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'''Karmakar''' ({{lang-bn|কর্মকার}}) is a [[Bengali Hindu]] [[Caste system in India|caste]] spread throughout [[West Bengal]] and [[Bangladesh]]. The Karmakars are traditionally [[blacksmith]]s by trade. They are recognized as [[Other Backward Class]] by the [[Government of India]] and [[Government of West Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/htm/obc_list.html |title=Government of West Bengal: List of Other Backward Classes |publisher=Govt. of West Bengal |access-date=February 13, 2011}}</ref>
'''Karmakar''' ({{lang-bn|কর্মকার}}) is a [[Bengali Hindu]] [[Caste system in India|caste]] spread throughout [[West Bengal]]. The Karmakars are traditionally [[blacksmith]]s by trade.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sanyal|first=Hitesranjan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ezzuAAAAIAAJ&q=gandhabanik|title=Social Mobility in Bengal|date=1981|publisher=Papyrus|pages=115|language=en}}</ref>
 
==Origin==
According to mythology the forefather of Karmakars was the son of [[Vishvakarman|Vishvakarma]] and a [[Shudra]] mother. The Karmakars are one of the nine trading castes that constituted the ''Navashākha'' group.<ref>Ray, Nihar Ranjan (2009). ''Bangalir Itihash''. Deys Publishing, p. 246.</ref>{{Sfn|Dasgupta|2009|p=72}}


== History ==
== History ==
The Karmakars used to be blacksmiths by profession. Over time, the Karmakars have produced engineering masterpieces.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} In 1637, Janardan Karmakar (Blacksmith) of Sylhet built the great gun of [[Murshidabad]], the [[Jahan Kosha Cannon]] 'Destroyer of the World', which is 18' in length and weighs around 7 tons.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5Q88AQAAIAAJ&q Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh: Humanities, Volumes 36-38] Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1991</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TrWS_ELC4JQC The Land of the rupee] Bennett, Coleman, 1912, the [[University of Michigan]]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=t1ojAQAAMAAJ District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Birbhum] India. Superintendent of Census Operations, West Bengal, Bisweswar Ray, Superintendent, Government Printing, the University of Michigan</ref> Another grand cannon named [[Bir Hambir#Dal Madal Kaman .28Cannon.29|Dal Madal Kaman]] was built by Jagannath Karmakar in 1565 for the kingdom of [[Mallabhum]].{{Sfn|Dasgupta|2009|p=55}}In the late 18th century, [[Panchanan Karmakar]] pioneered the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] printing industry by inventing a movable type punch marked [[Bengali language|Bengali]] scripts.<ref name="Shounak Ghosal TNN">{{cite web|title=Flower power resurrects Carey legacy|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMi8wMi8wOSNBcjAwNDAx|website=timesofindia.com|publisher=The Times Of India Kolkata|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The Karmakars used to be blacksmiths by profession. Over time, the Karmakars have produced engineering masterpieces.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} In 1637, Janardan Karmakar (Blacksmith) of Sylhet built the great gun of [[Murshidabad]], the [[Jahan Kosha Cannon]] 'Destroyer of the World', which is 18' in length and weighs around 7 tons.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5Q88AQAAIAAJ&q Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh: Humanities, Volumes 36-38] Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1991</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TrWS_ELC4JQC The Land of the rupee] Bennett, Coleman, 1912, the [[University of Michigan]]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=t1ojAQAAMAAJ District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Birbhum] India. Superintendent of Census Operations, West Bengal, Bisweswar Ray, Superintendent, Government Printing, the University of Michigan</ref> Another grand cannon named [[Bir Hambir#Dal Madal Kaman .28Cannon.29|Dal Madal Kaman]] was built by Jagannath Karmakar in 1565 for the kingdom of [[Mallabhum]].{{Sfn|Dasgupta|Biswas|Mallik|2009|p=55}}In the late 18th century, [[Panchanan Karmakar]] pioneered the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] printing industry by inventing a movable type punch marked [[Bengali language|Bengali]] scripts.<ref name="Shounak Ghosal TNN">{{cite web|title=Flower power resurrects Carey legacy|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMi8wMi8wOSNBcjAwNDAx|website=timesofindia.com|publisher=The Times Of India Kolkata|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
 
== Religious practices ==
Traditionally they worship Lord Viswakarma, all through the year but particularly on the last day of the month of ''Bhādra'' in the Bengali calendar, which normally falls on 17 September every year.


== Notables ==
== Notables ==
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* [[Tamalika Karmakar]] (b. 1970), actress and national award winner
* [[Tamalika Karmakar]] (b. 1970), actress and national award winner
* [[Kalidas Karmakar]] (b. 1946), noted artist and Ekushey Padak laureate
* [[Kalidas Karmakar]] (b. 1946), noted artist and Ekushey Padak laureate
* [[Vidyadhar Karmakar]] (b.1925), actor


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Bibliography==
* {{Citation|last1=Dasgupta|first2=Samira|last2=Biswas|first3=Rabiranjan|last3=Mallik|first1=Gautam Kumar|title=Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur|publisher=A Mittal Publication|isbn=978-8183242943|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0_o9Qj1LOEC|date=2009|page=55}}
* {{Citation|last1=Dasgupta|first2=Samira|last2=Biswas|first3=Rabiranjan|last3=Mallik|first1=Gautam Kumar|title=Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur|publisher=A Mittal Publication|isbn=978-8183242943|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0_o9Qj1LOEC|date=2009|page=55}}


Latest revision as of 04:15, 11 August 2026

Karmakar (Bengali: কর্মকার) is a Bengali Hindu caste spread throughout West Bengal. The Karmakars are traditionally blacksmiths by trade.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The Karmakars used to be blacksmiths by profession. Over time, the Karmakars have produced engineering masterpieces.[citation needed] In 1637, Janardan Karmakar (Blacksmith) of Sylhet built the great gun of Murshidabad, the Jahan Kosha Cannon 'Destroyer of the World', which is 18' in length and weighs around 7 tons.[2][3][4] Another grand cannon named Dal Madal Kaman was built by Jagannath Karmakar in 1565 for the kingdom of Mallabhum.[5]In the late 18th century, Panchanan Karmakar pioneered the Bengali printing industry by inventing a movable type punch marked Bengali scripts.[6][citation needed]

Notables[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus. p. 115.
  2. ↑ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh: Humanities, Volumes 36-38 Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1991
  3. ↑ The Land of the rupee Bennett, Coleman, 1912, the University of Michigan
  4. ↑ District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Birbhum India. Superintendent of Census Operations, West Bengal, Bisweswar Ray, Superintendent, Government Printing, the University of Michigan
  5. ↑ Dasgupta, Biswas & Mallik 2009, p. 55.
  6. ↑ "Flower power resurrects Carey legacy". timesofindia.com. The Times Of India Kolkata. Retrieved 9 February 2012.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

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