat is to catch fish. The Mallaah and Guria are traditionally boatmen. Bind community also claim that they belong to Siṃha community.[3]


The Bind in Uttar Pradesh(India)are different from the Bin or Bind in Bihar., according to their traditions, the Bind once belonged to the Noniya caste. In Uttar Pradesh they are known as Bind, Nunera and Beldar. They have two sub-divisions, the Jethaut and the Kharaut.[4]

Present circumstances

The main occupation of the Bind has remained the manufacture of reed mats. They collect reed from the river banks. The community have small land fields to farm, but many are sharecroppers. The Kewat & Bind are essentially fishermen, while other sub-groups are involved in the rasing of milch cattle.

The Bind have a traditional caste council, and like other occupational castes, maintains strict social control, over members. The Bind are Hindu, and customs similar to other similar groupings such as the Kewat. They are concentrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and speak Avadhi in Uttar Pradesh and Bhojpuri.[5]

In Bihar, the Jethaut are mainly engaged in fishing, well sinking and basket making. The Kharaut are mainly farmers. They speak the Maithili dialect of Hindi.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php
  2. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 330 to 335
  3. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 331
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 184 to 186 Seagull Books
  5. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 333