Kandra, also known as Kandara or Kodama is a Scheduled Caste community in East India, primarily in Odisha and West Bengal.[1] They were traditionally engaged in the profession of fishing and artisan, though in the modern times many of the members of community have integrated in society.[2]
History[edit | edit source]
Kandra were historically nomadic community who were artisans, primarily in profession of Bamboo-making business and selling them in different parts of Odisha.[3] Besides being artisans, they were heavily involved in the fishing due to presence in the coastal regions of the state and with time due to socio-economically backward. It is said that they were originated from the Sambalpur State and have also migrated to adjacent states of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.[4][5] They are considered as similar to the Basor and Turi community due to similarity of being bamboo workers and documented by various names such as Kodma (in Mayurbhanj State), Kodama and Kadara.
Demographics[edit | edit source]
They are recognized as Scheduled Caste inWest Bengal and Odisha, where they are sixth largest Scheduled Caste community with a population of 5,29,717 (as of 2011).
| State | Category | Caste | Population
(2011) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | OBC (or BC) | Kandra | [6] | |
| Odisha | SC | Kandra, Kandara, Kadama, Kuduma, Kodma, Kodama | 5,29,717 | |
| Telangana | OBC | Kadara, Kandra | ||
| West Bengal | SC | Kandra | 1,12,038 |
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Kandra". SC & ST Department (Odisha). Odisha, India: Ministry of Social Justice and Tribal Affairs. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Socio-Political status of Kandra community in Puri district" (PDF). Magazine Odisha. Government of Odisha.
- ↑ Russell, Robert Vane (4 January 2022). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India: Ethnological Study of the Caste System. e-artnow.
- ↑ General, India Office of the Registrar (1970). Bibliography on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Selected Marginal Communities of India: A-K series.-[2]L-Z series.
- ↑ Commissioner, India Census (1902). Census of India, 1901. Printed at the Government central Press.
- ↑ http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvYBtdZSrP4uO%2bploAhiJHMitEMCkgxxsH%2f7oa9L5Zf2o2HH3BmrgcE