Bedia (caste): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Indian Hindu caste}}
{{distinguish|text=the Muslim tribe of Eastern India, [[Bedia (tribe)]]}}
{{distinguish|text=the Muslim tribe of Eastern India, [[Bedia (tribe)]]}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
The '''Bedia''' are a community in India. They believe that they originally lived on [[Mohdipahar]] and have descended from the union of [[Vedbansi]] prince with a [[Munda people|Munda]] girl. The other view is that a section of the [[Kudumi Mahato|Kudmis]] were outcastes and came to be known as the Bedia or Wandering Kudmis.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite book |title=Ethnographic notes on the scheduled tribes of West Bengal |first=Manas Kamal |last=Chowdhuri |publisher=Cultural Research Institute |year=2003}}</ref>{{pn|date=February 2017}}
The '''Bedia''' is a caste in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Dipankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgpEIb4tNjgC&q=Bedia+&pg=PA2062 |title=Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy? |date=2004-12-08 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-0-7619-3324-3 |pages=221–46 |language=en}}</ref> They believe that they originally lived at Mohdipahar in [[Hazaribagh district]] and have descended from the union of a [[Vedbansi]] prince with a [[Munda people|Munda]] girl. A legend has heard that they had their own 'Vedas' and hence it is called Bediya. Their Veda was different from the Vedas of Aryans.
 
== Origin ==
The word ''bedia'' is a corrupt form of the [[Hindi language|Hindi]] word ''behara'', which means a forest dweller. They are a nomadic tribe, that had been notified under the [[Criminal Tribes Act]]. According to early [[United Kingdom|British]] scholars, they were one of the many nomadic tribes found in [[North India]], and were of the same stock as the [[Rajputs]]. According to their own traditions, they were originally Rajputs, who lost status, after their defeat at the hands of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]]. The community was connected with some bad works, as well as petty theft. They speak [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] and are found mainly in the districts of [[Bahraich District|Bahraich]], [[Barabanki District|Barabanki]], [[Basti District|Basti]], [[Agra District|Agra]], [[Faizabad District|Faizabad]], [[Gonda District|Gonda]] and [[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur]]. After independence, they were [[Denotified tribes of India|denotified]] in 1952, when the Criminal Tribes Act was repealed.<ref name="autogenerated235">People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 235 to 239 Manohar Publications</ref>
 


== Present circumstances ==
== Present circumstances ==
The Bedia who have settled down in West Bengal, are also known as the Bedia Kudmi, Choto Kudmi or San Kudmi. They speak in [[Kurmali]], an Indo-Aryan language, at home and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] for inter-group communication. The Bengali and [[Devanagari]] scripts are used.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>{{pn|date=February 2017}}
[[File:Distribution of Bedia.svg|thumb|Distribution of Bedia community in India]]


The Bedia are divided into three territorial groupings, the Nathotiya, Jogiara, and Gangaparia. Each of these groups is strictly endogamous. There is also a further division between those who still follow their traditional occupation of bad works and those who are now settled agriculturists.<ref name="autogenerated235"/>
The Bedia who have settled down in West Bengal are also known as the Bede or Bedia. They speak in [[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]], an Indo-Aryan language, at home, and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] for inter-group communication. The Bengali and [[Devanagari]] scripts are used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://jharkhandculture.com/node/72 | publisher =Government of Jharkhand - Directorate of Arts and Culture |title=Bedia}}</ref>


A number of Bedia have given up their nomadic lifestyle, and are now settled agriculturists. However, the majority are mainly sharecroppers and agricultural labourers. Those Bedia who are still engaged in their activity often employ.{{clarify|employ what?|date=February 2017}} They live in multi-caste villages. Each of their settlements contains a formal caste council known as ''biradari [[panchayat]]''. The panchayat resolves most intra-community disputes. These biradari panchayats are each headed by a headman known as a ''Mahato''. The position of the ''chaudhary'' is hereditary, and these families exercise considerable influence over the community.<ref name="autogenerated235"/>
The [[2011 Census of India]] for Uttar Pradesh, where they were classified as a [[Scheduled Caste]] under the name ''Beriya'', showed their population as 46,775.<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> In [[Jharkhand]], they are listed as a Scheduled Tribe.<ref name="researchgate">{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334748764| title=A Study on the Bedia Community of the Village Nagrabera, Jharkhand |author=Saswatik Tripathy, Aditi Khan |page=1 |year=2018 |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref>


The [[2011 Census of India]] for Uttar Pradesh, where they were classified as a [[Scheduled Caste]] under the name ''Beriya'', showed their population as 46,775.<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>
==Clans==
They have numbers of exogamous clans such as Pecha (owl), Mahua (Madhuca India), Suia (parrot), [[Kachhua]] (tortoise), Chidra (squirrel) etc.<ref name="researchgate"/> Their deities are Bad Pahari and Palcharu. They celebrate festivals such as [[Jitiya]], [[Sohrai]], [[Holi|Fagun]], and [[Sarhul]].<ref name="researchgate"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book |author=Devasis |title=Without Prejudice: Epic Tale of a Mumbai Bar Dancer |year=2017 |isbn=978-9385285653 }}
 
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy? |volume=12 |series=Contributions to Indian Sociology |editor1-first=Dipankar |editor1-last=Gupta |publisher=SAGE |year=2004 |isbn=9780761933243 |chapter='The Bedias are Rajputs': Caste consciousness of a marginal community |author1-first=Anuja |author1-last=Agrawal}}
{{refend}}


[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh]]
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[[Category:Social groups of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Social groups of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Denotified tribes of India]]
[[Category:Denotified tribes of India]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]

Latest revision as of 04:14, 13 September 2025


Not to be confused with the Muslim tribe of Eastern India, Bedia (tribe).

The Bedia is a caste in India.[1] They believe that they originally lived at Mohdipahar in Hazaribagh district and have descended from the union of a Vedbansi prince with a Munda girl. A legend has heard that they had their own 'Vedas' and hence it is called Bediya. Their Veda was different from the Vedas of Aryans.

Present circumstances[edit | edit source]

Distribution of Bedia community in India

The Bedia who have settled down in West Bengal are also known as the Bede or Bedia. They speak in Nagpuri, an Indo-Aryan language, at home, and Bengali for inter-group communication. The Bengali and Devanagari scripts are used.[2]

The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh, where they were classified as a Scheduled Caste under the name Beriya, showed their population as 46,775.[3] In Jharkhand, they are listed as a Scheduled Tribe.[4]

Clans[edit | edit source]

They have numbers of exogamous clans such as Pecha (owl), Mahua (Madhuca India), Suia (parrot), Kachhua (tortoise), Chidra (squirrel) etc.[4] Their deities are Bad Pahari and Palcharu. They celebrate festivals such as Jitiya, Sohrai, Fagun, and Sarhul.[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Gupta, Dipankar (8 December 2004). Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?. SAGE Publications. pp. 221–46. ISBN 978-0-7619-3324-3.
  2. ↑ "Bedia". Government of Jharkhand - Directorate of Arts and Culture.
  3. ↑ "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Saswatik Tripathy, Aditi Khan (2018). "A Study on the Bedia Community of the Village Nagrabera, Jharkhand": 1. Retrieved 29 October 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Agrawal, Anuja (2004). "'The Bedias are Rajputs': Caste consciousness of a marginal community". In Gupta, Dipankar (ed.). Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?. Contributions to Indian Sociology. Vol. 12. SAGE. ISBN 9780761933243.
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