Analysis of Socio political Empowerment of Matua people in West Bengal with special reference to North 24 Parganas and Nadia District

Abstract

The religious history of Bengal, in particular, and that of South Asia, in general, is not complete without a comprehensive discussion of the caste discriminations including the religious and social movements against such discriminations that took place among the people belonging to the lower castes. One such movement took place among the members of the Matua community of South and East Bengal. The Hindu society is marked by oppression of the lower caste people by the members of the upper castes. One of the important scriptures of the Hindu religion said, and#8213;On the basis of these qualities of nature and work, I have created four categories (Varnas) in the human society.and#8214;1 newlineThe people belonging to the Namasudra sect were placed at the very bottom of the Hindu society by King Ballal Sen (1160-1179 AD) when he reigned over Bengal.2 The people belonging to the lower ranks of the society were deprived of social and economic benefits. Legal actions, penalties, imprisonment etc. were resorted to against the Namachudras who disobeyed the dictates of the upper castes. These people were forced to do the dirty jobs of the community including cleaning of sewerages, night soil disposal and all such activities. During 1872-73, an uprising occurred in an influential Namashudra household in the Faridpur district of undivided Bengal. It was led by Guruchand Thakur.3 The rebels refused to participate in the religious ceremonies of the upper castes. The Namashudras were the second largest community in Bengal. They numbered sixteen (16) lakhs (16,00,000) according to the Bengal census of 1871.4 Guruchand, the leader of the Namashudra community ,kept saying, and#8213;No one respects if the power possessed by the people does not seem strong enoughand#8214;.5 newlineIn the nineteenth century, epidemics like cholera broke out. This caused an increase in the number of widows in the Namashudra community. Needless to mention that the hapless widows were looked down upon in the society. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar had started a social movement for the provision of wid