Baishya Saha
Baishya Saha or Saha, though not considered Vaishya in the caste structure of Bengal, is a Bengali Hindu trading caste traditionally known to have the occupation of grocers, shopkeepers, dealers moneylenders, and farming.[1][2][3]
Origin[edit]
The Upapuranas played a significant role to create the caste origin and hierarchy in Bengal.[4] The name Saha (or Sadhu) is not found in 13th-century works like Brihaddharma Purana.[5] According to historians, Sahas were originally wine sellers Shunri. In later period they tried to break away from their parent caste.[5]
History[edit]
Before the seventh or the eighth centuries A.D. when historical evidence indicates that the society was based largely on trade and commerce, the merchant classes had a notably high position in society. The low rank experienced by the Subarnabanik (gold merchants), Shunri (winemakers), Teli (oil producers), and in later times also by the Gandhabanik (the dealers in spices), possibly indicates that the primary economic activities of the Bengali society shifted from trade and capital producing devices to cottage industries and agriculture. The caste ranks of the merchant classes became more and more lowered and reached a decidedly low stage at the beginning of the Sena and Varman periods.[6] Saha as a distinct sub-caste did not flourish in Bengal before the mid-nineteenth century.[7] Saha is a merchant caste like Suvarna Banik, which has a low ceremonial rank, but a high secular rank. As of 1921, Suvarnabaniks and Sahas had a good literacy rate which was in the order mentioned.[8]
Varna Status[edit]
Traditionally the Bengal society is divided into two varna, Brahmin and Shudra.[9] Sahas who belonged to the Shudra community started to claim Vaishya status in the 1931 censuses report, but the evidence of history, literature, and scriptures suggest nothing in favour of their claim.[10][11][12][3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Hashmi, Taj ul-Islam (1992). Pakistan as a Peasant Utopia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 35, 43, 105, 109, 111, 112, 148. ISBN 978-0-367-28215-8. Search this book on
- ↑ Ganguly, Jibamitra (2019). Meghnad saha : his science and persona through selected letters and writings (PDF). INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY. p. 12. ISBN 978-81-939482-5-5. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Saha". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ↑ Sengupta, Saswati (2021). Mutating Goddesses: Bengal's Laukika Hinduism and Gender Rights. Delhi: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190124106.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-012410-6. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1971). "Continuities of Social Mobility in Traditional and Modern Society in India: Two Case Studies of Caste Mobility in Bengal". The Journal of Asian Studies. 30 (2): 315–339. doi:10.2307/2942917. ISSN 0021-9118. JSTOR 2942917. Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7. Search this book on
- ↑ "Saha". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ↑ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7. Search this book on
- ↑ Chakrabarti, Kunal; Chakrabarti, Shubhra (2013-08-22). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8108-8024-5. Search this book on
- ↑ SIRCAR, D. C. (1959). STUDIES IN THE SOCIETY AND ADMINISTRATION OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA VOL. 1. FIRMA K. L. MUKHOPADHYAY, CALCUTTA. p. 115. Search this book on
- ↑ Banerjee, Somaditya (2020-05-14). The Making of Modern Physics in Colonial India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-02469-9. Search this book on
- ↑ Mitra, A. (1953). "SAHA, SUNRI". The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (Report). Census 1951. Land and Land Revenue Department, Government of West Bengal. p. 34.
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