Ajay Kumar at 14:50, 21 September 2023

2023-09-21T14:50:12Z

New page

{{Short description|Princely estate in British India}}

'''Barabhum''' (also [[romanised]] as '''Barrabhoom''' and '''Burraboom''' in early record) was the largest [[Zamindari Estate|zamindari estate]] situated in modern-day [[West Bengal]], [[India]], in erstwhile [[Manbhum|Manbhum district]]. The capitals of the estate were at [[Barabazar]] and [[Balarampur, Purulia|Balarampur]] (now in [[Purulia district|Purulia]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bengal (India) |first=West |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=KSBuAAAAMAAJ&q=Barabhum+raj&dq=Barabhum+raj&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLq-CcvraBAxWHMN4KHeunB08Q6AF6BAgGEAM#Barabhum |title=West Bengal District Gazetteers: Puruliya |date=1985 |publisher=State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers |language=en}}</ref> The [[Raja]] of Barabhum was the largest landholder in [[Manbhum]], covers 635 square miles of erstwhile south Manbhum in [[Bihar Province]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kulke |first=Hermann |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=jBhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Barabhum+estate&dq=Barabhum+estate&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJqq2OtraBAxVPz2EKHc8oAU8Q6AF6BAgGEAM#Barabhum%20estate |title=The State in India, 1000-1700 |date=1995 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563127-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Association |first=Indian Science Congress |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=LQ4WAQAAIAAJ&q=Barabhum+estate&dq=Barabhum+estate&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJqq2OtraBAxVPz2EKHc8oAU8Q6AF6BAgHEAM#Barabhum%20estate |title=Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress |date=1962 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:1907-bengal-sikkim3.jpg|thumb|1907 Map of Bengal]]

During [[British Raj]], it was part of [[Bihar Province]], composing parts of today's [[Purulia district|Purulia]] and [[Bankura district]] of [[West Bengal]] and [[Singhbhum district]] of [[Jharkhand]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=India |first=Anthropological Survey of |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=fW0uAQAAIAAJ&q=Barabhum+1956&dq=Barabhum+1956&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0sNO3u7aBAxUd1jgGHbvRDasQ6AF6BAgFEAM#Barabhum |title=Memoir |date=1966 |language=en}}</ref> The revolt of [[Ganga Narayan Singh]], grandson of [[Raja]] of Barabhum in 1832, against the [[British Raj|British]] is quite well-known.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jungle Mahal Uprising, 1832-33 |url=http://indianculture.gov.in/node/2825279 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |language=en}}</ref>

== Overview ==
According to [[H.H. Risley]] and [[Edward Tuite Dalton|E.T. Dalton]], Barabhum's ruling family, belongs to the Gulgu clan (''kili'') of the aboriginal [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]] race, to which most Barabhum ''ghatwals'' belonged.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=C. J. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=warNEAAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA1861&dq=barabhum+bhumij&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjA3YuklreBAxW9plYBHRuDBck4ChDoAXoECAUQAw#v=onepage&q=barabhum%20bhumij&f=false |title=Anthropologist and Imperialist: H.H. Risley and British India, 1873-1911 |date=2023-10-06 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-99192-5 |language=en}}</ref> In the 18th century, the royal family became [[Hinduism|hinduised]] and [[Vaishnavism|vashnavished]], and assumed the style of Rajputs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Risley |first=Sir Herbert Hope |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nJ6T3OxyglYC&pg=PA154&dq=barabhum+bhumij&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFqcjUlLeBAxXfbmwGHdqODxsQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=barabhum%20bhumij&f=false |title=India: Ethnographic Appendices, Being the Data Upon which the Caste Chapter of the Report is Based |date=1903 |publisher=Superintendent of government printing, India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Risley |first=Sir Herbert Hope |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=5yk-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA127&dq=barabhum+bhumij&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFqcjUlLeBAxXfbmwGHdqODxsQ6AF6BAgNEAM#v=onepage&q=barabhum%20bhumij&f=false |title=The Tribes and Castes of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary |date=1892 |publisher=Printed at the Bengal secretariat Press |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Raja]] of Barabhum used to appoint those belonging to the Bhumij community in all administrative positions, observed the customs and rituals of the community in religious matters.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saha |first=Prabhat Kumar |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=6WtuAAAAMAAJ&q=barabhum+bhumij&dq=barabhum+bhumij&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidx6_nl7eBAxXspVYBHW8NC1o4HhDoAXoECAIQAw#barabhum%20bhumij |title=Some Aspects of Malla Rule in Bishnupur, 1590-1806 A.D. |date=1995 |publisher=Ratnabali |language=en}}</ref> Later, under the influence of Brahmins, non-bhumijs being appointed and the posts of Rajguru, Rajpurohit etc. were introduced.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vidyarthi |first=Lalita Prasad |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=c3TqmBoQnf4C&pg=PA440&dq=barabhum+bhumij&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidx6_nl7eBAxXspVYBHW8NC1o4HhDoAXoECAsQAw#v=onepage&q=barabhum%20bhumij&f=false |title=Rise of Anthropology in India: A Social Science Orientation |date=1978 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The British came in contact with Barabhum in 1765, facing many resistances from the Raja Vivek Narayan Singh and the Ghatwals. After several campaigns the king surrendered. It appears that the zamindaris of Barabhum and Manbhum were in the kingdom of the Chuars. In 1769, Chuars, especially Bhumijas; numbering 5000 revolted in the hills between Barabhum and [[Dhalbhum]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panda |first=Barid Baran |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=iensAAAAMAAJ&q=1769+chuars&dq=1769+chuars&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj9-4OEkriBAxX-ZmwGHcoECXMQ6AF6BAgOEAM#1769%20chuars |title=Socio-economic Condition of South West Bengal in the Nineteenth Century |date=2005 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |isbn=978-81-86791-52-3 |language=en}}</ref> In January 1771, Lakshman Singh, eldest son of the Raja of Barabhum, rebelled against the British company. The British faced several such outbreaks between 1783 and 1799.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=24NDAAAAYAAJ&q=1769+chuars&dq=1769+chuars&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj9-4OEkriBAxX-ZmwGHcoECXMQ6AF6BAgNEAM#1769 |title=India's Struggle for Freedom: Role of Associated Movements |date=1985 |publisher=Agam Prakashan |language=en}}</ref>

The Barabhum estate came under the [[Dominion of India]], after the re-organisation of the states in 1956.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bahadur) |first=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=UF0qAQAAIAAJ&q=barabhum+estate+1956&dq=barabhum+estate+1956&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk-YKeoreBAxWjlFYBHQYWDykQ6AF6BAgOEAM#barabhum%20estate%201956 |title=Man in India |date=1970 |publisher=A.K. Bose |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bihar topics}}
{{West Bengal topics}}

[[Category:Bengali zamindars]]
[[Category:Zamindari estates]]
[[Category:History of West Bengal]]
[[Category:History of Bihar]]
[[Category:History of Jharkhand]]

{{india-hist-stub}}

Barabhum - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 14:50, 21 September 2023