Poundra, earlier known as Pod, is a Hindu community originating from Bengal.[1] Traditionally located outside the four-tier ritual varna system, the Poundras have been historically subject to acute discrimination — including untouchability — and remain a marginal group in modern Bengal.[1][2] As of 2011, their population was around two and a half million;[3] they are classed as a Scheduled Caste in West Bengal.[1]
No mention of the Pods is found in the Bṛhaddharma Upapuraṇa (c. 13th century[a]), which is the earliest known document to chronicle a hierarchy of castes in Bengal.[4][b] The Brahma Vaivarta Purana, notable for a very late Bengali recension c. 14/15th century, records "Paundrakas" to be the son of a Vaisya father and Sundini mother but it is unknown if the groups are connected.[5] Mentions are scarce in medieval vernacular literature.
Colonial Bengal
In his 1891 survey of castes, Herbert Hope Risley documented the Pods to be a branch of the Chandala; they were subject to untouchability by the Brahmins as well as the Navasakhas.[1] A majority were peasants though some had become traders, and even zamindars.[1]
In the late nineteenth century, two influential members of the Pod community — Benimadhab Halder and Srimanta Naskar — produced numerous tracts of caste history, as was a common feature of that time. Arguing a descent from the "Poundras" — mentioned across a spectrum of Brahminical literature — they sought to establish the Pods as Kshatriyas, thereby removing the stigma of untouchability.[1] In what might be construed as a self-respect movement, it was also demanded of all Pods to follow Kshatriya rituals.[1] In 1901, Halder organized a pan-Bengal conference of the Pods, wherein it was resolved to have the government rename the caste as "Poundra".[1][disputed – discuss] Further mobilisation happened under the leadership of Raicharan Sardar, a lawyer and the first university graduate from the community.[1]
Contemporary Bengal
The Poundras remain vulnerable to casteist discrimination in 21st century Bengal.[6]
Notes
^Ludo Rocher however notes the text to contain multiple layers (like all other Puranas) making any dating impossible. However, he agrees with R. C. Hazra that a significant part was composed as a response to the Islamic conquest of Bengal.
^Older sources on social setup (not caste) include inscriptions of the Gupta and the Pala periods but these do not refer to Pods.
References
^ abcdefghiBarman, Rup Kumar (2014-01-01). "From Pods to Poundra: A Study on the Poundra Kshatriya Movement for Social Justice 1891–1956". Voice of Dalit. 7 (1): 121–138. doi:10.1177/0974354520140108. ISSN 0974-3545. S2CID 148661602.
^Ray, Antara (2022). "Caste and public policy: The case of West Bengal". In Choragudi, Rahul; Pellissery, Sony; Jayaram, N. (eds.). Caste Matters in Public Policy: Issues and Perspectives. London: Routledge. ISBN9780367612672. There has been no serious effort to eradicate any of these caste disabilities as there is no policy to address the issue related to caste dynamics. This situation continued in the politics and administration of Bengal for thirty-four years of the Left Front rule in the state that systematically erased caste from policy-making process, which was supported by the educated-Bengali-middle-class-bhadralok. Thus, the lower-caste identity has been rendered invisible in West Bengal. The Rajbansis and the Poundra, the two major ex-untouchable castes of Bengal, neither could mobilise themselves under one ideology locally nor could they align with the mainstream dalit ideology in the rest of the country.
^"West Bengal : DATA HIGHLIGHTS: THE SCHEDULED CASTES : Census of India 2001" (PDF). Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
^Furui, Ryosuke (2013). "Finding Tensions in the Social Order: a Reading of the Varṇasaṃkara Section of the Bṛhaddharmapurāṇa". In Ghosh, Suchandra; Bandyopadhyay, Sudipa Ray; Majumdar, Sushmita Basu; Pal, Sayantani (eds.). Revisiting Early India: Essays in Honour of D. C. Sircar. Kolkata: R. N. Bhattacharya.
^Rocher, Ludo (1986). "Mixed Castes in the Brahmavaivartapurāṇa". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 106 (2): 254. doi:10.2307/601589. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 601589.
^Barman, Rup Kumar (2020-02-17). "Casteism and Caste Intolerance in India: A Study on Casteism of Contemporary West Bengal". Contemporary Voice of Dalit. 12 (2): 165–180. doi:10.1177/2455328x19898451. ISSN 2455-328X. S2CID 214164973.
January 01, 1970
poundra, caste, poundra, earlier, known, hindu, community, originating, from, bengal, traditionally, located, outside, four, tier, ritual, varna, system, poundras, have, been, historically, subject, acute, discrimination, including, untouchability, remain, mar. Poundra earlier known as Pod is a Hindu community originating from Bengal 1 Traditionally located outside the four tier ritual varna system the Poundras have been historically subject to acute discrimination including untouchability and remain a marginal group in modern Bengal 1 2 As of 2011 their population was around two and a half million 3 they are classed as a Scheduled Caste in West Bengal 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Medieval Bengal 1 2 Colonial Bengal 1 3 Contemporary Bengal 2 Notes 3 ReferencesHistoryMedieval Bengal No mention of the Pods is found in the Bṛhaddharma Upapuraṇa c 13th century a which is the earliest known document to chronicle a hierarchy of castes in Bengal 4 b The Brahma Vaivarta Purana notable for a very late Bengali recension c 14 15th century records Paundrakas to be the son of a Vaisya father and Sundini mother but it is unknown if the groups are connected 5 Mentions are scarce in medieval vernacular literature Colonial Bengal In his 1891 survey of castes Herbert Hope Risley documented the Pods to be a branch of the Chandala they were subject to untouchability by the Brahmins as well as the Navasakhas 1 A majority were peasants though some had become traders and even zamindars 1 In the late nineteenth century two influential members of the Pod community Benimadhab Halder and Srimanta Naskar produced numerous tracts of caste history as was a common feature of that time Arguing a descent from the Poundras mentioned across a spectrum of Brahminical literature they sought to establish the Pods as Kshatriyas thereby removing the stigma of untouchability 1 In what might be construed as a self respect movement it was also demanded of all Pods to follow Kshatriya rituals 1 In 1901 Halder organized a pan Bengal conference of the Pods wherein it was resolved to have the government rename the caste as Poundra 1 disputed discuss Further mobilisation happened under the leadership of Raicharan Sardar a lawyer and the first university graduate from the community 1 Contemporary Bengal The Poundras remain vulnerable to casteist discrimination in 21st century Bengal 6 Notes Ludo Rocher however notes the text to contain multiple layers like all other Puranas making any dating impossible However he agrees with R C Hazra that a significant part was composed as a response to the Islamic conquest of Bengal Older sources on social setup not caste include inscriptions of the Gupta and the Pala periods but these do not refer to Pods References a b c d e f g h i Barman Rup Kumar 2014 01 01 From Pods to Poundra A Study on the Poundra Kshatriya Movement for Social Justice 1891 1956 Voice of Dalit 7 1 121 138 doi 10 1177 0974354520140108 ISSN 0974 3545 S2CID 148661602 Ray Antara 2022 Caste and public policy The case of West Bengal In Choragudi Rahul Pellissery Sony Jayaram N eds Caste Matters in Public Policy Issues and Perspectives London Routledge ISBN 9780367612672 There has been no serious effort to eradicate any of these caste disabilities as there is no policy to address the issue related to caste dynamics This situation continued in the politics and administration of Bengal for thirty four years of the Left Front rule in the state that systematically erased caste from policy making process which was supported by the educated Bengali middle class bhadralok Thus the lower caste identity has been rendered invisible in West Bengal The Rajbansis and the Poundra the two major ex untouchable castes of Bengal neither could mobilise themselves under one ideology locally nor could they align with the mainstream dalit ideology in the rest of the country West Bengal DATA HIGHLIGHTS THE SCHEDULED CASTES Census of India 2001 PDF Censusindia gov in Retrieved 1 December 2018 Furui Ryosuke 2013 Finding Tensions in the Social Order a Reading of the Varṇasaṃkara Section of the Bṛhaddharmapuraṇa In Ghosh Suchandra Bandyopadhyay Sudipa Ray Majumdar Sushmita Basu Pal Sayantani eds Revisiting Early India Essays in Honour of D C Sircar Kolkata R N Bhattacharya Rocher Ludo 1986 Mixed Castes in the Brahmavaivartapuraṇa Journal of the American Oriental Society 106 2 254 doi 10 2307 601589 ISSN 0003 0279 JSTOR 601589 Barman Rup Kumar 2020 02 17 Casteism and Caste Intolerance in India A Study on Casteism of Contemporary West Bengal Contemporary Voice of Dalit 12 2 165 180 doi 10 1177 2455328x19898451 ISSN 2455 328X S2CID 214164973 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poundra caste amp oldid 1216672168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
