>Lancepark at 23:03, 24 June 2021

2021-06-24T23:03:17Z

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{{distinguish|Bhuiyan}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = '''Bhuyan'''
| image = Bhuiyas.jpg
| total = 306,129 (2011)
| total_ref = <ref name="census 2011">{{cite web|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Government of India|access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>
| region1 = Odisha
| pop1 = 306,129
| ref1 = <ref name="census 2011" />
| region2 =
| pop2 =
| ref2 =
| languages = [[Odia language]]
| religions = Autonomous tribal religion, Hindu beliefs
| related =
}}

The '''Bhuyan''' (Also known as '''Bhuiya''', '''Bhuiyan''' and '''Bhuinya''') are an ethnic group found mainly in many districts of [[Odisha]]. The 2011 census showed their population to be around 220,859. They are classified as a [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribe]] by the Indian government.<ref name="census 2011"/><ref name="scstrti-Tribe-Profile-Bhuiya">{{cite web | last=scstrti | first=scstrti | title=Bhuiya | website=Home | url=http://www.scstrti.in/index.php/communities/tribes/91-tribes/151-bhuiya | access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The tribe is also called variously as Bhuiya, Bhuiyan and Bhuinya.The word ''Bhuyan'' and its alternate spellings are possibly originated from Sanskrit word for earth, ''Bhumi'' and possibly mean "belonging to soil".<ref name="West 2010 p. 107">{{cite book | last=West | first=B.A. | title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania | publisher=Facts On File, Incorporated | series=Facts on File Library of World History | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-4381-1913-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCiNqFj3MQsC&pg=PA107 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=107}}</ref> The word bhuiyan is used in many different contexts and does not always refer to the tribe. Some other tribes and some non-tribal landholders also use ''Bhuyan'' as title.
<ref name="Russell 1916 p. 952">{{cite book | last=Russell | first=R.V. | title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (Volumes I and II) | publisher=Cosmo Publication | series=Library of Alexandria | year=1916 | isbn=978-1-4655-8294-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6h2Gm1gPZZQC&pg=PT952 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=952}}</ref>

==History==

Early history of the tribe is uncertain. But the Bhuyan was one of the most populous and widespread tribes in colonial india. The Northern Tributary States of Orissa were the principal stronghold of the Bhuyans. It is speculated that they were the oldest inhabitants of the states of Keonjhar, Bonai, Gangapur, Bamra and Singhbhum as well as most regions of Eastern India and Lower Assam.<ref name="Dalton 1872 p.140-141 ">{{cite book | last=Dalton | first=E.T. | title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal | publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing | year=1872 | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC | access-date=2019-07-22 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC/page/n155 140]-141}}</ref> They were also found in other plains areas of Orrisa, Bengal, Bihar, Chhotanagpur, Assam, the United Provinces, the Central Provinces, Central India Agency and the Madras Presidency where they later on underwent [[Sanskritisation]] to enter the Hindu paraphernalia as Semi-Hinduised Aboriginals like the Keot(Kaibarta) ethnic group/tribe and other related ethnic groups etc. In the feudatory [[Keonjhar State|state of Keonjhar]] and Bonai the tribe was especially powerful. They had traditional rights to install the ''Raja'' of the state.<ref name="Cobden-Ramsay 2011 p. 43">{{cite book | last=Cobden-Ramsay | first=L.E.B. | title=Feudatory States of Orissa: Bengal District Gazetteers | publisher=Logos Press | year=2011 | isbn=978-81-7268-216-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rbye1SEL1KAC&pg=PA45 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=43}}</ref><ref name="Russell 1916 p. 952"/>

==Subdivisions==

Broadly Bhuyans can be divided into two groups according to their general area of residence.

'''Hill Bhuyans''' - Known as ''Pawri'' or ''Pauri'' ''Bhuyan'', they generally live in the hilly and inaccessible forest areas. They have a more primitive mode of life and more economically disadvantaged, and traditionally engaged in [[Slash-and-burn|Podu cultivation]]. They were however politically powerful and the rulers of the Keonjhar state were dependent on their support.<ref name="Cobden-Ramsay 2011 p. 43"/><ref name="Dalton 1872 p. ">{{cite book | last=Dalton | first=E.T. | title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal | publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing | year=1872 | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC | access-date=2019-07-22 }}</ref>

'''Plains Bhuyans'''- Plains Bhuyans live among nontribal populations and are influenced by the Hinduism and its rituals. During British rule they were the organised militia of the Keonjhar state. Both of them held the lands on
conditions of service and maintained themselves in a state of preparedness for taking the field at a moments notice to oppose their Raja or fight for him.

== Culture ==

The Bhuyans usually live in small homogeneous and villages. Their family structure is mostly nuclear. A group of families with blood relations form the smallest social unit called {{transl|or|kutumba}} or ''the lineage''. Several [[Agnatic seniority|agnatic]] {{transl|or|kutumbas}} constitute an exogamous clan called {{transl|or|bonso}} or {{transl|or|khilli}}. All members of a {{transl|or|khilli}} are believed to have a common ancestor. Members of many different {{transl|or|khillis}} or the same {{transl|or|khilli}} form a village. Intra-village marriage was forbidden. Marriages by capture is practised is called ''ghichha''. Other social sanctioned forms of marriage are marriage by elopement, by love and by negotiation. On death of a family member death pollution{{clarify|date=December 2019}} is observed for two to three days. At the end of it, the villagers are given a feast by the bereaved family.

The Bhuyans have a mixed pantheon of deities. They worship deities of animism such as ''Badam'', ''Gainsari'', and ''Barahipat''. They also worship village deities derived from animistic origin such as Dharam Devata (Sun God) and Basukimata (Earth Goddess) and Hindu Gods like [[Hanuman]].<ref name="West 2010 p. 108">{{cite book | last=West | first=B.A. | title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania | publisher=Facts On File, Incorporated | series=Facts on File Library of World History | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-4381-1913-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCiNqFj3MQsC&pg=PA107 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=108}}</ref><ref name="scstrti-Tribe-Profile-Bhuiya"/><ref name="Cobden-Ramsay 2011 p. 53">{{cite book | last=Cobden-Ramsay | first=L.E.B. | title=Feudatory States of Orissa: Bengal District Gazetteers | publisher=Logos Press | year=2011 | isbn=978-81-7268-216-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rbye1SEL1KAC&pg=PA45 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=53}}</ref><ref name="Dalton 1872 p.147 ">{{cite book | last=Dalton | first=E.T. | title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal | publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing | year=1872 | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC | access-date=2019-07-22 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dX9t4rfPYUwC/page/n162 147]}}</ref> They traditionally take part in the Rathyatra at puri. Additionally they also celebrate festivals like ''Karama'', ''Magh Porai'', and ''Gamha Punai''.<ref name="Cobden-Ramsay 2011 p. 54">{{cite book | last=Cobden-Ramsay | first=L.E.B. | title=Feudatory States of Orissa: Bengal District Gazetteers | publisher=Logos Press | year=2011 | isbn=978-81-7268-216-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rbye1SEL1KAC&pg=PA45 | access-date=2019-07-19 | page=54}}</ref>

In every Bhuyan village there is a traditional panchayat which meets at the darbar (community center) whenever required. The village headman or pradhan presides over the panchayat. A group of villages form a confederation called a ''pidha''. The panchayat at this level is called the ''pidha'' panchayat, and there is a secular headman who presides over it is called the ''sardar''. These councils handle their community matters.

==See also==
*[[Bhuiyan]], Bengali title/surname
* [[Bonai State]]
* [[Athmallik State]]
* [[Rairakhol State]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Odisha]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Odisha]]

Bhuyan - Revision history

>Lancepark at 23:03, 24 June 2021