Ghasi
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Jharkhand | 1,50,520[1] |
| Odisha | 1,14,066[2] |
| Languages | |
| Nagpuri, Odia | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ghasiya | |
Ghasi is a caste found in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. They are traditionally caretakers of horses and village musicians.[3][4][5] They are known as Ghasiya in Uttar Pradesh.[6]
Etymology
The name ghasi derive from ghas which means grass. In past, they were cutting grass to feed horses.[4]
History
The Ghasi caste is found in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. They are also found in Uttar Pradesh known as Ghasiya.[6] They were serving Nagvanshi as militia, musician and ritual specialist.[7]
According to Robert Vane Russell, in his book The Tribe and Castes of Central Provinces of India, Volume III, Ghasi/Ghasiya are dravidian caste of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh who are grass cutters. They care for horses and beat drums during festivals and marriage ceremonies. According to Herbert Hope Risley, the Ghasi are a caste of farmers and fisherman. They play music instrument in marriage ceremonies. They cut grass for horses. According to Dr.Ball, they are known for their gold washing and playing musical instruments in Singhbhum district.[6]
Present Circumstances
They are found in the state of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal.[4][3][5] They are an endogamous group. They are patrilocal and patrilinial. They practice clan exogamy. They have number of clans such as Arilkhand, Bagh (tiger), Bangar, Bhainsa (buffalo), Dhamna Sap (rat snake), Hathi (elephant), Janta, Kachhua (turtle), Kasriar (bronze), Katihari, Loharbans (iron worker), Maltiar (a flower), Mohdiar (honey bee), Nag (Cobra), Pandki (dove), Sindur (vermillion), Simarlasa (simal tree gum), Sonwani (gold water) Surajbani (solar lineage), and Tirkey (a bird) etc.[6]
Culture
Their traditional occupation was caretaker of horses along with village musician. They along with Mahli community are the traditional maker of musical instruments such as dhol, mandar, nagara and dhak etc.[8] They play musical instruments in weddings. They have an important role in the preservation of ethnic music. They speak Odia in Western Odisha, Nagpuri and Kurmali in Jharkhand.[4][3][5] They observe the festivals of Holi, Diwali, Karma, Sarhul, Ramnavami. They practice animism with a mixture of hinduism.[4]
Official classification
In 1931, during British Period, they were listed as semi hinduised aboriginal. In 1936, they were listed as Backward tribe in Chotanagpur division of Bihar.[9] In Patna division, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Manbhum and Bengal, they were included in Scheduled Caste.[10] They are included in the list of Scheduled Castes in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.[4][11][12]
Notable people
- Mukund Nayak, folk artist
- Nandlal Nayak, music composer and director
References
- ^ "झारखंड में अनुसूचित जातियों में एक भी ईसाई, जैन नहीं". jagran. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "Ghasi". scstrti. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Song of India". thecollege.syr.edu. 25 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ghasi". scstrti. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b c Prakash Chandra Mehta (2005). Marriages in Indian Society. Discovery Publishing House. p. 61. ISBN 978-8171419210.
- ^ a b c d Hasan, A.; Das, J. C. (eds.). People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two. Manohar Publications. pp. 530–534.
- ^ CM Babiracki (2017). "Two Generations in the Fault Lines of India ' s Musical Modernities". p. 45. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Jewitt, Sarah (31 July 2019). Environment, Knowledge and Gender: Local Development in India's Jharkhand. ISBN 978-1351729895. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ Nirmal Sengupta (14 May 1988). "Reappraising Tribal Movements: II: Legitimisation and Spread". Economic and Political Weekly. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Government of India 1935 (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1936" (PDF). 30 April 1936. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "घासी उपजाति पर गरमाई सियासत". jagran. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "List of Schedule Caste". cgtrti.gov. Retrieved 12 August 2022.