Dumal

Dumal caste is one of the dominant caste in Western Orissa. It spreads from Boudh to Balangir, Sonepur, Bargarh, Sambalpur and Debgarh district. an agricultural caste found in uriya country and principally in the sonepur state, recently transferred to bihar and Orissa

This caste is categorised as socially and economically backward community in both State and Centre list.The main work of the caste was cultivation.

Origin

The caste originally came from Orissa.They themselves say that they are formerly a branch of Gaurs,with whom they have now no special connection. They derived there name from a village Dumba Hadap in the athmallik state, where they say that they lived.

Another story is that dumal is derived from duma, the name of the gateway in Baudh town, near which they dwelt. Sir H. Risley say: “The dumals or jadupuria Gaura seems to be a group of local formation. They cherish the tradition that their ancestors came to Orissa from jadupur, but this appears to be nothing more than the name of yadavs/jadavas, the mythological progenitors of the Goala caste transformed into the name of an imaginary town.

Another legend is that once upon a time, when Lord Rama was wondering in the forests of Sambalpur, he met three brothers there and asked them to bring water for him. The first brother brought water in clean brass pot(called sudh(good mannered)). The Second made a cup of leaves and drew water from a well with a rope; he is called dumal, dori-mal, a coil of rope.Third brought water in hollow gourd, and he was named Kolta, from ku-rita, bad mannered. This shows kulta , dumal, sudh have some connections

Migration

In 1901, 41000 dumals, and other caste people were enumerated in the central provinces, but only a few persons now remain.

Surnames

baghar, bastia, bhoi, behera, chhanda, chaulia, dang, deheree, karma, kanta, karmi, karmee, khamari, kheti, kampa, khilari, khilar, mahakhud, mahakul, mahakur, mahakud, mendali, mendily, nayak, pardia, pradhan, patra,Gaigaria,Barik,Karan,Amat,Bastia,Kalta,Palta,Gurhandi,Thati,Gadua,Singh,Bagh,

Now gradually education is making inroads into the dumal caste.

Education

Now dumal's prevailed in every field up to higher-most degree and higher administrative posts also. In every field of engineering and science literature they have earned name and fame. Scientist and Professor in abroad and in state.

References

• Paper submitted by Mr Parmanada Tiwari, Extra assistant commissioner and Assistant settelement officer , Sambalpur
• Paper drawn up by Mr. Rai Bahadur Hira Lal, Extra Assistant Commissioner
• The Tribes And Castes of the Central Provinces of India By R. V. Russell
• The tribes and castes of the central provinces of India, Volume 1‎ - Page 538 By R.V. Russell, R.B.H. Lai
• Book 1^[1]
• Book 2^[2]

1. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=yhV2DkrdNFkC&pg=PA538&dq=Hira+Lal+dumal&lr=&ei=2XGsS4_sEaiKkATcga2gDQ&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Hira%20Lal%20dumal&f=false
2. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=6pHZAAAAMAAJ&q=dumal+caste&dq=dumal+caste&ei=vG6sS7-7NqailASYztWNDQ&cd=2