{{Short description|Indigenous aboriginal community in India}} {{distinguish|Bhumihar Brahmin}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2023}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}{{Infobox ethnic group | group = Bhuiyan/Bhuiya/Bhuyan | image = | image_caption = | population = {{circa|2 million}} | total_ref = | total_source = census | total_year = 2011 | popplace = {{flag|India}} | region = | region4 = West Bengal | pop4 = 140,357 {{small|(SC)}} |ref4 =<ref>{{cite web| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42898/download/46566/SC-19-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx |title=A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), West Bengal - 2011 |work=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (ORGI)}}</ref> | region1 = Jharkhand | pop1 = 848,151 {{small|(SC)}} |ref1=<ref>{{cite web |title=A-11 State Primary Census Abstract for Individual Scheduled Tribes (Jharkhand)| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42899/download/46567/SC-20-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx |website=censusindia.gov.in|date= 16 November 2022}}</ref> | region3 = Odisha | pop3 = 306,129 {{small|(ST)}} |ref3=<ref>{{cite web |title=A-11 State Primary Census Abstract for Individual Scheduled Tribes (Odisha)| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42960/download/46628/ST-2100-PCA-A-11-ddw.xlsx |website=censusindia.gov.in|date= 16 November 2022}}</ref> | region2 = Bihar | pop2 =716,269 {{small|(SC)}} |ref2 = <ref>{{cite web |title=A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Bihar - 2011| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42891/download/46559/SC-10-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx |website=censusindia.gov.in|date= 16 November 2022}}</ref> |region5 = Assam | pop5 = 83,383 {{small|(OBC; 1951 {{estimated}})}} | ref5 =<ref>{{cite web|title=Estimated Population by Castes, 5. Assam – Census 1951 |year=1954 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/30196/download/33377/44094_1951_POP.pdf |publisher=Office of the Registrar General, India |page=12}}</ref> | region6 = Uttar Pradesh | pop6 = 19,694 {{small|(ST & SC)}}{{efn|In the 2011 census in Uttar Pradesh, 15,599 Bhuiya from Sonbhadra district were recorded as Scheduled Tribes, and 4,095 Bhuiya from other districts were designated as Scheduled Castes, bringing the total count of Bhuiya in the state to 19,694.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42898/download/46566/SC-19-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx |title=A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix), Uttar Pradesh - 2011|work=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (ORGI)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42890/download/46558/SC-09-PCA-A10-APPENDIX.xlsx |title=A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Uttar Pradesh - 2011 |work=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (ORGI)}}</ref>}} | region7 = | pop7 = | region8 = | pop8 = | languages = Odia, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese | religions = Folk religions, Hinduism |footnotes = }} The '''Bhuiyan''' or '''Bhuiya''' are an indigenous community found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. They are not only geographically disparate but also have many cultural variations and subgroups.<ref name="west">{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania|last=West|first=Barbara A.|publisher=Infobase|year=2009|isbn=978-0-8160-7109-8|pages=107–108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCiNqFj3MQsC&pg=PA107}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Definition of BHUIYA |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Bhuiya |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> They're different from the historical landlords as Bara Bhuiyans of Bengal.
==Etymology== The name of the community comes from the Sanskrit word ''bhumi'', meaning ''land''. Most of the Bhuiya are agriculturalists and many believe that they are descended from Bhūmi, the village deity clan goddess who represents Mother Earth. They are patrilineal exogamous groups with strong family ties.<ref name="west"/> The word bhuiyan is used in many different contexts and does not always refer to the tribe. Some other tribes and non-tribal landholders also use ''Bhuiyan'' as title.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Russell |first=Robert Vane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6h2Gm1gPZZQC&pg=PT952 |title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (Volumes I and II) |date=2020-09-28 |publisher=Library of Alexandria |isbn=978-1-4655-8294-2 |pages=952 |language=en}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Bhuiyas.jpg|thumb|Dalton's painting of Bhuiya in c. 1872]] Early history of the tribe is uncertain, but the Bhuiya were among the most populous and widespread tribes in colonial India. The Northern Tributary States of Orissa were the principal stronghold of the Bhuiyas. It is speculated that they were the oldest inhabitants of the states of Keonjhar, Bonai, Gangapur, Bamra, Santal paragana, Hazaribagh, Manbhum and Singhbhum as well as most regions of Eastern India and Lower Assam.<ref name="Dalton 1872 p.140-141 ">{{cite book | last=Dalton | first=E.T. | title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal | publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing | year=1872 | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC | access-date=2019-07-22 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC/page/n155 140]-141}}</ref> They were also found in other plains areas of Orissa, Bengal, Bihar, Chhotanagpur, Assam, the United Provinces, the Central Provinces, Central India Agency and the Madras Presidency. They later underwent Sanskritisation to enter the Hindu paraphernalia as Hinduised groups like the Kewat, Kaibarta, or Khandayat and other related ethnic groups. In the feudatory state of Keonjhar and Bonai, the tribe was powerful. They had traditional rights to install the ''Raja'' of the state.<ref name=":0" />
==Subdivisions== Broadly, Bhuiyans can be divided into two groups, according to their general area of residence.
=== Hill Bhuiyans === Known as ''Pawri'' or ''Pauri'' ''Bhuiyan'', they generally live in the hilly and inaccessible forest areas. They have a more primitive mode of life and are more economically disadvantaged, engaging in Podu cultivation. They were, however, politically powerful and the rulers of the Keonjhar state were dependent on their support.<ref name="Cobden-Ramsay 2011 p. 43">{{cite book |last=Cobden-Ramsay |first=L.E.B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rbye1SEL1KAC&pg=PA45 |title=Feudatory States of Orissa: Bengal District Gazetteers |publisher=Logos Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-7268-216-3 |page=43 |access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref><ref name="Dalton 1872 p.">{{cite book | last=Dalton | first=E.T. | title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal | publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing | year=1872 | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC | access-date=2019-07-22 }}</ref>
=== Plain Bhuiyans === Plain Bhuiyans live among non-tribal populations and are influenced by Hinduism and its rituals.
== Culture == The Bhuyans usually live in small homogeneous towns and villages. Their family structure is mostly nuclear, and a group of families with blood relations form the smallest social unit called {{Transliteration|or|kutumba}} or ''the lineage''. Several agnatic {{Transliteration|or|kutumbas}} constitute an exogamous clan called {{Transliteration|or|bonso}} or {{Transliteration|or|khilli}}. All members of a {{Transliteration|or|khilli}} are believed to have a common ancestor, and members of many different {{Transliteration|or|khillis}} or the same {{Transliteration|or|khilli}} form a village. Intra-village marriage was forbidden. Marriages by capture are called ''ghichha''. Other social sanctioned forms of marriage are marriage by elopement, by love and by negotiation. On death of a family member, the descendants observe a curse that caused the death for two to three days. At the end of it, the villagers are given a feast by the bereaved family.
In every Bhuyan village, there is a traditional panchayat which meets at the ''darbar'' (community center) whenever required. The village headman or pradhan presides over the panchayat. A group of villages that form a confederation is called a ''pidha''. The panchayat at this level is called the ''pidha'' panchayat, and there is a secular headman who presides over it and is called the ''sardar''. These councils handle their community matters. In Sambalpur, bhuyan have 12 septs which are Thakur or royal blood: Saont (viceroy), Pradhan (village headman), Naik (military leader), Kalo (priest), Dehuri (priest), Chhatriya (carrier of royal umbrella), Sahu (money lender), Majhi (headman), Behera (manager of household), Amata (councilor), and Sena (police official). Among Pauri, Bhuyan bachelors sleep in youth dormitories known as ''Dhangar basa'' (servant home) or ''Mandar Ghar'' (Drum House). The maidens of the house are deemed Dhangaria basa.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==Present circumstances== There are significant economic variations in the Bhuiya community, with some in areas such as Ghatwar and Tikait being landowners but many others being reliant on working the land either independently or as paid labourers. Basket-making, livestock rearing, fishing, hunting and the sale of forest produce such as firewood, honey and resin also contribute to their livelihood, although the practise of food collection has probably mostly died out.<ref name="west"/> Ghatwar were king during medieval period. They rebelled against Nagvanshi king Pratap Karn. Nagvanshi suppressed Ghatwar rebellion with the help of king of Kharyagarh Baghdeo Singh.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5hXYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|title=JHARKHAND SAMAGRA (Prabhat Prakashan)|isbn=978-9390101160|page=17|access-date=6 April 2022|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|date=2020}}</ref> In 1857 rebellion, Tikait Umrao Singh was king of Bandhgawa in Ormanjhi. He participated in rebellion against East India Company in Ranchi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/model-makeover-for-martyr-hamlets/cid/557412|title=Model makeover for martyr hamlets|website=telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20160108/2765171.html|title=JPCC remembers freedom fighters Tikait Umrao Singh, Sheikh Bhikari|website=news.webindia123.com|access-date=19 September 2022|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504151037/https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20160108/2765171.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
They have exogamous lineages such as Basuki (cobra), Kachhim (tortoise), Kali (a snake), Sal (a fish), Sigari (fox), Sinjkiri etc in Bihar and Jharkhand. They have titles such as Deshmandal, Ghatowal, Paramanik, Pradhan, Bhogta, Chharidar, Mahto, Rai Thakur, Tikayat, Bhuiya, Manjhi, Nayak, Roy, Singh in Bihar and Jharkhand.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==Official classification== thumb|Distribution of Bhuiya community in India In 1930s, during British Period, most of the ethnic groups of Chhotanagpur were listed as "primitive tribe" or as "Backward tribe".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4378487|title=Reappraising Tribal Movements: II: Legitimisation and Spread|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|author=Nirmal Sengupta|date=14 May 1988|volume=23 |issue=20 |pages=1003–1005 |jstor=4378487 |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> In Patna division, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Manbhum and Bengal, they were included in Scheduled Caste.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/GOI-SC-ORDER-1936.pdf|title=Government of India 1935 (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1936|date=30 April 1936|access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> After independence, the Government of Uttar Pradesh had classified the Bhuiya as a Scheduled Caste but by 2007, they were one of several groups that it redesignated as Scheduled Tribes.<ref>{{cite journal |title=State At A Glance — Uttar Pradesh |date=July 2007 |journal=Pratiyogita Darpan |volume=2 |issue=13 |page=81|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7egDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT72|last1=Darpan |first1=Pratiyogita }}</ref> As of 2017, this tribal designation applies only for Sonbhadra district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/CMS/Documents/201212010356439267578File1068.pdf |title=State wise Scheduled Tribes — Uttar Pradesh |publisher=Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India |accessdate=2017-02-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123041643/http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/CMS/Documents/201212010356439267578File1068.pdf |archivedate=2016-11-23 }}</ref> Bhuiya are included in Scheduled Caste in Bihar and Jharkhand.<ref name="anvpublication">{{cite web|url=https://anvpublication.org/Journals/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=International%20Journal%20of%20Reviews%20and%20Research%20in%20Social%20Sciences;PID=2019-7-1-16|title=Status of Financial Exclusion among the Bhuiya of Jharkhand|publisher=anvpublication|date=2019|accessdate=19 September 2022}}</ref> They constitute 21% of total Scheduled Caste population of Jharkhand.<ref name="anvpublication"/>
The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Bhuiya Scheduled Caste population as 4095.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/SC_ST/PCA-A10/SC-0900-PCA-A-10-ddw.xlsx |title= A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh |publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref>
== See also == *Bhuiyar *Bhuiyan, Bengali title/surname * Bonai State * Athmallik State * Rairakhol State
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== *{{Cite book |last=Sarat Chandra Roy |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.4023 |title=The Hill bhuiyas of Orissa with comparative notes on the plains bhuiyas |date=1935 |publisher=Ranchi, Man in India }} *{{Cite book|title=Bhuyan |publisher=Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute |location=Bhubaneswar |year= |url=https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/75110/1/SCST_2020_handbook_0431.pdf |isbn=978-93-80705-70-5}} *{{Cite book|title=The Paudi Bhuyan |first=A. B. |last=Ota |publisher=Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training |year=2010 |oclc=728102333}}
{{Tribes of Uttar Pradesh}} {{Scheduled tribes of West Bengal}}
Category:Scheduled Tribes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Scheduled Castes of West Bengal Category:Social groups of Assam Category:Social groups of Bihar Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh Category:Social groups of Odisha Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu