Bhuimali/Bhuinmali
This article is an extract from
THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Bhuimali/Bhuinmali
The Bhuinmali is identical with the Hari of other parts of Bengal, and in Dinajpur the names are used synonymously,while the caste is generally considered as the remnant of a Hinduized aboriginal tribe which was driven into Bengal by the Aryans, or the persecuting Muhammadans.
In Eastern Bengal he is sometimes called "Siddhi-putra," after a Muni of that name. In the Census Rolls of 1872 the Bhuinmali and Hari are entered under separate headings among semi-Hinduized aborigines. There has evidently been a difference of opinion among returning officers on this point, for in Dacca 1,954 Haris are returned, although a prolonged search in all corners of the district has failed to discover any persons acknowledging that designation, and 7,267 Bhuinmalis, an aggregate below the actual number. Next to Dacca the districts with the largest settlements are Tipperah (5,522), Rangpur (3,771), Maldah (2,109), Noakhally (1,943), Farridpur (1,836), and Silhet (1,825).
The Dacca Bhuinmalis assert that they were originally Sudras degraded in consequence of the following absurd incident: Parvati obtained permission from her husband, Siv, to give a feast to her worshippers on earth. All castes were assembled at the entertainment, and in the midst of the enjoyment a luckless Bhuinmali was overheard saying, "If I had such a beautiful woman in my house, I would cheerfully perform the most menial offices for her." Siv did not allow the speaker to retract what he had said, but gave him a beautiful wife and made him her sweeper. In confirmation of this legend a Bengali proverb defines the Bhuinmali as the only Hindu ever degraded for love of garbage.
The Bhuinmali caste has two great subdivisions, the Bara-bhagiya and Chhota-bhagiya, who never intermarry, or hold social intercourse with each other. The former are chiefly cultivators, musicians, and palki bearers; the latter scavengers, looking down with contempt on the Dom, Mihtar, and Halal-khors, who, after work, enter their houses without bathing, and allow their females to labour at the same offensive trade.
At Sarail, in Tipperah, Bhuinmalis keep swine, but these recreants are not acknowledged as brethren. In certain villages the Bhuinmali has ceased to be a professional musician and become a chaukidar, or watchman. No member of the caste ever keeps a shop, as he would have no customers, and never trades, as he has no capital.
A large section of the Bhuinmali caste is known as Mitra Seni Beharas, tracing their descent from Mitra Sen, the reputed son, or relative, of Ballal Sen, and claiming to be the original bearers of Bengal. They cultivate the soil, and are in great request as household servants by Hindu families. Although the same Brahman officiates, the cultivating Bara-bhagiya despises the cultivating Mitra Seni, and declines to eat with them. These palanquin bearers, again, will not carry torches, and look down upon those who do.
Although the caste has split up into divisions, the Bhuinmali is properly one of the village servants, employed in cutting down brushwood, repairing footpaths, sweeping the outside of the Zamindar's house, removing carcasses from the village, and preparing the "Marocha," or marriage area, for doing which he receives one rupee, if the marriage is that of a village boy, and eight anas if that of a girl. He is likewise the Mash'alchi engaged to carry the torch at Hindu weddings. A Bhuinmali sweeper never enters a Hindu house to pollute it; but a maiden, called Dasi, or Chhokri, is employed to sweep the floors of rooms and passages.
The Bhuinmali also levels the space where the Sraddha is held, constructs the small shed in which the votive offerings are placed, and, when a sacrifice is to be made, smears the ground with cowdung. If the victim is killed in the morning the flesh is distributed among Brahmans and clean Sudras; but if it is a Sandhya, or evening sacrifice, everything, including the cloth by which the animal is bound, becomes the perquisite of the Bhuinmali.
The Bhuinmali, besides, prepares and plasters the mound on which the Vastu Pujah is celebrated, receiving the ram as his remuneration, and, whenever a new house is built, he smears cowdung over the sides only, as he would lose caste if he touched the interior. Hindus of all castes smear the inside and steps of their own houses, but never those of others. The Bhuinmali is the only native who will bedaub a strange house.
The gotras among the Bhuinmali of Dacca are Paradara and Aliman, the latter being only found along the banks of the old Brahmaputra. The caste has a degraded Brahman as Purohit, and the washerman and barber are members of the caste. The Bhuinmali generally worship Krishna, and celebrate all the popular Hindu festivals. Along the Lakhya "Kawaj," who is probably the same as Kwajah Khizr, is invoked, as is also Pir Badr. Like the Hindu and Muhammad an peasantry generally, the Bhuinmali abstains from work during the three days known as "Ambuvachi," which last from the tenth to the thirteenth of the waning moon of Asarh (June-July) when the earth is believed to be impure, and no Hindu can dig, plough, or even touch it.
Although most anxious to represent themselves as Sudras, by apeing the prejudices of the higher ranks, the Bhuinmali are contemned, and obliged to live on the outskirts of villages apart from the Hindus, and to perform any menial work that is required of them. Like other low castes the Bhuinmali nowa-days shudders at the idea of eating pork, although it is within the recollection of men still living, that he was very partial to it. Until the last twenty years he was very friendly with the Chandal, interchanging visits, and often dining with him, but lately an estrangement has parted them, and the Bhuinmali treats his former friend as an inferior being, declining to eat with or even work for him. It is difficult to understand the cause of this coldness which has sprung up, but it was probably the result of a vague assertion of superiority on the part of one or other. The Bhuinmali still works for many castes as low as the Chandal, and does not feel dishonoured by labouring for the Doi, or the Muhammadan peasant, although he does by toiling for the Jogi weaver.
It is at Hindu weddings that the Bhuinmali musicians are engaged, creating a most horrid noise with their pipe (sarnae), and dram (dhakka); but a feeling among them indicates that before long musicians will be expelled from the genteel classes. Widows never remarry, but a few years ago it was the universal custom. The Bhuinmali female is now and then employed as a midwife, or a domestic servant. She is ceremonially unclean for thirty days after parturition as with Sudras, but it is a curious circumstance that the "Chhathi" ceremony is performed on the ninth day, and not on the sixth, as the word signifies.
1 Patra, a competent person.
