Caste and Identity Issues: Namasudra in Colonial Bengal: A Historical Review

Abstract

Namasudras are recognized as the lower caste people of East Bengal. There is much debate about the origin of the Namasudras. Namasudras are an agricultural community of East Bengal. They earned their live hood by doing agricultural work. With the help of Sri Harichand Tagore and his son Guruchand Tagore of the Matua community, the Namasudras gradually emerged as a well-organized community. They protested against the hegemony of the Hindu ritual system and the hegemony of the upper caste gentry in colonial Bengal.