Page 63 - A GRAMMAR OF BHOJPURI _ PhD Dissertation 2020 TU

3.1.1 Caste/Ethnic groups
The Hindu caste system still plays a dominant role in the Bhojpuri Society.

Traditionally, it is a common society of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra
castes. The system of untouchability still exists in Bhojpuri society. Consequently, a
major part of the society is living in bitter hardships because of belonging to so-called

lower castes locally known as अछोप /ʌcʰop/ or अछूत /ʌcʰut/ 'untouchable' or दिलत

/dʌlit/ 'down-trodden'.
Generally Brahmins, who are even not rich economically, deserve ultimate

supremacy and enjoy a prestigious life till date. Kshatriya community of Rajputs and
Bhumihars has still been landlords.

Vaishyas also include both, touchable and untouchable castes. But gradual
economic growth in Vaishyas has been removing the problems of untouchability in recent
days, at the same time, those economically weak are facing a kind of social exclusion. For

example: हजाम /ɦʌjɑm/ 'barbar', लोहार /loɦɑr/ 'blacksmith', and माली /mɑli/ 'floriculturist'

are touchable but compelled to stretch their palm before the untouchable wealthy
Vaishyas. These castes are locally known as पउनी /pʌuni/ 'castes living on semi-annual

remuneration of grains' and a proverb reveals how the society looks at them, पउनी के

दउनी कइसन ? /pʌuni ke dʌuni kʌisʌn/ 'Paunis should gather no harvest'.

Shudras' life is more deteriorating. They are subject to do all physical labour
but barred from utilizing any products facing untouchability. They build house but

cannot enter after घरपूजा /ɡ ̈ ʌrpujɑ/ 'a ritual for formal entry of the house owners'.
They dig the well but are not allowed to carry water. One incident is very interesting.

Marriage ceremony of all castes is incomplete until डोम /ɖom/ 'Hindu scavenger'

brings डाला /ɖɑlɑ/ 'a bamboo container to perform wedding rituals' but he is only
provided the food left over by eating in a feast.

This is the root cause why a large number of downtrodden Bhojpurias turned
Muslims following Muslim invasion on the land. Today also, people are adopting

Christianity high in number.
Bhojpuri society includes Hindus and Muslims on religious ground, Tharu and

Baji (a name given by Tharu for non-Tharu people) on communal ground. Besides, the
religious and communal tolerance is integral part of the Bhojpuri society in Nepal. Only

the need is to eliminate the inhumane system of untouchability in the Hindu society.

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