SOCIAL ISSUES & SC/ST STATUS OF RAJBANSHI/ KOCH-RAJBANSHI GROUP OF PEOPLE


I. Geographical and Demographic Positions of Rajbanshi Group of People

The ethnically one, Rajbanshi group, one of the most tolerant indigenous people of strategically located areas in whole of North Bengal(barring its hilly terrains); in a sizable portion of Assam; western part of Meghalaya; Purnia, Kishanganj districts and eastern part of Katihar district of Bihar; Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts of Nepal; Rangpur, East Dinajpur districts and some parts of north west Mymensingh, northern Rajshahi and Bogra districts of Bangladesh and lower parts of Bhutan where these indigenous people ordinarily reside from time immemorial.

They are known as Koch-Rajbongshi in Assam, Rajbanshi Kshatriya, Palia, Surjapuria in North Bengal and Bihar; Rajbanshi/Koch Rajbanshi/Tajpuria in Nepal and Koch-Rajbongshi in Meghalaya and their adjoining areas. Rajbanshi Muslims are integral part of these communities because of the one language and one culture.

They are victims of identity crisis, domination by mainstream people and division of their homelands. Today they form majority population in rural areas as they have been displaced from urban areas. Since their mother tongue is officially not recognized, on record they have been identified by the mainstream language of the state. Their population can be estimated as under:

Country
State
District
Population
India
Assam
Kamrup
198766


Barpeta
691357


Dhubri
729109


Darrang
450321


Cachhar
40000


Nalbari
253152


Bangaigaon
483883


Kokrajhar
398440


Goalpara
330900


Other Districts
500000 (Approx.)


Total
4075928





Bihar
Purnia
654625


Kishanganj
338189


Katihar
306814


Total
1299628





North Bengal
Maldah
797769


Dakshin Dinajpur
838138


Uttar Dinajpur
1653923


Darjeeling
738729


Jalpaiguri/Alipurduar
2193864


Cooch Behar
1691451


Total
7913874





Meghalaya
 Garo Hills districts
306344




Bangladesh

Rangpur/Rajshahi Divisions
1685000
Bhutan


8840
Nepal

Morang
192941


Jhapa
162530


Sunsari
152699


Total
508170


Grand Total
15797784

II. Scheduled Caste (SC) status in West Bengal:

In North Bengal, majority of Rajbanshi people like to remain as Kshatriya and they have a great respect to the great social reformer Roy Saheb Thakur Panchanan Barma. Since, these people were majority in population i.e. almost 70% to 80% prior to gaining Independence in 1947 and still in majority in rural North Bengal, they should be given a share in state governance. Acute poverty and lack of education are the drawbacks to these hapless people.
In West Bengal, Rajbanshi community has been placed in the list of scheduled caste (SC). In rural South Bengal, they fall under Kayastha Varna. In North Bengal, these people are better known as Rajbanshi Kshatriya. Keeping in view of their backwardness, some scholars are advocating Dalit status for them based on the principles propounded by late Shri Kanshi Ram and Ms. Mayawati of ‘Bahujan Samaj Party’. There is no similarity between Rajbanshis of South Bengal and North Bengal both socially and culturally. For this reason, Dalit status may suit Rajbanshis in South Bengal districts but it does not attract Rajbanshis of North Bengal. Educated and well to do Rajbanshis of North Bengal feel ashamed to call them as SC. They take pride in calling themselves as Kshatriya. Even, most of them do not advocate for grant tribal status (ST) as most of their counterparts (Koch-Rajbanshi people) in Assam demand for such status. In Purnia and Kishanganj districts of Bihar, Rajbanshis have been placed in the list of OBC. In Bangladesh and Nepal, such caste wise distinction does not exist among Rajbanshi people.
SC status given to Rajbanshis in West Bengal has helped only a meagre percentage of Rajbanshis in North Bengal, say about not more than 7.5%, whereas, they are still in majority in rural areas. As SC, 15% job reservation for them get divided among more educated and advanced mainstream Bengalis.  In urban areas, they sold off their lands long back and have since been almost displaced. In turn, mainstream Bengali people who mostly hailed from erstwhile East Pakistan and outsiders have purchased urban lands from poor Rajbanshi people and today, they have taken the centre stage in urban areas. Main reason as to why SC status failed is that Rajbanshi people are poor and cannot compete with more knowledgeable and well-groomed SCs belonging mainstream Bengali people. Thus, in reality, SC status is helping everybody but the Rajbanshis in North Bengal. This paradoxical situation is not understood by many of them and those who understand, are shying away from identifying themselves as Rajbanshi.
     
III. Struggle for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Assam:

In Assam, the situation is desperate. In the fear of losing identity and lands to outsiders, student organisations and some intellectuals in Assam are demanding grant of scheduled tribe(ST) status to Koch-Rajbanshis. It happened earlier also; in 1996, ST status was granted to Koch-Rajbongshis through promulgation of ordinances four times in Assam which was in vogue for only a decade. Ever since, refugees from Bangladesh started pouring in, they have been grabbing lands from poor ethnic Koch-Rajbanshi people. Slowly, Bangladeshi refugees are becoming more powerful in Assam politiclly. Autonomous region of Boroland has added more difficulties to ethnic Koch-Rajbanshis of Assam. In Kokrajhar district, Rajbanshi people were the domineering people till Boroland was created. In their own land, Rajbanshis are becoming aliens. There is need to check the influx of Bangladeshi refugees and at the same time, Boroland type arrangements should be made to save the Rajbanshi people from getting extinct in Assam.

Article 342 of the Constitution of India notifies Scheduled Tribes as having five major characteristics - primitive traits, geographical isolation, distinct culture, shyness of contact with community at large and economic backwardness. Question arises whether these characteristics still exist in Koch-Rajbanshis of Assam, whether they deserve ST status or not. The issue needs political debate. However, going by the ground realities, main objective for demanding ST status is to stop foreigners (Bangladeshis) to grab lands in Assam.

However, it is certain that grant of status of ST with only 7% to 10% reservation in job will not stop them from getting extinct from their motherland unless these ethnic people and majority in population, they need to have a say in their governance. They must be given civil and political rights as enshrined in Part-X, “The Scheduled and Tribal Areas”, Article 244 in the Constitution of India. They must administer their own areas as per wide ranging powers given in the Sixth Schedule. Simply, ST Status is not enough. Off late, student organisations in Assam are demanding separate ‘Kamotapur’ state. Option for a separate State or Autonomous body for them should be the most viable proposition to adopt.

IV. Social Status in Nepal, Bangladesh and other Areas:

In Meghalaya, this group of people prefer to be called ‘Koch’ and maintain their traditional way of life. Apart from them, Koch-Rajbongshis of Meghalaya support demand of ST status like their counterparts in Assam.     
In Nepal, they are mostly known as Rajbanshi, Koch and Tajpuria. They are mostly called ad Kshatriya and placed in higher social class. However, poverty and lack of education downgraded their social status below mainstream Nepalis. Outsiders settled in Nepal i.e. Madhesis who, politically, are counting their shots more than Rajbanshis.  Off late, Rajbanshi organisations are demanding separate indentify from Nepalese and a separate state named ‘Kochila’ within the federal structure of Nepal.
In Bangladesh, Rajbanshi people belong to Kshatriya Varna and feel proud to be so. Renowned Rajbanshi social and political leader Roy Saheb Thakur Panchanan Barma had begun ‘Kshatriya Movement’ from the soil of Bangladesh (the undivided Bengal) in the first half of the last century. Bangladeshi Rajbanshis have no political issue but, they do feel suffocated within their political set-up as their freedom of speech has been curbed.
In Bhutan, small numbers of Rajbanshis have no issues of worth mentioning but support the causes of Cooch Behar imbroglio.

V. Suggested Solutions:

            Grant of SC, ST or other backward caste (OBC) is not enough for Rajbanshi group of people as their glorious history does not advocate lower social status in the society.  As explained in above mentioned chapters such status is damaging for a people who are majority in a geographically contiguous huge region in Indian peninsula. 
            To safeguard both their lands and pride, constitutional safeguards should be ensured, otherwise, the existence of this group of people will fall under grave risk soon. Due to political reasons, mainstream people of Bengals, Assam, and Nepal do not support justified causes of Rajbanshis. Thus, downfall of these great, docile and patriot people has become certain which need to be checked if we wish to save them from getting extinct. Even, if the demand for a separate state for these ethnic Rajbanshi people of both North Bengal or grant of autonomous region or union territory status should be considered on merit by both the State Governments and Central Government as promised during the merger in 1949, Rajbanshi dominated Cooch Behar kingdom was categorized as Class ‘C’ state.
            Rajbanshi group of people gave their full support to freedom struggle. When freedom came to India, people of not only erstwhile Cooch Behar Empire regardless of their caste and creed were jubilant as they saw a ray of hope in making their homeland into a full-fledged state of Indian Republic. Then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Home Minister Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel assured the people of the state that their political and socio-economic aspirations would be fulfilled after joining the union. Unfortunately, the pride of Rajbanshis, erstwhile Cooch Behar got merged with West Bengal by a political game plan orchestrated by then Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

So, celebration on freedom was lost, pride of Rajbanshis came under severe stress. Now, to regain their lost pride and lands, these unfortunate people should be granted democratic rights of true sense. People of these people residing all over the world are looking at India for viable solution to their long pending issues as this is largest democracy in the world where justice can be made available to the deprived people. Assurances given by then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and then Home Minister Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel should be respected.
Jai Hind !

Comments

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Hello sir I am from Assam .
      Koch rajbongshi are in st category in Assam . And whatever written in this is right or wrong

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    2. And may name is Tannushree Roy

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    3. Hello Tannushree,
      Personally I am not in favour of SC/ST/OBC status of our community, simply because, such status lowers the dignity of the society. In Assam, ST status is necessary because of economic and political purpose, mainly to have land rights and political rights. just for a while ST status was given way back in 1996 through an Ordinance which was not ratified by the Parliament. Now, there are 5 more communities in Assam who want ST status. The problem has aggravated due to object raised by all other ST groups of Assam. In such a situation, even if Scheduling is done, only a small region will be left for our people as per Sixth Schedule. Such a big community will be reduced to a small group of people living in smaller region.

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    4. Koch rajbongshi of Assam are in dalit status ????

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  2. I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to all worldwide page viewers, especially those from America, Russia, China and many from other nations besides my nation, India. Credit for page views crossing 17,000 page views goes to all of you. With kind regards - Capt. Nalini Ranjan Ray

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    1. Hello sir how many varna ni rajbangshi caste . Like bhramin , Kshatriya , vaishya , sudra .

      Adhikari are Rajbangshi bhramin Pandit . And
      Roy , singha, barman, Singh, ray are Rajbangshi Kshatriya caste .

      And there are Rajbangshi teli ,Rajbangshi Muslim, Rajbangshi Christian.

      And surnames like sarkar are Rajbangshi jotedar they are Rajbangshi sudra Dalit (untouchable) caste.
      Is this right.

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    2. Rajbangshi bhramin (Adhikari) and Rajbangshi. Kshatriya (Roy,singha,ray,barman) are twice born tagadhari caste they can wear scared thread (jeneu) . They can perform (upanayanam ) . Only Rajbangshi bhramin and Kshatriya are eligible to wear scared thread (LOGUN) .

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    3. Rajbangshi dalit caste (untouchable) Rajbangshi napit, Rajbangshi jotedar, Rajbangshi teli . They can't wear scared thread.

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    4. There are no vaishya caste in Rajbangshi only bhramin and Kshatriya

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  3. My special thanks to Australian page viewers who have been kind enough to follow my blog articles all through. With kind regards - Capt. Nalini Ranjan Ray

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  4. I take this opportunity to express my kind gratitude and convey my sincere regards to all 28,000+ worldwide page viewers of this blog. Your page views are bringing positive results which I am sure, shall help Rajbanshis to rise and progress.

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  5. I appreciate your understanding about the history and plight of rajbonshi community. We have to be more politically aware and proactive in removing the backwardness by associating ourselves in government jobs and higher education to our kids. And take help from those parties who is going to help or represent us.

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  6. Apropos comment of December 11, 2016, I would like to fully agree with the Anonymous page viewer. Due to compulsion of party ideologies, Rajbanshi people cannot have their say in governance in State Govts. This is holding them back from enjoying the fruits of development in all fields including socio-economic, cultural, linguistic, political and above all in the field of social status in the societies of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Therefore, political parties have a greater role o play for all-around prosperity of Rajbanshi group of people.

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  8. Will Meghalaya Rajbongshi be st status also?

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  9. will Rajbongshi of Meghalaya be given st status also?

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  10. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all 44,000+ and still growing worldwide page viewers of my blog. Interest shown by you in viewing it in greater strength is bringing positive results which, surely is helping creation of awareness about the group of Rajbanshi communities.

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  11. Once again, I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all worldwide page viewers of this blog. for you all made it possible to cross the mark 60000 page views this week. Your contributions are bringing positive results for these Rajbanshi group of people to rise and progress.

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  12. Thanks sir for sharing valuable information

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  13. Sir, thanks for your writing about Rajbanshis. But, you have not considered a good number of Rajbanshi people residing in Dhaka and adjacent districts with different titles.

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    1. Mr. Badal,
      Pardon me for the delay in replying.
      Good number of Rajbanshis do reside in big cities both in India and Bangladesh such as Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati etc. in India and Dhaka of your country besides in many cities in developed countries. As you said their they use different titles which makes it difficult to identify them as Rajbanshi. Modern trend in the society also adds to this difficulty. Old generation people may give some hint to find the origin of such Rajbanshis.
      I understand, many Rajbanshis do reside in many districts in Bangladesh in good numbers. However, identity crisis has become the main hindrance to establish contact with all of them. Rajbanshis residing in different countries must connect each other so that a great race of the world with glorious past can once again rise and flourish.

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    2. Rajbanshi of NORTH Bengal are unable to compete with the SCs of south Bengal because Rajbanshis are educationally weak knowledgeable at present time....They can't show good performance in the competition... Rajbanshis are poor farmers..they haven't strong educational sources....govt says that 15% reservation for Rajbanshis but in reality no reservations for Rajbanshis.. Rajbanshis are most depressed class at present time....Govt should to reserve for Rajbanshis 15% for low income Rajbanshi families.... actually for farmers...if Farmers' son/girls get job then they invest in Agriculture . Rajbanshis are very weak in IAS, banking, LIC, FCI ,IRS, Railway Ntpc examination....I request to govt please create jobs for Farmer's Sons officially....Many students are in there in farmers who are Science/ Commerce / Arts graduate with especial qualifications eg PTC, Computer Diploma,but their weakness is that they think about advanced agriculture for India..they have not money....if you want you can share or post in social media... thank you.

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  14. Sir, Kindly answer one question please.
    How many days after the Rajbanshi can perform SHRADHHA after one Rajbanshi dies.

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    1. Mr. Badal,
      First of all, please pardon me for my delayed reply.
      'Shraddha' i.e the main ritual performed when a Rajbanshi dies, is carried out on 13th day. This practice is generally followed among Rajbanshi Kshatriyas.

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  15. Malda District also have Rajbanshi,They are title Roy,Mandal,Singha,Barman(bangali). Specially Gajal,Bamongola,Habbipur,Old Malda Block of Malda District.They use Kamta puri language.
    Tui,Mui.....

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  16. Great initiative sir, felt very proud and overwhelmed reading your article. we should all join hands crossing towns,cities and countries to revive back our historical and cultural glory. Rajbanshi people and their culture are at stake of extinction. Political negligence and suppression of the much economic stable people deprived over years. Please form a forum or a platform where all rajbanshi people can join hands. Thanks

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    1. Thanks for your kind, encouraging words. Fully agree with your views on forming a forum for the Rajbanshis. In our democratic country, political support is must to save the Rajbanshis from extinction. In Bengal, 'Bengalisation' , in Assam, 'Asomisation', similarly in Bihar, Nepal and elsewhere, Rajbanshis are loosing grounds for existence. Most of educated and highly placed Rajbanshis are aware of this situation, but, 'political compulsion' keep them silent. Hence, mainstream political leaders of the country, especially leaders at the corridor of power in New Delhi should understand this situation. I, personally, feel, and serious about it, that after I superannuate from my present service, will take active part in mainstream politics of India. Hope to get support from majority of our people.

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  17. I would like to help the people of my Rajbanshi community...I am a student, preparing for Indian Civil services..I solemnly support our common agenda..How can I communicate with you sir..pls Reply...

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    1. My best wishes for your preparations for Civil Services Exam. You may communicate with me through my e-Mail ID nranjan.ray@gmail.com
      Regards

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  18. Hi, very happy to know your initiatives to wake up our glorious past,in fact we should should step up an community organization,and am sure in the digital world ot is quite possible

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  19. My Name is Asim Halder,by profession Chartered Accountant,and very much eager to do something to organize and flourish our community and get back our glorious past by incorporating and developing our community with the main stream I dian society.my no 8928977215,if did not get time because of busy schecule immediately but later on must do something

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  20. রাজবংশী সম্প্রদায়ের কি করে উন্নতি করা সম্ভব। সেটা মনে হয় অনেকটা পরিষ্কার হলেও আরো গভীরভাবে গবেষণা করার প্রয়োজন রয়েছে। এডুকেশন ফিল্ড এ কিভাবে কাজ করবো একটু সাহায্য করবেন কোচ রাজবংশী সম্প্রদায় কে নিয়ে।

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  21. Are there Muslim Rajbanshi live Assam.

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  22. So I am Rajbanshi...and I live in South Bengal..but I have heard from my ancestors that we came from Cooch behar.....so am I khatriya and my title is Mondal??

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    1. Same thing Heard from my grandfather, I'm also from South Bengal, really want to know the actual story, if you get to know anything in detail please let me know.

      Thanks,
      Pralay Dalui.

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. My father said we r Khartiya Rajbonsi.
    we r brahman.
    is that right rajbonsi r bramhans

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  25. I saw several article, and what I came to know is that, there is two different section among Rajbanshi community. In the process of sanskritisation of rajbanshi they adopted Hinduism and palced in the caste system as Khatriya, thats why they called them khatriya but they are just same community but lost their culture to some extent. And another section of these people who are following their old age tradition along with some Hinduism living in hilly area such as Far Northern Bengal North-East, they called them selves as koch rajbanshi which make it difficult to recognise but they are the are from same community.

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  26. Sir Rajbangshi mansi gilak prothame j jinista darkar seta hache "Actual Education", So How it's Posible ?

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  27. এইখান একখান খাঁটি, ঐতিহাসিক পরিচয় দায়ক, হামাক নিজেকে খুঁজি পাবার সুন্দর সূচনা আর প্রচেষ্টা, মুই ভীষণ ধন্যবাদ জ্ঞাপন করিনু নালিনী রঞ্জন রায় মহাশয়ক। 🙏❤️

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  28. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the viewers whose worldwide number crossed 97000 mark.
    With sincere regards,
    Capt. Nalini Ranjan Ray

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  29. Sir what is the source of the population ?

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    1. Source is absolutely my own estimation based on my moving around and staying at number of places in Rajbanshi/Koch Rajbanshi inhabited areas of Assam, North Bengal and Bihar. Census reports helped but not much as caste based census is not followed in free India. Earlier, during British rule, caste based census was carried out in 1881 and continued till 1931 in undivided India. Those were taken as the base years and linked to rate of population growth, demographic changes, geopolitical changes that took place over the years in the contiguous areas of inhabited areas falling in present day North Bengal, northeastern districts of Bihar, western districts of Assam, and northern districts of Bangladesh. Thus, I reached my estimation of the population. This group of indigenous Rajbanshi people living in contiguous vast region of the northeastern Indian subcontinent bear different appellations such as Deshi, Rajbanshi, Koch Rajbongshi, Poliya, Surjapuri, Goalparia, Kamatapuri etc. They do bear different identities based on their respective countries or states in which they belong. So, actual population will always be different from the estimation. So, purposely, my count was kept at lower side. Their actual population will surely will be much more than my estimation that I penned.

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  30. A small group who are pig rearer in Rajbanshi and they use title Roy. Some Rajbanshi differentiates them and the rest don't. Their culture is similar to Rajbanshi. What's about them?

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    1. This is the dilemma with this community. Rajbanshi community as the name implies is having royal lineage and historically these people belonged to ruling class which make them feel superior in the society. Rajbanshi is an appellation of a group of people which has evolved through the ages that became a dignified community. But, historically, their roots were connected to number of human streams, tribal groups and people of lower social strata who remained under developed. To name few such group of people are Teli, Mali, Jugi, Jalua, Tanti etc. who belong to genetically same human stream and speak same or similar language but remain neglected by the mainstream Rajbanshi people. The mainstream Rajbanshi people most of whom identify themselves as caste Hindu Kshatriya feel that they belong to an upper strata in the varna system of our society. Pig rearing Rajbanshi people are no different than their peers as far as their roots are concerned, their blood stream is concerned or physiognomy is concerned. Nonacceptance of pluralism by the so called Rajbanshi upper caste people are the roadblocks against the progress of Rajbanshi community in the society.

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