- Doms
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For disambiguation, see Dom. For Delayed onset muscle soreness, see Delayed onset muscle soreness.
Dom
ডোমReligions Hinduism Languages Bengali Populated States West Bengal, Bangladesh Population 316,337 (2001 census) Family names Dom, Bansfor, Mallick The Doms (Bengali: ডোম) are a Bengali Hindu caste found in large numbers in Birbhum, Bankura and other districts in the western fringe of the Indian state of West Bengal.[1][2] Traditionally, Doms were basket-makers, cultivators, labourers and drummers; their wives serving as midwives.[1]
Contents
Origins
According to legend, the Doms were born out of the union between a Bagdi male and a Chandal female. Kalu Rai, the general of Ichhai Ghosh is considered the forefather of the Doms. His four sons Pranveer, Manveer, Banveer and Shanveer are the forefathers of the four classes of Doms, namely Ankuria, Bish Daliya, Bajunia and Maghiya. The Dhakaldeshiya and Tapaspuriya clans also claim descent from Kalu Rai. Some Doms also claim descent of Harishchandra. Harishchandra had accepted servitude under a Dom after donating his kingdom to Vishwamitra.[3]
According to a legend regarding the profession of the Doms, it said that once Shiva asked one of the sons of Kalu Rai to bring water from the Ganges. When he arrived at the river bank, he found some people preparing to cremate a corpse. He helped them prepare the funeral pyre using bamboo sticks in lieu of money. On his return Shiva cursed him that he and his descendants would earn a living only by cremating dead bodies. They came to be known as Bansfors, literally meaning breaker of bamboos.[3]
Demographics
Doms numbered 316,337 in the 2001 census and were 1.7 percent of the scheduled caste population of West Bengal. 46.0 percent of Doms were literate – 58.9 percent males and 32.6 percent females were literate.[4]
Groupings
Some of the major groups derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice; for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gawli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep, which is at least the case with Gadaria from 'gadar', on old Hindi word for sheep. Many others of these major groups called castes bear merely tribal or ethic names. Such are for example: Arora, Gujjar, Lohana, Bhatia, Meena, Bhil, Dom, Oraon, Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha, Gond, Khond, etc.[5]
Eminent Persons
- Dr. Ramchandra Dom
- Nata Mullick
References
- ^ a b O’Malley, L.S.S.. Bengal District Gazeteers—Birbhum (1996 ed.). Government of West Bengal. p. 41.
- ^ O’Malley, L.S.S.. Bengal District Gazaeteers—Bankura (1995 ed.). Government of West Bengal. pp. 65–67.
- ^ a b Gupta, Ganesh (2005) (in Bengali). Padabi Abhidhan [Dictionary of Family Names]. Kolkata: Annapurna Prakashan. p. 52.
- ^ "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights – The Scheduled Castes". Office of the Registrar General, India. http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
- ^ Caste And Race In India by G.S. Ghurye (an eminent sociologist) Popular Prakashan 2004 reprint page: 31,32,33.
Bengali Hindus Castes Baishya Kapali · Bagdi · Bauri · Baidya · Brahmin · Dom · Gandhabanik · Kaibartya · Kayastha · Hari · Karmakar · Mahishya · Namasudra(Namassej) · Pirali Brahmin · Sadgop
Sects Religious Bodies Festivals Poila Baisakh · Rathayatra · Janmashtami · Bhadu · Vishwakarma Puja · Durga Puja · Lakshmi Puja · Kali Puja · Bhai Phonta · Nabanna · Jagaddhatri Puja · Makar Sankranti · Saraswati Puja · GajanFolk Arts Dhokra · SholapithFolk Dances Folk Songs Alkap · KaviganBagdi • Bauri • Dom • Hari • Kaibartta • Muchi • Namasudra • Rajbongshi
Categories:- Indigenous peoples of India
- Social groups of West Bengal
- Bengali Hindu castes
- Indian ethnic group stubs
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