Bhumihar /Babhan
editBhumihar (भूमिहार) or Babhan (बाभन) is a land holding Brahmin community found mainly in Eastern UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. Bhumihar or Bhumik (Bhowmika) was the word used in Indian feudal system to denote landlord before the introduction of Persian word Zamindar by Mughals and other Muslim rulers. Bhumihar literally means possessor of land or land holder (bhoomi + haar ) similar to word Bhumik(Bhowmik). Bhoomi word was used in the past feudal system to denote grant of land for secular services. The holder of such bhoomi was a Bhumihar. Bhumihar word is Hindustani (Indian) equivalent to the Persian word Zamindar or Jagirdar. If a Brahmin had land grant for secular services was called Bhumihar Brahmin . If a Kashtriya had such grant was called Bhumihar Kashtriya [1]. These Bhumihars generally used Rai, Singh, Shahi, Thakur or Chaudhury as their surnames to denote their power and authority with land. Bhumihar was not any caste specific word in earlier times just like Zamindar or Jagirdar or Thakur or Chaudhury, It was merely a position of land lordship in the society. It has become a caste specific word purely after it’s popularization by Kashi Naresh and Bhumihar Brahmin Sabha (Caste assembly of Babhans led by Kashi Naresh) for a land owning Babhan community. Babhan was the earlier name of community who owned large chunk of land in Bihar (including Jharkhand ) and Kashi during British period so were called Bhumihar (possessor of land). Rajputs were also land possessor but they were more commonly known as Thakur. Bhumihar or Babhan community of today were enumerated as Babhan only in earlier British census Records under military and aristocratic class just like Taga (Tyagi) (census of India 1901, census of India 1891,Census of India 1881 and census of Bengal 1872). There were some myths fabricated by some orthodox people regarding Babhan caste as fallen Brahmin just like Raut means fallen Rajput[2,a,b]. This kind of insinuation and false propaganda by some orthodox people led Kashi Naresh and other Babhan landlords to establish a caste Sabha in 1885 which was later called as Bhumihar Brahmin Sabha. Babhan community always disregard the fallen Brahmin myth and consider themselves to be pure Brahmins who has taken up land grant by lord Parsuram after slaying kastriyas, so were called bhumihar or bhuinhar (land taker or land holder ). Big landlords or rajah (especially Kashi Naresh) were the main proponent of Bhumihar word over old babhan term mainly to cast their land ownership state. Bhumihar Brahmin sabha filed numerous representations with E. A. Gait, the director of census operations for Bengal and Bihar, which argued that, for the purposes of the census, the term "Babhan" should not be used to describe them and instead they should be called as Bhumihar or landed Brahmans[3]. In this way after 1921 census survey Babhans were enumerated as Babhan ( Bhumihar Brahmin) in census record[8]. Now a day the same Bhumihar term is used as shortened version of Bhumihar Brahmin. The old Babhan name of community has become just part of history, found mainly in gazette and non gazette documents of British era. It is also popular in the villages of Magadh (South Bihar) were still Babhan is more frequently used over Bhumihar term in local conversation. Collages and Schools were opened with name Bhumihar (like Bhumihar Brahmin collage (presently Langat singh collage )and Bhumihar collegiate schools) to popularize this Bhumihar term over old Babhan name. Bhumihar was merely a title or status of some members of Babhan community, since they were proprietor of large estates at the time of British. Now it has become the main name after popularization by Bhumihar Brahmin sabha led by big landlords or rajah. Babhan word is found in ashokan edicts in reference to Brahmins of Magadh. This led many scholars associate Babhans with Buddhism since magadh and adjoining area was epicenter of buddhism at the time of emperor ashoka. There is not any other strong evidence to defend this association[4]. Risley had a hypothesis, that is Babhans are offshoot of Rajputs, since Babhans have territorial division along with Brahmanical Gotras, which he thought to be present only among Rajputs[2]. Yogendra nath bhattacharya has pointed out similar kind of territorial division (called dih) and Brahmanical Gotras exist in Maithili brahmins and Sarshwat brahmins that means they are also offshoot of Rajputs. So his hypothesis was entirely wrong and baseless [1]. The most likely explanation about origin of this community is given in book [Indo-Aryan races, A study of the origin of Indo-Aryan people and institutions by Chanda, Ramaprasad] [4]. This clearly tells Bhumihar Brahmin or Babhan to be Brahmins of ancient Magadh who were speaking a dialect of 3rd century BC(at the time of ashoka) in which Brahmins were known to be Babhans or Bambhans. They have been deprived of priestly function by Sanskrit speaking Brahmins from Midland (central & north India). Many Brahmin dynasty flourished in Magadh like Kanva dynasty , Shunga dynasty. This is a clear testimony of Brahmins taking up land duties since ancient times in Magadh. These non priestly Brahmins certainly have been more popularly known by their native name Babhan. Fa Hian, the Chinese traveler has written about brahmins of magadh becoming land masters instead of being knowledge master. Many people from other brahmin communities like sarvariya and kanyakubj Brahmin, Muhyal Brahmin (Hussaini Brahmin of muzzafarpur), Kokanastha Brahmin (chitponiya babhan of Nawada) has merged with babhan community and become part of it. Kannojia and sarvaria clan of babhans ( bhuinhar brahmins) are mentioned in a book by Mr sherring [5] Entire census records as well as gazetteer of districts and ethnographic study at the time of British have shown Babhan as a synonym to Bhuinhar(a distorted colloquial term of bhumihar) . None of them has mentioned Babhan means Brahmins other than Bhumihar. At the time of british there was a confusion regarding bhuinhar (distorted colloquial of bhumihar) word, since it was synonym for Babhan as well as title for some Tribals(since some of them possess privileged land) in chota Nagpur(See Bhuinhari land in chota nagpur)[6]. Credible records and documents of british time clearly state that Military and bhuinhar or zamindar Brahmins are babhans or bamhans( which is a variant of babhan). Babhans have been termed as military Brahmins by Francis Buchanan in his journal of patna and gaya during 1811 to 1812.
[1] Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste ... : Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste ... : Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/hinducastesands00bhatgoog/page/n132))
[2,a] The Tribes And Castes Of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary, Volume 1 By Risley, Herbert Hope, Sir, The Tribes And Castes Of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary, Volume 1 : Risley, Herbert Hope, Sir, 1851-1911 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (The Tribes And Castes Of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary, Volume 1 : Risley, Herbert Hope, Sir, 1851-1911 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/TheTribesAndCastesOfBengal/page/n139))
[2,b] Census Of India 1901 Vol.1 (india ) (ethnographic Appendices) By Risley, Herbert Hope, Sir, Census Of India 1901 Vol.1 (india ) (ethnographic Appendices) : Risley, H.h. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (Census Of India 1901 Vol.1 (india ) (ethnographic Appendices) : Risley, H.h. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55922/page/n199))
[3]Peasants and Monks in British India by William R. Pinch Peasants and Monks in British India (Peasants and Monks in British India (https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft22900465&chunk.id=s1.3.13&toc.id=ch3&toc.depth=1&brand=ucpress&anchor.id=d0e4900#X))
[4] Indo-Aryan races: a study of the origin of Indo-Aryan people and institutions : Chanda, Ramaprasad Indo-Aryan races: a study of the origin of Indo-Aryan people and institutions : Chanda, Ramaprasad : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (Indo-Aryan races: a study of the origin of Indo-Aryan people and institutions : Chanda, Ramaprasad : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/Indo-aryanRacesAStudyOfTheOriginOfIndo-aryanPeopleAndInstitutions/page/n173))
[5] Hindu Tribes and castes Hindu Tribes And Castes Vol 1 : Sherring : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (Hindu Tribes And Castes Vol 1 : Sherring : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.469749/page/n63))
[6] Census of india 1901, Census of India, 1901 : India. Census Commissioner : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (Census of India, 1901 : India. Census Commissioner : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/cu31924071145571/page/n405))
[7] Refer Census of India from 1872 -1881–1891–1901–1911–1921–1931–1941. These census and ethnographic study by Indian and British historians and officers clearly tells about all the castes in India.
[8]Census of India 1931 (Census Of India 1931 Vol.7 Bihar And Orissa Pt.1 Report : Lacey, W.g. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56026/page/n309))
some other references mentioning babhan/Bhumihar is given below
1. Statistical Account Of Bengal Vol.12 : Hunter, W.w. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.534069/page/n197)
2. A Statistical Account Of Bengal Vol.xiii : W.w.hunter : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279433/page/n237?q=babhan)
3. Report of a tour in Bihar and Bengal in 1879-80. Vol. 15 : Cunningham, Alexander : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/pli.kerala.rare.12155/page/n121)
4. A Manual of the Land Revenue Systems and Land Tenures of British India : Baden Henry Baden -Powell : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/amanuallandreve01powgoog/page/n247)
5. Report On The Census Of Bengal(1872) : Beverley, H. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94529/page/n217)
7. Bengal District Gazetteers Sahabad : O’malley L. S. S. : Fre (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206888/page/n59)e Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
8. Bengal District Gazetteers Darbhanga : O’malley L. S.s. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206867/page/n55)