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Hela (caste)
The Hela are a Hindu Scheduled Caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also misinterpreted as Mestar. They are a sub-group within the larger Bhangi community of North India.[1]
The Hela are a community of agricultural labourers. Their traditional occupation was that of farmers, while they also have a historical background of serving as sepoys during the reign of Mughals and as freedom fighters of India. After being affected by a riot back then , a large population of this community was struck by poverty and had been forced into low labours for survival. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Ghazipur and Mirzapur. They are divided into five sub-groups, the Supa Bhagat, Balmiki, Nourchinwa, Lalbegi and Shaikh-Hela. Traditionally, the community was hierarchical, with the Bhagat considering themselves superior to the other sub-groups.[1]
The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Hela Scheduled Caste population as 52,314.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 603 to 605 Manohar Publications
- ↑ "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 6 February 2017.