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Namasudra
Namasudra (), earlier known as Chandal, is an Avarna Bengali Hindu community originating from eastern and central Bengal. The term ''Chandal'' or ''Chandala '' is usually considered as a slur. They were traditionally engaged in fishing and as boatmen, and later in cultivation. They lived outside the four-tier ritual '' varna'' system and thus were outcastes. Etymology There is a dearth of discussion as to the etymology of the word ''namasudra'' in pre-nineteenth-century Bengali literature and its period of origin is also undetermined. Several theories have been suggested but there is no broad consensus supporting any of them. Origins The Namasudra community was considered as untouchable in the eyes of the caste Hindu communities. They were traditionally engaged in fishing and as boatmen, in the marshy swamps of their native lands. Over the years, as the wetlands were reclaimed for agricultural purposes, they turned to peasant agriculture as a major occupation. Their econ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harichand Thakur
Harichand Thakur (11 March 1812 – 5 March 1878), was a social reformer who worked among the untouchable people of the Bengal Presidency. He founded the Matua sect of Hinduism. Life Harichand Thakur was born into a Vaishnavite Namashudra peasant family in 1811 in Safaladanga, a village in Gopalgunj, then part of the Bengal Presidency (now a part of Bangladesh). He was the son of Jashomanta Biswas (father) and Annapurna Devi (mother). His family, for generations, had belonged to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism sect; according to the book "Sri Sri Hari Lilamrita", his ancestors came from Rarhdesh. His grandfather, Manchanram Biswas, was a devout Vaishnavite known as 'Thakur Manchanram' in the locality. His father Jashomanta inherited the 'Thakur' title, and the family adopted the surname 'Thakur', abandoning their original surname 'Biswas'. Harichand Thakur was married to Jagat Mata Shanti Mata, and they had two sons. He was evicted from his native village Orakandi through the mac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chandala
Chandala () is a Sanskrit word for someone who deals with the disposal of corpses, and is a Hindu lower caste, traditionally considered to be untouchable. History Varṇa was a hierarchical social order in ancient India, based primarily on the Dharmashastras. However, since the Vedic corpus constitute the earliest literary source, it came to be seen as the origin of caste society. In this view of caste, ''varṇas'' were created on a particular occasion and have remained virtually unchanged. Historically this order of society, notions of purity and pollution were central, and activities were delineated in this context. ''Varṇa'' divides the society into four groups ordered in a hierarchy; beyond these, outside the system, lies a fifth group known as the ''untouchables'', of which the Chandala became a constituent part. The first mention of the fourfold ''varṇa'' division is found in the later ''Rigveda''. Vedic literature also mentions some groups, such as Ayogava, Ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matua Mahasangha
The Matuaism () is a Hindu reform movement that originated around 1860 AD in modern-day Bangladesh. Today, it has a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, India. The Matua movement originated among the Namasudras, an '' avarna'' ( outcaste) community of Bengali Hindus, founded by the followers of Harichand Thakur. The teachings of Harichand, also known as Matuaism, emphasise the importance of education for the upliftment of the population, while also providing a formula for ending social conflict. Members of the Matua Mahasangha believe in ''Swayam-Dikshiti'' (" Self-Realisation") through '' harinaam'', the chanting of the holy name of Hari (God). Harichand stressed the congressional chanting of God's name as the sole means to ''mukti'' (liberation). In Bengali, this is known as ''hariname matoara'', giving rise to the name "Matua". History Harichand Thakur was born to a peasant family belonging to the Namasudra community. According to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pramatha Ranjan Thakur
Pramatha Ranjan Thakur (1902 – 28 December 1990) was an Indian politician elected as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from the Hanskhali constituency in the 1962 elections as a candidate of the Indian National Congress. The seat was reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Castes. Early life Thakur was born at village of Orakandi in Faridpur District of Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh). His father name is Shashi Bhushan Thakur. He passed Bar at Law from London and was called to the bar from Lincoln's Inn in June 1929. Thakur was the first barrister from the Namasudra community. In 1933, he married Binapani Devi Thakur. Career Thakur was a prominent member of the Namasudra community, whose great-grandfather, Harichand Thakur (1811/12-1878), had founded the Hindu religious sect called Matua Mahasangha The Matuaism () is a Hindu reform movement that originated around 1860 AD in modern-day Bangladesh. Today, it has a considerable number of adheren ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jogen Mandal
Jogendranath Mandal (Bengali: যোগেন্দ্রনাথ মন্ডল; 29 January 1904 – 5 October 1968) emerged as a prominent figure among the architects of the nascent state of Pakistan. He served as the inaugural Minister of Law and Labour, as well as the subsequent Minister of Commonwealth and Kashmir Affairs. Within the Interim Government of India, he had previously held the portfolio of law. Distinguished as a leader representing the Scheduled Castes (Dalits), Mandal vehemently opposed the partition of Bengal in 1947. His rationale rested on the apprehension that a divided Bengal would subject the Dalits to the dominance of the majority caste-Hindus in West Bengal (India). Eventually opting to maintain his base in East Pakistan, Mandal aspired for the welfare of the Dalits and assumed a ministerial role in Pakistan as the Minister of Law and Labour. However, a few years subsequent to the partition, he left for India for safety of himself and his family ten ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dalit
Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold varna of the caste hierarchy and were seen as forming a fifth varna, also known by the name of ''Panchama''. Several scholars have drawn parallels between Dalits and the '' Burakumin'' of Japan, the '' Baekjeong'' of Korea and the peasant class of the medieval European feudal system. Dalits predominantly follow Hinduism with significant populations following Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam. The constitution of India includes Dalits as one of the Scheduled Castes; this gives Dalits the right to protection, positive discrimination (known as reservation in India), and official development resources. Terminology The term ''Dalit'' is for those called the "untouchables" and others that were outside of the traditional Hindu caste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency, officially the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal until 1937, later the Bengal Province, was the largest of all three presidencies of British India during Company rule in India, Company rule and later a Provinces of India, Province of British India. At the height of its territorial jurisdiction, it covered large parts of what is now South Asia and Southeast Asia. Bengal proper covered the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal (present-day Bangladesh and the West Bengal, Indian state of West Bengal). Calcutta, the city which grew around Fort William, India, Fort William, was the capital of the Bengal Presidency. For many years, the governor of Bengal was concurrently the governor-general of India and Calcutta was the capital of India until 1911. The Bengal Presidency emerged from trading posts established in the Bengal Subah, Bengal province during the reign of Emperor Jahangir in 1612. The East India Company (EIC), a British Indian monopoly with a royal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Communist Party Of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a Communism in India, communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats, and one of the six List of political parties in India#National parties, national parties of India. The party was founded through 1964 split in the Communist Party of India, a splitting from the Communist Party of India in 1964; it quickly became the dominant faction. The 34 years of Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal, CPI(M)-led Left Front (West Bengal), Left Front rule in West Bengal was the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world. It emerged as the third largest party of the Parliament of India, parliament in 2004 Indian general election, 2004 national election. Presently, CPI(M) is a part of ruling alliances in two states - the Left Democratic Front, LDF in Kerala, which it lead ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thakurnagar
Thakurnagar is a Census Town in Gaighata CD Block in Bangaon subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal, India. History Thakurnagar is named after Pramath Ranjan Thakur, the great-grandson of the founder of the Hindu Matuan movement, Harichand Thakur. Due to the Thakurs' significance to the Matua Mahasangha, the village is considered the "Mecca of Matuas." Today, Thakurnagar is best known for the nearby Thakur Bari ("House of the Thakurs" in English). Thakurnagar is also known for its large flower market. It hosts a famous Baruni Mela. Geography Location Thakurnagar is located 63.4 km northeast of Kolkata. It is to the east of the Bangladesh border. There have been reports of the formation of a Thakurnagar municipality in near future. However, as of May 2018, no notification has been issued to that effect. Area overview The area shown in the map was a part of Jessore district from 1883. At the time of Partition of Bengal (1947) the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gobardanga
Gobardanga is a Town and a Municipality in Barasat sadar subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Founded on 20 April 1870, it is one of the oldest municipalities of West Bengal. Etymology The word ''Gobardanga'' derives from Sanskrit. It consists of three words, go-bar-danga. ''Go'' means "world/earth", ''bar'' means "greatest" and ''danga'' refers to "place" which literally means, ''the greatest place on earth''. Geography Location Gobardanga is situated on the banks of the river Jamuna. It is located 22.880149°N and 88.760791°E in the district of North 24 parganas of West Bengal. There is a horse bow lake named ''Kankona Baorh'' at Media, Gobardanga. It is an open mouthed bangle shaped water body. The lake resembles a Kankon, worn by ladies hence it is being named Kankona Baorh. It is a beautiful lush green place with scenic as well as touring potential. Lots of migratory birds come here in the winter time. Area overview The are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chandpara
Chandpara is a census town in the Gaighata CD block in the Bangaon subdivision of the North 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal, India. Geography Location Chandpara is located at . Area overview The area shown in the map was a part of Jessore district from 1883. At the time of Partition of Bengal (1947) the Radcliffe Line placed the police station areas of Bangaon and Gaighata of Jessore district in India and the area was made a part of 24 Parganas district. The renowned novelist, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (of ''Pather Panchali'' fame) belonged to this area and many of his writings portray his experience in the area. It is a flat plain located in the lower Ganges Delta The Ganges Delta (also known the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, the Sundarbans Delta or the Bengal Delta) is a river delta predominantly covering the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Be .... In the densely populated area, 16.33% o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
