Boria (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Boria, also known as Baurasi are a Hindu
caste
found in North India
, and those in Uttar Pradesh
have scheduled caste status .
community. Although of Pasi
origin, the two communities are quite distinct, and do not intermarry. They are found mainly in the Awadh
region, mainly in the districts of Gonda
, Faizabad
and Barabanki
districts. The Boria speak the Awadhi
dialect.
sect.
The Boria are mainly a community of landowners and cultivators. They grow wheat and pulses, with animal husbandry being an important secondary occupation. Historically, the community were mainly tennant farmers, working on land owned by Rajput
s and Bania
s. They live in multi-caste and multi-religious villages, but occupy their own quarters. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste
council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
, and those in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
have scheduled caste status .
Origin
The Boriya are sub-group of the PasiPasi (caste)
The Pasi are a caste found in India, in the states of Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. A small number of Pasi are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. They are one of the Scheduled caste but not Untouchables. The Pasi are also known as Paswan.-Origin:The Pasi claim their descent from...
community. Although of Pasi
Pasi (caste)
The Pasi are a caste found in India, in the states of Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. A small number of Pasi are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. They are one of the Scheduled caste but not Untouchables. The Pasi are also known as Paswan.-Origin:The Pasi claim their descent from...
origin, the two communities are quite distinct, and do not intermarry. They are found mainly in the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
region, mainly in the districts of Gonda
Gonda District
Gonda is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Gonda is the district headquarters, and also the administrative centre for the Devipatan Division....
, Faizabad
Faizabad District
See also: Faizabad Faizabad district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Faizabad city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district occupies an area of 2,764 km²...
and Barabanki
Barabanki District
The Barabanki district is one of four districts of Faizabad division, lies at the very heart of Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and forms as it were a centre from which no less than seven other districts radiate...
districts. The Boria speak the Awadhi
Awadhi language
Awadhi is an Indo-Aryan language, part of the Hindi-Urdu continuum. It is spoken chiefly in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, although its speakers are also found in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Nepal. Furthermore, the Fiji Hindi dialect spoken by Indo-Fijians is considered a variant of Awadhi,...
dialect.
Present circumstances
The Boria are strictly endogamous community, and prefer marrying close kin. Most Baria belong to the KabirpanthiKabirpanthi
The Kabir Panth "Path of Kabir") is a Philosophy and religious community ofIndia encompassing a wide spectrum of beliefs, traditions and practices based on the teachings of Shri Sadguru Satyapurush Kabir Bhagwan. It's adherents are of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh ancestry...
sect.
The Boria are mainly a community of landowners and cultivators. They grow wheat and pulses, with animal husbandry being an important secondary occupation. Historically, the community were mainly tennant farmers, working on land owned by Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s and Bania
Bania (caste)
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India...
s. They live in multi-caste and multi-religious villages, but occupy their own quarters. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.