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

The Upapuranas played a significant role in creating 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 a later period they tried to break away from their parent caste.[5]

History

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]

Sahas were included in the list of 177 "backward classes" for the state of West Bengal by Mandal Commission, but the state government hasn't yet recognised Saha as such, and they still belong to General category.[9][10]

Varna Status

Traditionally the Bengal society is divided into two varna, Brahmin and Shudra.[11] 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.[12][13][14][3]

See also

Saha (surname)

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 "Saha". Banglapedia. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 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. S2CID 163001574.
  6. ↑ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.
  7. ↑ "Saha". Banglapedia. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.
  9. ↑ "Bengal govt wary of implementing Mandal report,says OBC group". The Indian Express. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Exclusive: Mamata's big caste gamble in TMC manifesto". India Today. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Chakrabarti, Kunal; Chakrabarti, Shubhra (22 August 2013). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8108-8024-5.
  12. ↑ SIRCAR, D. C. (1959). STUDIES IN THE SOCIETY AND ADMINISTRATION OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA VOL. 1. FIRMA K. L. MUKHOPADHYAY, CALCUTTA. p. 115.
  13. ↑ Banerjee, Somaditya (14 May 2020). The Making of Modern Physics in Colonial India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-02469-9.
  14. ↑ 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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