263:
77:
450:. According to Metcalf, the census exercise further rigidified the caste status and caste mobility was made unchangeable. The classification of some of the low caste (who were considered as uncivil) in one of the aforementioned category could lead to exclusion of whole community from government jobs including military, police and administrative services. In census 1931, Mallaah and its subcaste were tabulated as recalcitrant and people in need of domestication. The diverse occupations of the sub-castes of Nishad community were standardized and they were perceived as people thriving on boating and fishing only.
511:
458:, the control of river's navigational route was very important for the British colonizers for transport of raw materials and revenue proceeds from the countrysides to urban centres. The classification as Criminal Tribes helped them to track the movement of these boatmen who were made to produce a detail of their caste, patrilineal descent, and residence or else were made to pay fine.
199:. Since 1930s various caste organisation claiming to represent these communities started holding conferences with the central aim of uniting all these communities under the umbrella term "Nishad". Earlier these communities were classified as "Most Backward Caste", but in socio-economic status they were more close to
445:
attempt couldn't rule out the criminal reputation of
Mallaah and other water centric communities which formed the basis for classification in colonial census. The British authorities developed two sets of rule or categories to classify various caste groups, first being those of martial race and other
461:
For the purpose of having a seamless river transport system to fulfill their commercial motives, the
British recruited a number of boatman who were placed at important spots along the rivers. This policy had both social and economic implication for the Nishad community members who would leave their
453:
The process of equating caste with occupation was though considered as misleading now, as by the late 19th century the
Mallaah and its sub-castes were moving towards cities and were getting employed as labourers in the burgeoning weaving industry. But, this distinction between caste and occupation
229:
In 2001, the writer E.S.D Bind argued that various subcaste of Nishad community together comprises 18% of the population of Uttar
Pradesh, which were instrumental in affecting the electoral politics of the state. As a result, various political parties pitched for having a share of this large vote
577:
logging, Kidnapping, smuggling and contract killing. The strategic use of violence by the OBCs, and illegality along with patronage to criminals in politics broke upper caste dominance not only in politics but also in day to day affairs of the lower castes. The middle class, the upper caste
606:. The BJP according to social historian Badri Narayan connected Rama to Nishadraj because the party chose Rama as its icon and Nishadraj could be easily associated with him which could have reaped the votes of large community comprising numerous sub-castes of this water centric community.
560:
in Bihar, de-elitizing of politics took place which made it an affair of masses, specially the lower castes. The crime and politics went hand in hand during this period, because in order to gain the support of his backward caste followers, Lalu didn't hesitated in extending supports to
406:
fold. The caste histories connected them to Rama through
Nishadraj and popularised various Brahmanical rituals among them to form a meta Puranic Hindu identity. Some of the Mallaah also worship Gauriya Baba, a folk hero who according to popular belief primarily belonged to the
775:
547:
notion of "public transcript". At one end the boatmen comply with the things to ensure how the dominant groups would want the things to appear, at the other hand they are also rising voices of resistance without being branded as violators of law.
489:) makes them capable to perform this arduous task perfectly. The "diving for coins" is not considered as legal occupation by the states which leads to harassment of people involved in it by the authorities. As a response to it at many places like
680:. It was reported that when Mulayam Singh Yadav government stopped the volunteers of the Ram Temple movement from reaching Agra through the land route, Nishads were compelled to transport as many as 50,000 volunteers through river route across
676:. Despite the attempts of the political parties whose core base remained the "lower caste ", BJP also remained successful in getting support from a large chunk of Nishad community who were successfully exhorted by the party in the name of
497:
the "coin divers" have set up formal association with organizational structure to protect themselves from being harassed. The underwater capabilities of these people are often used in dangerous resque missions. The
Mallaah also prefer
535:. These magazines and pamphlets have helped to arise consciousness among the water centric communities to come forward for the cause of environment by invoking caste solidarity. The slogans raised by these caste associations like:
767:
296:, there was a well developed kingdom of Nishads, which was fortified. These claims sought to recognise them as one of the earliest inhabitants of the subcontinent. Some of these magazines also claimed that, were forefathers of
526:
due to contamination by point and non point sources. Various organizations affiliated with the Nishad community are now engaged in awareness generation for the conservation of riverine ecosystem. The organisation such as
578:
criticised the breaking down of the tradition of liberal democracy while the OBCs supported the status-quo as the erstwhile system didn't ensure them freedom and dignity even after four decades of independence.
1176:
805:
521:
In the recent years, due to frequent contact with the politicians and journalists, the boatmen community has increasingly become aware of the problem of river pollution and challenges to biodiversity of the
427:, they didn't dare to enter these villages. He also rode up and down at the entry of his village and fought Mughal soldiers. Consequently, some of the Mallaahs started worshipping him as their family god.
1206:
481:
are known for their capabilities of diving deep underwater for an extended period of time. This ability is used up by the regional authorities of many river front cities who use them as retriever of
423:
onslaught and forcible conversions. According to the beliefs he used to bury a pig's head in front of his house which was situated at the entry of the village. Since the pig were anathema for the
609:
The other political parties also stepped into this fray and chose the other heroes who symbolised the victory of lower castes on the upper castes to manipulate the votes of
Nishads. The
454:
hardly changed the stance of the authorities, for whom
Mallaah were already perceived as criminals. According to Bernstein who documented the introduction of steamboat on the
745:
230:
bank by manipulating the legends of mythical heroes of the community in a way to suit their agenda. This process became more swift after the publication of a pamphlet called
485:. The unique capability to hold the breath for a long period of time in search of coins inside the rivers (throwing coin in river is considered as a popular belief in
1168:
441:
The association with the term Nishad had a positive connotation for various boatmen and fishermen caste who attempted to get registered as Nishad in 1921 census. This
310:
to prove that there used to be a well developed civilization before the advent of Aryans which had trade links to the rest of the world and Nishad were the founder of
797:
502:
which they claim as the best way to keep their body temperature stable inside the water and keeping themselves psychologically prepared for the extreme situations.
1198:
625:, a bandit who had been symbolised as the might of the downtrodden people over the upper castes. Phoolan who was raped by the other bandits belonging to the
262:
573:
turned several areas of Bihar into their crime capitals. They replaced the upper caste gangsters in high value organized crimes like automobile theft,
1234:
191:
Nishads, according to Badri
Narayan is a term denoting various communities whose traditional occupations has remained water-centric including
300:. In a bid to strengthen their claim, the various organisation affiliated to the Nishad community quoted the scholars such as Hall, Keith and
598:
and also built small statues of their folk heroes in parts of Uttar
Pradesh. The legend of Nishadraj was manipulated more proactively by the
565:, even if they went against law. This period witnessed the least number of police firing and public-police clash. In those circumstances the
76:
242:
legislative council in 1936. In the later years, the push to this identity politics was given by various political parties which included
1146:
1097:
855:
672:, which was named after Eklavya while the local committees of her party also erected numerous statues of Eklavya in various parts of the
1056:
1017:
978:
936:
894:
1140:
1110:
Yadav and Bind (a fishing community) criminals and in certain area Muslim criminals now built their own numerous small crime capitals.
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888:
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148:
In Bihar, the term refers to a group of around 20 communities whose traditional occupations centred on rivers, such as the
602:
which urged the Nishads as the rightful heir of the Nishadraj to ferry the BJP in the elections as did Nishadraj for lord
172:
1249:
383:
as a member of Nishad community, they also associate themselves with Bhai Himmat Rai Dheewar, one of the member of
543:
and increased collaboration with the state for river cleansing projects with devotive motives have challenged the
705:
297:
768:"Setback for Akhilesh government as High Court stays their order to include 17 sub-castes in the SC category"
359:) as members of Nishad caste. In order to claim Nishadraj as their forefather they refer to a passage from
684:. The BJP also harnessed the service of 50,000 Nishads who went to Ayodhya as volunteers to participate in
697:
657:
599:
629:
caste perpetrated the Behmai massacre in retaliation. After she surrendered, the state government under
317:
The genealogy made by the Nishads declares them to be the descendants of Nishadraj Guhya who befriended
251:
153:
238:. One of the earliest proponent of Nishad identity was Ram Chandr Vakil who was elected as a member of
179:
and has been made in the past, has been stayed by the courts; a prior attempt was also rejected by the
562:
661:
630:
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started supporting the campaign of Nishad community to commemorate their ideals like Nishadraj and
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436:
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247:
180:
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The gateway at the entrance of a Nishad (Mallaah) caste dominated village in Bihar, commemorating
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1007:
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176:
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In Uttar Pradesh, the term "Nishad" represents 17 OBC communities that have been proposed for
106:
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22:
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34:
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constituency as the Samajwadi Party candidate. This made a section of Nishad obliged to
685:
544:
361:
301:
102:
30:
652:, another folk hero of the community who being highly talented was discriminated by a
1228:
673:
587:
539:
Maa Ganga Ki sewa ab Mallah krega (Mallaah will perform the service for mother Ganga)
532:
420:
219:
60:
52:
26:
1199:"This is What Ayushmann Khurrana's Article 15 Doesn't Tell You About Caste in India"
622:
566:
136:
402:
355:
272:
192:
499:
397:
385:
1084:
Government of Peace: Social Governance, Security and the Problematic of Peace
701:
346:
342:
531:
have released pamphlets declaring the Nishad community as the protector of
664:
got a counter to the Nishadraj Guhya and to the BJP. During the tenure of
681:
665:
634:
494:
490:
486:
350:
306:
119:
1169:"Reality Check: How 'Article 15' References Real Incidents & People"
152:. There have been demands for these communities to be reclassified from
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649:
591:
514:
474:
380:
322:
267:
196:
149:
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569:, one of the community which are part of larger Nishad community and
523:
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455:
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334:
140:
696:
In 2020 "Nishad", a character in the movie Article 15 was played by
742:"From Bajrangi Bhaijaan to Battlefield Bihar: Meet 'Son of Mallah'"
709:
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570:
509:
311:
289:
261:
132:
56:
48:
45:
677:
669:
603:
338:
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318:
708:. The said character was portrayed fighting for the rights of
1133:
Fascinating Hindutva: Saffron Politics and Dalit Mobilisation
1122:
1120:
1118:
880:
Fascinating Hindutva: Saffron Politics and Dalit Mobilisation
842:
Fascinating Hindutva: Saffron Politics and Dalit Mobilisation
613:
which relied upon the votes of middle peasant castes like
798:"UP govt to include 17 other backward castes in SC list"
209:
Shri ramasakha guhraj nishad seva samiti dholpur (Raj.),
956:
954:
712:
through an organisation called Bhim Sangharsh Samiti.
633:
ensured her release and also gave her ticket from the
400:
too who wanted to bring more and more castes within
33:. For the kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata, see
125:
112:
96:
86:
81:A Nishad man in a local fish market, Bihar (2020).
373:(Disembarking from the boat, on the sand of Ganga
226:(unity conferences) to unify these caste groups.
700:which was said to be inspired by the founder of
537:
367:
660:was looked upon as the party of upper castes,
644:The Bahujan Samaj Party which symbolised the
466:as wage labourers, transporting their riches.
1135:. SAGE Publications India. pp. 128–134.
844:. SAGE Publications India. pp. 116–127.
411:caste but protected the people from Mallaah,
8:
1042:Caste, Occupation and Politics on the Ganges
1003:Caste, Occupation and Politics on the Ganges
964:Caste, Occupation and Politics on the Ganges
922:Caste, Occupation and Politics on the Ganges
462:homes for long period of time to work under
379:Besides claiming the mythological character
69:
883:. SAGE Publications India. pp. 73–74.
329:or tales of glory features Maharishi Kalu (
175:. However, this proposal, which relates to
517:people in a local fish market (Bihar) 2020
375:stood Sita and Ram with Guhya and Laxman.)
75:
68:
831:
829:
827:
825:
823:
914:
912:
733:
648:, thus started associating itself with
552:In the period of passive egalitarianism
218:were some of the organisation based in
396:These legends were popularised by the
216:Maharaja Nishadraj Guhya Smarak Samiti
1209:from the original on 19 November 2020
1086:. Routledge, 2016. pp. 173–176.
594:. These small organisation organized
7:
1179:from the original on 21 October 2020
1149:from the original on 10 January 2023
1100:from the original on 10 January 2023
1059:from the original on 10 January 2023
1020:from the original on 10 January 2023
981:from the original on 10 January 2023
939:from the original on 10 January 2023
897:from the original on 10 January 2023
858:from the original on 10 January 2023
87:Regions with significant populations
586:By 1990, many political parties of
808:from the original on 8 August 2017
582:Identity politics in Uttar Pradesh
288:claimed that before the advent of
270:, the mythological character from
14:
1078:Ranabir Samaddar (3 March 2016).
778:from the original on 28 July 2017
529:Rashtriya Nishad Jagran Mahasabha
748:from the original on 5 June 2016
431:Classification as Criminal Tribe
369:"Uttari thari bhae sursarireta
744:. Ndtv.com. 18 September 2015.
556:In the 1990s, with the rise of
1235:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
371:Siya Ram Guhya Lakhan Sameta"
1:
1006:. Routledge. pp. 74–75.
967:. Routledge. pp. 58–59.
925:. Routledge. pp. 56–57.
21:For people of this name, see
506:Changing colonial perception
321:when he was exiled from the
187:Formation of Nishad identity
304:as well as scriptures like
222:which are hosting numerous
173:Government of Uttar Pradesh
1266:
434:
29:. For the music term, see
20:
1045:. Routledge. p. 93.
804:. PTI. 22 December 2016.
706:Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan
389:, the five associates of
298:Indus Valley civilization
130:
117:
101:
91:
74:
25:. For the 2002 film, see
203:. The organisation like
668:a stadium was built at
232:Nishad Jati Sankhya Bal
154:Other Backwards Classes
1245:Other Backward Classes
1240:Social groups of Bihar
1127:Badri Narayan (2009).
877:Badri Narayan (2009).
836:Badri Narayan (2009).
698:Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub
600:Bharatiya Janata Party
541:
518:
377:
353:(the composer of epic
277:
205:Rashtriya Nishad Sangh
513:
265:
252:Bhartiya Janata Party
234:in a magazine called
126:Related ethnic groups
641:, who voted for it.
470:Retriever of corpses
1039:Assa Doron (2016).
1000:Assa Doron (2016).
961:Assa Doron (2016).
919:Assa Doron (2016).
774:. 24 January 2017.
686:Ram Temple movement
631:Mulayam Singh Yadav
533:sacred water bodies
448:Criminal Tribes Act
437:Criminal Tribes Act
312:Ganga River Culture
294:Indian Subcontinent
286:Jheel Putra Smarika
248:Bahujan Samaj Party
212:Nishad Kalyan Sabha
181:Government of India
71:
692:In popular culture
519:
464:East India Company
280:Magazines such as
278:
1250:Hindu communities
1080:"Bihar 1990-2011"
772:Financial Express
621:found the one in
558:Lalu Prasad Yadav
391:Guru Govind Singh
177:votebank politics
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722:Nishad (surname)
656:guru. Since the
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158:Scheduled Tribes
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23:Nishad (surname)
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419:caste from the
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244:Samajwadi Party
240:United Province
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169:Samajwadi Party
165:Scheduled Caste
82:
67:
51:, found in the
38:
35:Nishada Kingdom
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1142:978-8132101055
1141:
1129:"5.Legend war"
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1093:978-1317125372
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1070:
1052:978-1351953269
1051:
1031:
1013:978-1351953269
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992:
974:978-1351953269
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932:978-1351953269
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908:
890:978-8132101055
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851:978-8132101055
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838:"5.Legend war"
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398:Arya Samajists
362:Ramcharitmanas
302:William Crooke
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195:, Boating and
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167:status by the
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31:Nishad (svara)
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588:Uttar Pradesh
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545:James Scott's
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443:Sanskritizing
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27:Nishad (film)
24:
16:
1211:. Retrieved
1202:
1193:
1181:. Retrieved
1172:
1163:
1151:. Retrieved
1132:
1109:
1102:. Retrieved
1083:
1073:
1061:. Retrieved
1041:
1034:
1022:. Retrieved
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995:
983:. Retrieved
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941:. Retrieved
921:
899:. Retrieved
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860:. Retrieved
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810:. Retrieved
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780:. Retrieved
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750:. Retrieved
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695:
643:
623:Phoolan Devi
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595:
585:
555:
542:
538:
528:
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473:
460:
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384:
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368:
365:which says:
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282:Nishad Jyoti
281:
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236:Nishad Jyoti
235:
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171:-controlled
162:
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66:Ethnic group
41:
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477:all across
403:Brahmanical
356:Mahabharata
349:as well as
273:Mahabharata
18:Hindu caste
1229:Categories
1213:8 December
1183:8 December
812:4 February
782:4 February
752:4 February
728:References
500:Alcoholism
446:one being
435:See also:
386:Panj Pyare
224:Ekta Rally
1173:The quint
1153:5 October
1104:5 October
1063:7 October
1024:7 October
985:7 October
943:7 October
901:5 October
862:5 October
702:Bhim Army
415:and even
343:Damayanti
156:(OBC) to
97:Languages
1207:Archived
1177:Archived
1147:Archived
1098:Archived
1057:Archived
1018:Archived
979:Archived
937:Archived
895:Archived
856:Archived
806:Archived
776:Archived
746:Archived
716:See also
682:Ghaghara
666:Mayawati
635:Mirzapur
495:Varanasi
491:Raj Ghat
487:Hinduism
351:Ved Vyas
325:. Their
307:Rig Veda
120:Hinduism
113:Religion
107:Bhojpuri
654:Brahmin
650:Eklavya
592:Eklavya
515:Mallaah
483:corpses
475:Mallaah
425:Muslims
381:Eklavya
323:Ayodhya
268:Eklavya
197:Fishing
150:Mallaah
92:• India
1203:News18
1139:
1090:
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1010:
971:
929:
887:
848:
710:Dalits
646:Dalits
627:Thakur
619:Patels
615:Yadavs
575:Timber
571:Yadavs
524:Ganges
479:Ganges
456:Ganges
421:Mughal
417:Rajput
413:Dhanuk
409:Dusadh
335:Narada
290:Aryans
258:Origin
141:Beldar
70:Nishad
44:are a
42:Nishad
133:Kewat
103:Hindi
57:Bihar
49:caste
46:Hindu
1215:2020
1185:2020
1155:2020
1137:ISBN
1106:2020
1088:ISBN
1065:2020
1047:ISBN
1026:2020
1008:ISBN
987:2020
969:ISBN
945:2020
927:ISBN
903:2020
885:ISBN
864:2020
846:ISBN
814:2017
784:2017
754:2017
678:Rama
670:Agra
617:and
604:Rama
567:Bind
563:OBCs
339:Nala
331:Guru
319:Rama
284:and
250:and
137:Bind
59:and
40:The
662:BSP
658:BJP
493:in
337:),
333:of
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