Gandhabanik is a Bengali Hindu trading caste, who as the caste name suggests, traditionally used to trade in perfumes, cosmetics, spices etc.[1][2] They were also engaged in agriculture.[3][4] As of late nineteenth century they were one of the fourteen castes belonging to Nabasakh group.[5]
| Gandhabanik | |
|---|---|
 Cover of Gandhabanik magazine, Issue-1, 1367 | |
| Kuladevi (female) | Gandheswari mata |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Bengali |
| Populated states | West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, Assam |
It is believed that the legendary sea merchant Chand Sadagar of ancient Champaknagar was from Gandhabanik community.[6][7]
Varna Status
editGandhabaniks have generally been considered as 'middle class shudras' in the caste structure of Bengal.[8][6][9]
References
edit- ^ The Eastern Anthropologist. Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society. 1963. pp. 66, 68.
- ^ Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress. 1973. p. 589.
- ^ Bhowmick, P. K. (1969). Occupational Mobility and Caste Structure in Bengal: Study of Rural Market. Indian Publications.
- ^ Singh, K. S.; India, Anthropological Survey of (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 946. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
- ^ Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus. p. 115.
- ^ a b Sengupta, Saswati (2020-11-30). Mutating Goddesses: Bengal's Laukika Hinduism and Gender Rights. Oxford University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-19-099325-2.
- ^ Bhaumik, Sudarshana (2022). The Changing World of Caste and Hierarchy in Bengal: Depiction from the Mangalkavyas C. 1700-1931. Routledge, Taylor & Francis. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-003-14618-6.
- ^ Mitra, A. (1953). The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (Report). Census 1951. Land and Land Revenue Department, Government of West Bengal. p. 21.
- ^ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.