Mahishya

Mahishya, also spelled Mahisya, is a Bengali Hindu traditionally agrarian caste, and formed the largest caste in undivided Bengal. Mahisyas were, and are, extremely diverse Bengali caste counting among themselves all possible classes in terms of material conditions and ranks. Mahisyas traditionally lived in Bengal and Orissa region. As per the census report of 1931, Mahishyas were geographically scattered through all of undivided Bengal forming around a quarter of province's Hindu population, and they most predominantly lived in south-western Bengal, especially in the districts of undivided Midnapore, 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and Murshidabad. As of late twelfth century the Mahisyas were considered as the single most important 'middle-caste' group in south-western Bengal and the dominant caste in lower Midnapore district and southern 24 Parganas. According to ancient Smriti texts like Yājñavalkya and Gautama, the term Mahishya refers to one born to a Kshatriya father and a Vaishya mother, supposed to be engaged in the profession of astronomy or agriculture. The group now known as Mahishyas were originally known as Kaibartas or Kaivartas. From eighth to thirteenth century, there are numerous examples of Kaibartas holding posts of administrators and legal officers. During Pala regime, many Kaivartas, alternately with many Brahmins, acted as ministers in royal courts. In eleventh century, in a rebellious hostility, Divya, originally a feudal chief (Samanta), killed Mahipala II , seized Varendri and established a regime there. For a short time Varendri bowed to the supremacy of three Kaibarta kings - Divya, Rudok and Bhima. According to historian Romila Thapar, this is perhaps the first peasant rebellion in Indian history. In his rule Bhima dispossessed the brahmanical and other beneficiaries and levied taxes from them, and prioritized the interests of the peasants. During eleventh and twelfth centuries some of the Kaibartas were versed in Sanskrit and composed poetry.