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] There is almost one hundred percent literacy among the present gandhabanik generation.[6]
It is believed that the legendary sea merchant Chand Sadagar of ancient Champaknagar was from Gandhabanik community.[7][8]
Varna Status
Gandhabaniks have generally been considered as 'middle class shudras' in the caste structure of Bengal.[9][7][10]
References
- ↑ The Eastern Anthropologist{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society(1963)
- ↑ Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(1973)
- ↑ Occupational Mobility and Caste Structure in Bengal: Study of Rural Market{{#if:Bhowmick|, Bhowmick}. Indian Publications(1969)
- ↑ India's Communities{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(1998). ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2
- ↑ Social Mobility in Bengal{{#if:Sanyal|, Sanyal}. Papyrus(1981)
- ↑ People of India: West Bengal (2 pts.){{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Anthropological Survey of India(1992). ISBN 978-81-7046-300-9
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mutating Goddesses: Bengal's Laukika Hinduism and Gender Rights{{#if:Sengupta|, Sengupta}. Oxford University Press(2020-11-30). ISBN 978-0-19-099325-2
- ↑ The Changing World of Caste and Hierarchy in Bengal: Depiction from the Mangalkavyas C. 1700-1931{{#if:Bhaumik|, Bhaumik}. Routledge, Taylor & Francis(2022). ISBN 978-1-003-14618-6
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus{{#if:Sarma|, Sarma}. Firma KLM(1980). ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7