Bind (caste): Difference between revisions

|langs = • [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]]

|rels= • [[Hinduism]] 100% •

The '''Bind'''<nowiki/>' are a [[Caste system in India|caste]] found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Tripura. Bind are under the OBC category of the central list.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India: Uttar Pradesh (Volume 42, Part 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LxdWAAAAYAAJ |year=2005 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7304-114-3 |editor=K. S. Singh |page=329}}</ref>

 

The nearest name which comes closer for them is Nishad. The Bind are originally from the Vindhya.

 

 

 

They used to craft baskets, bags and mats from arundo, giant reed, plant. The artisanship among Binds is lost as there have been marginalisation of the community which couldn't maintain to revive its artisanship at community level. The crafts made by Binds used to be sold seasonally in fares across the Purvanchal region. <ref>{{cite book |title=THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH BY W. CROOKE, B.A., BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE. VOL. II. |url=http://www.isec.ac.in/Tribes%2520and%2520castes%2520of%2520the%2520North-Western%2520provinces%2520and%2520oudh%2520vol_2.pdf}}</ref>

A rough estimate is that there are 9.50 lakh Binds in India. It is one of the numerically weaker sections of the society. The nearest group which comes closer to the Bind are Nishads. The Bind community has a distinct identity as a group from other groups, which were also engaged in the similar jobs, because it is basically a tribe. And, it is important to maintain its distinct identity.

 

The Bind or Bin are sub-divided into seven occupational groups. These sub-groups are the Suraia, Nisadh, Kulawat, Mallaah, Guria, Kewat and Bind or Bin proper. Each of these sub-groups have specialised occupations. The speciality of the [[Kewat]], Nisadh and Kulawat is to catch fish; the [[Mallaah]] and Guria are traditionally boatmen.<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 331</ref>

 

In [[Bihar]], [[Assam]] according to their traditions, the Bind once belonged to the [[Jaliya]] caste. The Noniya were forced to become grave-diggers by the early [[Muslim]] rulers, while the ancestors of the Bind fled to the forests, and evolved into a community. They have two sub-divisions, the Jethaut and the Kharaut. They are found in the districts of [[Samastipur]], [[Begusarai]], [[Darbhanga]] and [[Saran district|Saran]].<ref name="gopal"> People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 184 to 186 Seagull Books</ref>

The Bind are among 17 [[Other Backwards Class]] communities that have been proposed for [[Scheduled Caste]] status by the [[Samajwadi Party]]-controlled [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]. However, this proposal, which relates to [[votebank politics]] and has been made in the past, has been stayed by the courts; a prior attempt was also rejected by the Centre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Setback for Akhilesh government as High Court stays their order to include 17 sub-castes in the SC category |date=24 January 2017 |work=Financial Express |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/setback-for-akhilesh-government-as-high-court-stays-their-order-to-include-17-sub-castes-in-the-sc-category/520325/ |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UP govt to include 17 other backward castes in SC list |date=22 December 2016 |agency=PTI |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-govt-to-include-17-other-backward-castes-in-sc-list/story-jQWfybFAcSJTnwj2k4NxqO.html |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref>

In Bihar, the Jethaut are mainly engaged in fishing, well sinking and basket making, while the Kharaut are mainly farmers. They speak the [[Maithili language|Maithili]] dialect of [[Hindi]].<ref name="gopal"/>

 

The Bind have two important septs, the Narayaniha and Maiwarha. The Narayaniha are worshippers of the orthodox Hindu gods, Mahadev, Parvati, Mahabir or Hanuman, and, in particular, Satya Narayan or Vishnu. The Maiwarha themselves derive their name from the town of Mau in the Azamgarh District. They are chiefly worshippers of the Shakti, goddess Durga or Kali in more localised forms, which is more popular Sept of the Bind. There is controversial part when the community was mistakenly believed to be the Panchopirihas. The Bind have been paganist in the past. The Bind community was significantly Hinduised, as Nath sampraday started making a presence among the folk with the Bhakti movement.<ref>{{cite book |title=THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH BY W. CROOKE, B.A., BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE. VOL. II. |url=http://www.isec.ac.in/Tribes%2520and%2520castes%2520of%2520the%2520North-Western%2520provinces%2520and%2520oudh%2520vol_2.pdf}}</ref>

==Further readings==

[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]

[[Category:Other Backward Classes]]