With the Bihar State Commission for Development of Upper Castes leaving it to the state government to decide whether “Bhumihar Brahmin” should replace “Bhumihar” in official records and caste certificates, leading Bhumihar organisations have threatened to intensify their protests, citing its usage in the last national caste survey conducted in 1931.
Bhumihars are the third most populous upper caste in Bihar, with 2.86 per cent of the population — behind Brahmins (3.65 per cent) and Rajputs (3.45 per cent).
Since 2015, caste certificates issued by the Bihar government have mentioned “Bhumihar”, and the Bihar caste-based survey Report 2022–2023, also lists “Bhumihar” among seven upper castes out of 215 castes or caste groups.
Bhumihar is listed along with Brahmin, Rajput, Kayastha, Sheikh, Saiyyad and Pathan.
The Census of India, 1931, clearly mentions “Bhumihar Brahmin”, with a population of 8,95,602.
On Wednesday, the Bihar upper caste panel, after hearing the matter for the third time since November, remained undecided, with the five-member body not unanimous on the issue. The commission decided to refer the matter back to the government for a final call. A commission source said: “There had been a division of votes among five members and we decided to avoid the situation and leave it to the General Administration Department, which may consult the legal department and experts.”
The Bihar upper caste panel began hearing the matter after leading Bhumihar organisations — including the Bhagwan Parshuram Parishad — wrote to the state government last September demanding reinstatement of “Bhumihar Brahmin”.
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On October 10, Rajnish Kumar, joint secretary in the General Administration Department, wrote to the secretary, Bihar Rajya Sawarn Aayog, seeking its opinion on the matter. The government responded to concerns raised by Awadhesh Mishra, founder of the Bhagwan Parshuram Parishad, and Anjani Kumar Benipuri, a Kaimur resident.
“Their letters say the Bihar government that had a caste-based survey conducted and published (in 2023) mentioned a prominent caste ‘Bhumihar Brahmin’ as ‘Bhumihar’,” said the government letter.
It was the upper caste panel that had recommended the use of “Bhumihar” in place of “Bhumihar Brahmin” in 2015.
“Since departmental resolution issued on 13 July, 2015, in wake of Bihar State Commission for Development of Upper Castes, had recommended use of ‘Bhumihar’ in matters of issuing caste certificates, let there be clarity from your end on use of ‘Bhumihar Brahmin’ with supporting evidences so that we can move forward,” said the government letter to the state upper caste panel.
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In his letter to the state government, Anjani Kumar Benipuri reasoned: “It is beyond our comprehension that when 1931 caste survey, revenue and land ownership records and historical references of use of ‘Bhumihar Brahmin’ is undisputed, how can state upper caste panel could ask state government to use ‘Bhumihar’. Delay in rectifying the gross error further raises our apprehensions regarding [the] attempt to curb constitutional rights of Bhumihar Brahmins”.
Bhumihar organisations have also threatened protests in the event of any further delay in correcting what they describe as the anomaly.
Anjani Kumar Benipuri, one of the complainants, said: “Our protest will continue. It’s surprising that the panel suggested the incorrect change is refusing to correct its own mistakes. Associations of our caste would soon meet and plan sustained protests at legal and other levels.”