DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0124
tMe'caste system of norTfiern INDiA
five) are chosen for the occasion, but there is a tendency
always to select the same men, and their sons after their
death. In Gorakhpur, the Sonkhar subcaste has a head-
man (chaudhri) and six or seven panches, all hereditary :
the Poldar subcaste has a chaudhri and padhan (vice-
president), both hereditary : the Saqba subcaste has only
a chaudhri, elected for a single year at Dasehra. In Bul-
andshahr, every village has an officer known as muqad-
dam, who decides minor cases, with a hereditary chaudhri
and two diwans (vice-presidents) to every hundred villages
or so.
(xx) Khumra. Each village has a chaudhri of its
own : the assembly consists of all chaudhris, some of
whom form the permanent committee of the council. In
Bijnor, the committee consists of the chaudhris of Nagina
(badshah), who is headman : of Jamdaspur (wazir) : Taj-
pur and Sherkot (munsifs). These two munsifs are
elected : all other officers in the caste are hereditary.
(xxi) Kutamali. In Moradabad each separate vil-
lage or quarter in a town has a padhan and chakrayat; the
latter acts as substitute for the former during his minority.
These officials decide all trivial cases. The council con-
sists of these officials (twenty-two of each) with two head-
men (sardar). All are hereditary.
(xxii) Lal Begi Bhangi. In Benares, the organiza-
tion of the Lal Begis’ system of government is modelled
on the city and cantonment in which they are employed.
There are seven administrative units or companies (bera),
known as (i) kali paltan, which serves the Indian in-
fantry : (2) lalkurti or redcoats, who serve the British in-
fantry : (3) genereli, which dates back to the time when
Benares possessed a divisional general and his head-
quarters staff: (4-7) sadr, kothiwal, shahr, and teshan,
who are employed respectively in cantonments, civil
station, city and railway settlement. Each company has
four officers (sardar) and a messenger (piyada) : the titles
of the officers are jamadar (headman), munsif (spokes-
man), chaudhri (treasurer) and naib (summoner). In
supreme command is the ‘brigadier’. He and the com-
pany officers are elected, though there is a tendency to
110
five) are chosen for the occasion, but there is a tendency
always to select the same men, and their sons after their
death. In Gorakhpur, the Sonkhar subcaste has a head-
man (chaudhri) and six or seven panches, all hereditary :
the Poldar subcaste has a chaudhri and padhan (vice-
president), both hereditary : the Saqba subcaste has only
a chaudhri, elected for a single year at Dasehra. In Bul-
andshahr, every village has an officer known as muqad-
dam, who decides minor cases, with a hereditary chaudhri
and two diwans (vice-presidents) to every hundred villages
or so.
(xx) Khumra. Each village has a chaudhri of its
own : the assembly consists of all chaudhris, some of
whom form the permanent committee of the council. In
Bijnor, the committee consists of the chaudhris of Nagina
(badshah), who is headman : of Jamdaspur (wazir) : Taj-
pur and Sherkot (munsifs). These two munsifs are
elected : all other officers in the caste are hereditary.
(xxi) Kutamali. In Moradabad each separate vil-
lage or quarter in a town has a padhan and chakrayat; the
latter acts as substitute for the former during his minority.
These officials decide all trivial cases. The council con-
sists of these officials (twenty-two of each) with two head-
men (sardar). All are hereditary.
(xxii) Lal Begi Bhangi. In Benares, the organiza-
tion of the Lal Begis’ system of government is modelled
on the city and cantonment in which they are employed.
There are seven administrative units or companies (bera),
known as (i) kali paltan, which serves the Indian in-
fantry : (2) lalkurti or redcoats, who serve the British in-
fantry : (3) genereli, which dates back to the time when
Benares possessed a divisional general and his head-
quarters staff: (4-7) sadr, kothiwal, shahr, and teshan,
who are employed respectively in cantonments, civil
station, city and railway settlement. Each company has
four officers (sardar) and a messenger (piyada) : the titles
of the officers are jamadar (headman), munsif (spokes-
man), chaudhri (treasurer) and naib (summoner). In
supreme command is the ‘brigadier’. He and the com-
pany officers are elected, though there is a tendency to
110