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Common Features of the Rajbanshis of West Dinajpur: a Brief Study

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Common Features of the Rajbanshis of West Dinajpur: a Brief Study BULLETIN MONUMENTAL - ISSN / e-ISSN 0007-473X http://bulletinmonumental.com/ COMMON FEATURES OF THE RAJBANSHIS OF WEST DINAJPUR: A BRIEF STUDY Kartick Chandra Barman Assistant Professor Department of History Krishna Chandra college Hetampur, Birbhum-731124 Abstract: The Rajbanshis are the most predominant section of the Hindu communities of West Dinajpur. They are third largest community in West dinajpur district. The history of the origin of the Rajbanshis is a mystry and there has been the absence of unanimity on this issue. The Rajbanshis constituting the most numerous group among the autochthons ofthe district went through the parallel processes of Hinduization and Islamization. It is, however, curious that usually Rajbanshis are only Hindus and all Muslims referred to as local Muslims are non- Rajbanshis. In this connection it is relevant to note that the Hinduized Rajbanshis from the single largest hinduized social group in the population of the district of West Dinajpur district. However, there is no doubt that the Rajbanshis were the early settlers in North Bengal as well as Dinajpur. They were socially homogenous community, in the sense that there was no sub caste among them. Their religious-cultural practices were simple and free from the Hindus and social organizations were different from the Hindu culture, which ·provided the Rajbanshis a distinct character.1 However, they maintain a separate group identity and over a period of time become distinct castes. Keywords: Rajbanshis, Indigenous people, Customs, Foods habits, Ornaments, Titles etc. Introduction: The history concerning the origin of the Rajbanshis is a mystery. The term Rajbanshi means people of royal lineage.2According to Haripada Bhattarai, the Rajbanshis belonged to the great ‘Bodo family’3 that entered India in the 10th century B. C. from the east and settled on the banks of the Brahamaputra and gradually spread over Assam and the whole of north Bengal.4 Some scholars believe that North Bengal is the homeland of the Rajbanshis and they are the local ethnic community dominating the land over years.5At present, the Rajbanshis of North Bengal are striving to preserve their ethnic identity. They have been striving for it for quitesometime. Over time and space it has evolved a lot.6 The Rajbanshis are found in all districts of North Bengal, some parts of Assam, Nepal, Meghalaya, Bhutan and Bihar. Besides, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Panchgarh, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Gaibandha, Nilfamari, Bogra, Jessore, Mymensingh district of Bangladsh.7 The racial origin of the Rajbanshi is a matter of controversy. Psycho-social identity has even more elusive characteristics, at one subjective and objective, individual and social.8While some group of scholars like Risley, Colonel Dalton, Dr. Latham, and Oldham opines that the Rajbanshi belong to the Dravidian race, on the other group of scholars headed Volume 21 : Issue 10 - 2020 Page No : 128 BULLETIN MONUMENTAL - ISSN / e-ISSN 0007-473X http://bulletinmonumental.com/ by Sir Edward Gait, Sidney Endle, Bryan Hodgson, G. A. Griarson, Waddel, W. W. Hunter and Buchanon advocated that they belong to the Mongoloid stock. Although there is a difference in opinion it can be very well said that the Rajbanshis belong to the Mongoloid race as per their religious beliefs, rites, social manners and customs, speech and their physical features. But in due course of time with the gradual intermixture with the Dravidians, it paved the way for the evolution of a mixed type the Mongoloid-Dravidian type in which the characteristic feature of both the races was found. According to Strong, writer of the Gazetteers of Dinajpur“The Typical Rajbanshi has a short broad figure, broad across the shoulder and cross the claves of the legs, the nose is broad across the nostrils, the the eyes are long and narrow and the check bones high and the general appearances shows unmistakable signs of Mongolian strains, the Koches, the Rajbanshis and the Paliyas have the same general appearances.”9 W.W.Hunter opines thatthe Rajbansis and the Paliyas were the offshoots of the Koch tribe. The Koch tribe first came to prominence by the close of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century when they established the powerful Koch Kingdom. During the reign of Viswa Singha, Brahmanism was introduced and the people including the king and his officers embraced the new religion. They abandoned the name ‘Koch’ on their conversion to Hinduism and took the name Rajbanshi which literally means ‘Royal Race’ was adopted by the cultivators and respectable men and Koch being restricted to labourers and especially tothe palanquin bearers. Hunter places theRajbanshis under ‘semi-Hinduised aboriginals.10 Physical Appearance Generally, the Rajbanshis have darker skin and some are black. The common thing is nose, which is flat, and short height, high cheek bones and thick lips, the eyes are generally small andslightly oblique. Actually, the Rajbanshi community was formed by various castes, creeds, clan from immemorial times. So, the appearances of the Rajbanshis are not the same. It varied from place to place. Obviously, it depends on the location, environment and socio- cultural affairs. Sometime, it might be possible for the next generation due to inter-caste marriage. Yet, they are belonging to the Hinduism and their activities are all of same to Hindus. Custom of Housing: Vastu is an ancient traditional practice followed in the erection ofdwelling house in India. It is based on a sort of rigid religious commandassociated with it. Vastu is a Sanskrit word meaningresidence.11 In vastu-sastra emphas is laid on five basic elements. They areBhumi (Land).Jal (Water), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire) and Akash (Sky). The traditional vastu concept in terms of the vastu-system as followed in the commune of Burima or vastu Buri, who will keep the house peace, reflects the vastu-concept and its transition in the Rajbanshis community. According to the vastu-sastra the prayer house should be in the north-east, kitchen in the south-east, bed-room in the south-west and the granary is to be located in the north-west side of the house. The four rooms in the four sides of the Brahmasthanam are used for different purposes. According to the Hindu vastu sastra different deities have their own seats Volume 21 : Issue 10 - 2020 Page No : 129 BULLETIN MONUMENTAL - ISSN / e-ISSN 0007-473X http://bulletinmonumental.com/ in different sides of the house, and they are the lords over different elements of nature. Their positions are as follows: In the North located Kuber, the Lord of wealth, in the South located Yama, the Lord of death, towards East, located Indra, the sun of God and other his name is Adity, towards West, there located Barun, the Lord of water, in the North-east, there located Shiva, in South- east, there belonged Agni,12 the Lord of fire, in the North-west, there belonged Vayu, the Lord of wind, in the South-west, there belonged to Nirathi, the representative of the fore-fathers and in the midst of the house, there belonged Brahma the creator of universe. The Rajbanshis build their houses to keep the position of the Gods there is a direction in the scripture regarding the placement of the different rooms in the house: North is Treasury, North-east is Temple, East is Bathroom, South-east is Kitchen, South is Bedroom, South-west is Weapons store, in the West Dining and North-west is Cattle-shed. When constructing a Rajbanshi Jotedar house, Pazier13 does not build a house without verifying the quality of the Vastu (Vita). Even when buying a place for home, he checked the place with the pazier. If there is any fault in the place or there is a ghost or demon, then there is no house built there. Many times, the quality of the house for the construction of a cluttered house can be verified. Only if a Home priest permits, a Rajbashi people started the work of building houses. Regarding the creation of the houses of the Rajbanshis, a proverb is prevailing among them which are followed by the Rajbashis in the time of house making. Uttare Guya-Arcca on the North Dakshine Dhuya-Open on the South Pube HaaDucks pond on the East Pacchime Bas-Bambo on the West. Translation There is duck in the East, In West the bamboo tree is the Best. In north the betel nuts is there, The South is bare14 Towards North of the homestead there would be a garden betel nut, in the South of the homestead there would be open land, in the East portion of the house there would be a pond where sweeming ducks and in the Western side of the house there would remain bamboo tress. The Rajbanshis set the auspicious day by observing the calendar for fear of the house, and on that day some places were worshiped in the east. Then four small kettles on the four corners of the room were to be tied with thick jute rope. The walls of the house are given out of the rope just outside the wall. The purpose of the rope to make the wall is not to wallow inside or outside the house. The Rajbanshis built different type of rooms of the house, especially the Jotedar families of West Dinajpur.Such as, Vastu Ghar(There is more than one bedroom. But these should never face the east.The door or jhap of the room is bamboo-made. The roof is made of straw, Darighar (This is a sort of drawing room to entertain the guests and however, is sometimes used to provide accommodation to the members of the family also), Thakuranir Ghar (This is located outside the darighar in one comer of the outer yard of the house.there Volume 21 : Issue 10 - 2020 Page No : 130 BULLETIN MONUMENTAL - ISSN / e-ISSN 0007-473X http://bulletinmonumental.com/ lived Godees of Buri or Vastu Buri) and Uthan (The well-off householders among the Rajbanshis leave a space of around one or one and a half bigha of land for the courtyard.) Titles or Surnames of the Rajbanshis: The names of Bengalee Hindus living in West Bengal are very diverse, as is the practice of religious caste system, and it is customary to adopt traditional profession as a designation.
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