DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0122
THE CASTE SYSTEM OF NORTHERN INDIA
(v) Bari. The headman (chaudhri) is hereditary.
The other panches are selected as required.
(vi) Beldar. In Gorakhpur, the headman (chau-
dhri) is elected for life, but there is a tendency to make
the office hereditary by electing, whenever possible, the
son of the last headman. There is also a summoner
(dhari). All the brethren are members of the assembly,
but to form a quorum, not less than five of their exoga-
mous groups (kuris) must be represented.
(vii) Bhoksa. The council is composed of the
headmen of the villages (chhota bhaiya or little brother) :
the president is called takht (throne), whilst he has a
munsif (vice-president) and darogha (investigating offi-
cer). All these posts are hereditary. A system of proxies
is recognized.
(viii) Bishnoi. This sectarian caste has two coun-
cils of different kinds. One deals with religious cases
and is known as jumala. It meets once a month either
at some temple or at the house of a priest (sadh) : the
priest and some elders preside at the meeting, at which
the hom rite is always carried out. Once a year, in the
month of Chait, the Bishnois of several districts meet in
a large joint jumala at Lodhipur in Moradabad. The
other council, which deals with social offences, is found
in such subcastes as possessed them before their members
joined the sect (Jat, Khagi-Chauhan, Nai, Byar, are
some of them). These subcaste panchayats are perman-
ent. The decisions of the religious and social authorities
are binding on each other.
(ix) Dakaut. In Bijnor, the panchayat only
assembles if there are at least ten items on the agenda.
The headman (chaudhri) is elected, and is assisted by a
patwari, rai, and padhan : their precise functions are un-
known to me. Five towns or villages haY'e a right to
permanent representatives, namely, Jhalu (three represen-
tatives), Nagina, Seohara, Nandawar, and Nehtaur (two
each). These are selected and hold office for life. The
committee, therefore, consists of nine persons. In addi-
tion, about five hundred brethren are usually present.
(x) Dhuniya. Each brotherhood has a hereditary
(v) Bari. The headman (chaudhri) is hereditary.
The other panches are selected as required.
(vi) Beldar. In Gorakhpur, the headman (chau-
dhri) is elected for life, but there is a tendency to make
the office hereditary by electing, whenever possible, the
son of the last headman. There is also a summoner
(dhari). All the brethren are members of the assembly,
but to form a quorum, not less than five of their exoga-
mous groups (kuris) must be represented.
(vii) Bhoksa. The council is composed of the
headmen of the villages (chhota bhaiya or little brother) :
the president is called takht (throne), whilst he has a
munsif (vice-president) and darogha (investigating offi-
cer). All these posts are hereditary. A system of proxies
is recognized.
(viii) Bishnoi. This sectarian caste has two coun-
cils of different kinds. One deals with religious cases
and is known as jumala. It meets once a month either
at some temple or at the house of a priest (sadh) : the
priest and some elders preside at the meeting, at which
the hom rite is always carried out. Once a year, in the
month of Chait, the Bishnois of several districts meet in
a large joint jumala at Lodhipur in Moradabad. The
other council, which deals with social offences, is found
in such subcastes as possessed them before their members
joined the sect (Jat, Khagi-Chauhan, Nai, Byar, are
some of them). These subcaste panchayats are perman-
ent. The decisions of the religious and social authorities
are binding on each other.
(ix) Dakaut. In Bijnor, the panchayat only
assembles if there are at least ten items on the agenda.
The headman (chaudhri) is elected, and is assisted by a
patwari, rai, and padhan : their precise functions are un-
known to me. Five towns or villages haY'e a right to
permanent representatives, namely, Jhalu (three represen-
tatives), Nagina, Seohara, Nandawar, and Nehtaur (two
each). These are selected and hold office for life. The
committee, therefore, consists of nine persons. In addi-
tion, about five hundred brethren are usually present.
(x) Dhuniya. Each brotherhood has a hereditary