International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015
Musahars: The Mahadalits of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh Jayanta Banerjee
NET, M.Phil.
Ph.D Scholar, Department of English; West Bengal State University: Barasat
Guest-Lecturer: Sri Ramkrishna Sarada Vidya Mahapitha Hooghly;West Bengal, India
[email protected] Abstract:
In today’s discourse, the ‘Dalits’ have become a strong phenomena in Indian subcontinent. Dalits are the ex-untouchables who were considered a caste/class below the four varnas of Hindu caste hierarchy. They were exterminated from the mainstream society as their presence was assumed polluting for the upper savarna people. Stigmatized as untouchables and living a life of grinding poverty, the Dalits of India are communities which live a life far below the level of human dignity. They are the socially marginalized, educationally deprived, physically exploited caste in our country. Caste Hindus have only used these left out communities by squeezing out the labour from them. Virtually, they have remained a slave caste in our country. After Independence, Government has extended innovative and effective measures towards the empowerment of these marginal communities. In spite of that this Mushahars remain in their usual retardation for centuries. Supporting agencies have researched that there are degrees and layers among the Dalits. There are few semi-nomadic tribes in India who are extreme examples of poverty and deprivation. These Dalits among the Dalits are categorized as the Mahadalits. The Musahars or the Mushahars are one of the lowest Mahadalit communities of India inhabiting largely Bihar and few parts of the middle and northern Uttar Pradesh. In this paper, by consulting few of the field based reports and data, I have tried to find out the narrow passage of the journey the Musahars have crusaded so far through their intrinsically hard working mental disposition backed up by the cooperating hands from the Government and other community development agencies. Key Words:
Mushahars, Dalits, Mahadalits, Myth, Saffronization of tribal legends, hegemony, Political participation, CSO (Civil Society Organization), MDVM (Maha Dalit Vikas Manch), BMVM (Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission) NGO, Resistance.
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015
Introduction: Mahadalits. Under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the decision Myth and Misery: was taken at a state cabinet meeting. State From the Hill to the Plain Personnel and Administrative Reforms There were few castes among the Department’s Principal Secretary, Deepak Dalits of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who live Kumar said, “Ravidas community has been under extreme poverty and social isolation. included in the list of Mahadalits on the They are considered to be the poorest among basis of the third recommendation of the the poor Dalits. Previously, Dalits were state Mahadalit Commission”, (The Hindu). considered to be the yard stick for Mr. Kumar also reported that the measuring the depth of poverty and government has also sought immediate deprivation of a community. Economic report from the Commission on the status of vulnerability, malnutrition, ill health, disease Dusads community. illiteracy, hard labour etc. are crowed in the As goes the record, today, the dictionary of these people.So, the State Government of Bihar has formed the Musahar are a scheduled caste community
Mahadalit Commission to look after the and mainly landless agricultural labourers. actual fact of the matter. On the basis of the According to the 1981 Census of said Commission’s reportage the following 23 castes/communities are defined as Government of India, their state-wise
Mahadalits. These are the - Bantar, Bauri, population are- in Bihar 13.91 lakhs, in Bhangi, Bhogta, Bhuiya, Chaupal, Dabgar, Uttar Pradesh 1.26 lakhs.In Bihar, Musahars Dom/Dhangad, Ghasi, Halaka, Hari, Kanjar, Kurariar, Lalbegi, Mahtar, Musahar, Nat are scattered in several districts Madhubani,
Pan, Sawasi, Rajwar, Turi, Dhobi, Pasi and Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Champaran, the Chamar. In addition to it, after the Hazaribagh, Santal Pargana, Bhagalpur, recommendations made by the State Mahadalit Commission; Bihar, the Ravidas Munger, Purnea and Gaya etc. In 1891, Sir
Community (previously a Scheduled Caste Risley Herbert, a colonial official wrote, Community) has been included in the list of
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015
"Musahars are an offshoot of the Bhuiya Bihar Population tribe of Chotanagpur." Musahars are also W.Champran 75964 known as a ‘pig rearer’ community. Very E.Champran 53175 Shaohar 7152 few of them are cultivators or workers in Sitamarhi 42279 Madhubani 106534 industries and offices as temporary cleaner Supaul 76655 Araria 157694 and sweepers. They have not been conferred Kishanganj 17455 Purnia 171609 Katihar 64698 tribal status and therefore are not entitled to Madhepura 132043 Saharsa 112846 earn a livelihood. Many of them are daily Darbhanga 95909 Muzaffarpur 59953 wage earners who live with such a Gopalganj 17013 Siwan 6026 precarious food security that they usually eat Saran 9323 Vaishali 31264 just one meal a day. Most of them work as Samastipur 64732 Begusarai 43005 bonded labour, as Kamia. They are Khagari 73276 Bhagalpur 25817 extremely isolated, politically and socially Banka 18763 Munger 35060 and erstwhile have been labelled as a Lakhisarai 43634 Shaeikhpura 28876 ‘criminal tribe/community’1. This makes Nalanda 70639 Patna 93062 them vulnerable targets for the police and Bhojpur 41877 Buxar 7204 forced them to stay within the safe guard of Kaimur 15510 Rohtas 11959 a forest. Consequently, they fear people in Jehanabad 46452 Aurangabad 401 Nawada 119465 authority. Gaya 49672 Jamui 85140
Total 2112136
Districts of Mushahar
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015
Bihar is now the abode of 1.3 crore little land. But the other lower castes (such
Scheduled Caste population according to the as Musahars) were largely landless.”(ibid.p-
2001 census. According to the 2001 Census, 315-16) the total population of the Musahars in Bihar In older days, in villages (5 in U.P. grew to 21,12,136 the second highest and 1 in Bihar) only 25% of people from 2
Mahadalit concentration in Bihar after the villages have land and average land holding
Chamar caste which had the highest is not more than 1 to 2 bigha (a unit used for population of 40,9,0070. Among the measuring land in India). They got these
21,12,136 Mushahars, 2,052,971 remained lands when the Land Ceiling Act was in the rural patches of the state where as implemented. But in 75% of cases they do
59,165 migrated to urban areas to try their not have control over land as original fortune. landholders had managed to get stay orders
“Bihar, economically, educationally from the court. In addition to that, their land and socially one of the most backward states are not irrigated, they are stony and far away of India, is also politically one of the most from their habitat and near the risky forest. important.” (Edited by Ghanshyam Shah; There are few many popular myths behind the origin of the Mushahar or 2008, p-315). Its peculiarity includes that Musahar. They were traditionally rat most of the agricultural land till now, catchers, and there is still uncertainty in the “remained monopolized by the three upper research area as to their exact origin. One myth recalls that once, Parmeshwar1 (the castes- the Rajputs, the Bhumihars, and the Hindu god of creation) created man and Bhahmins. For some exceptions, the upper gave him a horse to ride. The first Musahar layer of the backward castes, namely, the decided to dig holes in the belly of the horse to fix his feet as he rode. This offended Yadavs, the Kurmis and the Koeris do have
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Parmeshwar, who punished them by making were tested by Savari in order to sacrifice them rat catchers. They are found in eastern the best fruit to her Avatar. In few other Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and north Madhya areas the Shiva Purana Myth is popular, Pradesh. The Musahars speak a variation of where Lord Shiva concealed his identity to the Bhojpuri dialect of Hindi. In this write the meditating Arjun, the 3rd Pandavas, in up, though, I have concentrated mainly on the guise of a Savar and Parvati, his wife in the gruesome situation of Musahar the guise of a Savari. Lord Shiva had in community in Bihar and the adjoining hand a gahdala (a weapon, the Musahar use border areas of Uttarpradesh. for hunting) and Parvati had a basket in her In Bihar, the word Musahar is said to heap. In the cottage of a hermit where Arjun be derived from moos, a local Bhojpuri word got the revelation of Shiva and Parvati, a for a rat, on account of their traditional low caste maiden cooked for the hermit. occupation as rat catchers. Musahar literally Musahars believed to be the heirs of that means 'rat-taker' or 'rat-eater' (from 'musa' devotee maiden. which means rat and 'hera' means' seeker) or All of the Myths and legends lend even 'flesh-seeker' or 'hunter' (as 'masu' this marginal people a sort of confidence means flesh). Sometimes they are called as even in living in the lowest echelon of Banmanus. As is said that, these native society. It is through their myths and people live in forest and far from the main primitive cultural resources, theses stream society, their abode become a part of bhumiputras (sons of the soils; rustics) try to their identity. In most of the myths subvert the Brahmanic hegemony. In their associated with them, the Musahars are collective consciousness, Musahars do either shown as great soil digger or as good believe that they were also the part of the cow grazer. Few of the Musahars believe great Ramayan and Puranas and they are the that they are the descendants of the worthy descendants of the brave Dina legendary Savari (usually a wife of a Savar, Bhadri brothers who fought against the a hunter), who offered the half-eaten berries feudal lords like Dhamiya Kanksingh and to the Lord Rama and Lakshmana. In spite Kangaliya Dusadh to restore peace over the of belonging to a lower caste, Rama ate disorder of inequality, bondage labour and those eaten berries because those berries slavery.
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As is stated by Badri Narayan in his Present Scenario: politically insightful book Fascinating
Hindutva: Saffron Politics and Dalit Before the availability of the modern Mobilisation (2009) that “the myths are day NGO run survey methods, there were being retold for creating a social discourse two types of records available to us about of empowerment, for acquiring social this Musahar. One is (Post-Independence) equality and for the development of their Indian Government-survey or a project, the community. However, with the growing other is the Missionary report competition for votes in the electoral arena, organized/sponsored by the then British these myths and symbols are being Government. Accordingly, all the villages increasingly used by political parties to woo have school near the community. But most the Musahars under their fold, and thus the of the time it remains close and that is dividing line between culture and politics is almost 20 days in a month. The teachers slowly becoming blurred. (2009.P-139). come from other villages, all of them belong The Musahars work as agricultural to higher castes either Brahmins or from labourers for land holding castes and mainly OBC. The food is cooked on the days do weeding and harvesting work. Even few whenever school is opened. Though a board years ago, they earn Rs. 40/ (men) and Rs. is painted in all the schools describing the 25/ (women) for harvesting and Rs. 25/ menu and food chart dal-chawal or khichdi (men) and Rs. 15/ (women) for the weeding is the major food cooked most of the time. work. These wages are far below the Roti-vegetable and Khir is served minimum wages of Uttar Pradesh where the occasionally. 95% children belong to payment is around Rs. 100/-.Most Musahar community but none of the school pathetically; all these jobs are seasonal and had cook from Musahar community. All the give them employment for not more than 3 cooks were either from OBC community or to 6 months in a year. were Thakur (a surname used by one type of caste Brahmin who took up job in worshiping and culinary activities on others’ demand). Though there is no open discrimination against the children as most
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015 of them anyway belong to Musahar solutions for the betterment of this socially, community, children complained that food is geographically and politically isolated not enough and they are shouted as if they community, they expressed worriedly that:- ask for second helping. Then, the Musahars are entangled within the two ancient shackles of poverty and untouchability. However, in the context of the Similar cases of extreme marginalization project location the scenario is very pathetic. and multiple deprivations are an all Studies and reports of district Kushinagar pervasive bitter reality for all of the show that: Mahadalits inhabiting in India. The Yanadee Kushinagar has reported the or Yanadi community of Andhra Pradesh is most deaths of Musahars due a similar case where the tribe strives hard to to poverty and hunger. eke out a meager livelihood. 80% of children (0-5 yrs) are Under the project “Inclusive malnourished and only Development of Musahar Community” negligible numbers of (implemented in Maharajganj and children are immunized Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh), against infectious diseases. Manab Seva Sansthan, “SEVA”, an Very high IMR and MMR Uttarpradesh based NGO completed a among Musahar community project for “Livelihood Promotion of compared to district level Marginalized Groups and Labour Migrants indicators in South Asia”. It was a three year long Maternal malnutrition is AWO/BMZ funded initiative that was very high resulting in low implemented by regional NGO partners in birth weight Nepal, India and Bangladesh. In their pilot 50% of Musahar children in stage; they covered almost 22 villages of the project area have never Nichlaul Block of Maharajganj and later 33 been to school villages of the same Block in the year 2012- Majority of those children 2013. In the Kushinagar district they who go school dropout well sampled 22 villages. In their exchange of before given the acute
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poverty and demand to work Maharajganj & Kushinagar, Uttar with their parents Pradesh.07.) 70% of the community have no access to health services,
quacks and the Sokha Ojha (Saints) are the main health The outcome is a solidarity service providers movement for the Musahar empowerment.
The Musahar Vikas Manch (under Maha Moreover, the IMR accounting for Musahars in Kushinagar being as high as 83/1000 Dalit Vikas Manch) handed over a letter births and the institutional deliveries as low addressed to the candidates, and a charter of as 15% are alarming indicators. (AWO demands. With this event, the Musahar Baseline Survey Report of Maharajganj & Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.8-9). The survey Manch clearly expressed its intention of exclaimed in sorrow that, participating in, and influencing, the
governance process and negotiating with
“The status of Musahars is so political forces. Moreover, it sent out the pitiable that they do not even own message that human development issues like the land on which they have built food and hunger, livelihood, illiteracy, their kachha houses (temporary huts). They stay on the common disease, public health and human security lands of gram panchayat4 on the must figure prominently in the agenda of outskirt of the main village even far any political party. Their latest resistive off from other SC houses. Devoid of electricity, proper roads, water and stance is expressed in the solidarity they sanitation Musahars hamlets look have found in their community. like outcasts and castaway.” (AWO Key demands of the Musahar community Baseline Survey Report of include:
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015
1. Grant of scheduled tribe status to 9. Special package for flood-affected
them. areas, and all-round development of
2. Inclusion of Maharajganj district in Sohgibarwa.
the NREGA as also all poverty- 10. Social security for every Musahar
stricken districts in eastern Uttar household.
Pradesh. 11. Increase in the minimum wage in
3. Grant of gram sabha land to landless Uttar Pradesh.
Musahars and possession to those 12. Equal wages for men and women.
given entitlements. Traditionally they had been voting for 4. Antyodaya ration cards for all the landed class (who were their masters in
Musahar households. life) represented by Congress party. But with the Jayprakash Narayan led anti- 5. Indira Awas Yojana to cover all Congress movement in the 1970s they have Musahar households. found their true representatives in the
6. Residential schools up to Class 12 legislative assemble and supported largely for the Ambedkarite BSP but in the last state and the setting up of ashram-type election they shifted their allegiance to schools in Musahar-dominated areas. Bahujan Samaj Party. Scheduled Caste
7. Filling up 2,000 vacancies for Community development did not remain a utopian thought when Jitan Ram Manjhi primary school teachers in became the Chief Minister of the State. Maharajganj. More hopeful thing to mention is that, 8. Access to a functional anganwadi, since 2001, ‘Culture, Development and primary school and fair price shop in Identity: The Musahars of the Middle- Gangetic Plains’ under the Dalit Resource all Musahar hamlets. Centre, Deshkal Society2 (Gaya, Bihar) is
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International Journal of Research p‐ISSN: 2348‐6848 e‐ISSN: 2348‐795X Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2015 enthusiastic and consistent in circulating assuming more subtle and detail programme on documentation and research responsibilities. In modern times, the on the Musahars. The latest trend of the concepts of development and developmental Musahar in joining the Military and Para- strategies have undergone significant Military Services. changes. Both formal and non-formal agencies go hand in hand in order to extend
and meet the demand of an all round Thus, Musahars too had their say. development of a society viz-a-viz the Genu Musahar said that the Musahar Manch nation. The poverty stricken marginal must analyze the assurances given by communities and their vulnerability have politicians and that the Musahars must been the legacy of Indian Democracy from remain united for the larger fight. Fulesari time immemorial. Governments, politicians, Devi and Kaushilya from Sohgibarwa activists, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations cynically remarked: “Politicians are coming (CSOs), various Planning Commissions, to our doors because of elections and the Laws and Foreign Researchers cum fact that we are not united; they will Contributors, all of the above bodies have disappear after the election.” come to the bitter truth that even after nearly 70 years of independence, India still remains in the mythological state of limbo. Behind
the façade of India gone global, the back log Conclusion: The Future of the millions of poor faces still far from the basic amenities of life. A secured shelter, In this small endeavour, as I find it to functional education, nutrient food, pure be, I have tried to accumulate a miniscule water, clean sanitation, electricity and which could stand both for the revelation of congenial work ambience – are the very the actual condition of all the Dalits and requisitions of the hour for the Mahadalits of India and abroad and then it underprivileged, even if we shamefully might call for the expectant measures on bypass the serious issues like human values, behalf of the Governments (central and human resources and the Commandments, State), NGOs, CSOs and Activists by
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Rights inscribed on the preamble of the http;//mahadalitmission.org. 17.06.2015). Constitution of Indian Republic. This proves that the project of community Though, in The Life of Musahars in development is in action not only in words North Bihar J John & Mukul Sharma say, but also in ink and blue. “Nothing much has changed in the employment pattern of migrant workers from Bihar over a period of hundred years”, the most important information the State End Notes:
Personnel and Administrative Reforms 1. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 identified Bauriahs, Sanorias, Harbwahs Department’s Principal Secretary, Deepak and Maghiya Doms as criminals. In Western India the Bhils, Kolis, Kanjars Kumar shared with the reporter is that and Minas were increasingly regarded as criminal. Other communities(Musahar) another progressive measure the cabinet of were similarly classified in Nagpur and Oudh, Bihar and Bengal, Hyderabad and Bihar allowed is an amendment to the Bihar the Madras Presidency.(Against History, Against State : Counter Perspectives Right to Information Act (amendment) rules from the Margins by Shail Mayaram.2006) 2009 to make it more effective and prevent 2. Deshkal Society was founded by educationists, journalists, young its misuse. Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission researchers and social activists in 1995. It initially aimed at publishing a Hindi under SC/ST Welfare Department of the magazine with an objective to help Govt. of Bihar has published its ‘invitation formation of a liberal and thinking society, which constantly makes use of for Expression for Interest for setting up the tools of information, thoughts and logics. Presently, Deshkal Society is Cummunity Radio Station among Mahadalit involved in understanding, documenting and disseminating the fundamental Community for advancement of their problems of economic and cultural levels. Deshkal also tries to enhance the educational, developmental, social and capacity of a community by ensuring their partnership in the knowledge-based cultural needs.’(Times of India and activism. Further, this society gives
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special emphasis on building a network The Hindu. of NGOs, local groups and institutions
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Electronic Sources Print Books
Dashrath Manji Kousal Vikas Yojna Mayaram, Shail Against History, Against State: Counter Perspectives from the
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