Bauri (caste)

Bauri (Bengali:বাউরী) is a community of indigenous people primarily residing in Bengal, and considered as one of the Scheduled Castes of India. The Bauris belong to the Bhil tribe. They are usually involved in activities like farming. The Bauris of Purbo Tila Moulvibazar in Bangladesh are usually involved in medicinal practices. The prime festivals they celebrate are known as Mansa Puja, Durga Puja and Kali Puja.

Bauris numbered 1,091,022 in the 2001 census in the state of West Bengal. 37.5 per cent of the Bauris were literate - 51.8 per cent males and 22.7 per cent females were literate. Only 4.7 per cent of the Bauris were matriculates or completed schooling.

Distribution
They are primarily residing in Bengal found in large numbers in Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and other districts in Indian state of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Orissa. The village of Purbo Tila in Chatlapur Tea Garden, Kulaura and Dakchara Tea Garden, Srimangal, Moulvibazar District are also home to Bauri communities in Bangladesh. They are also found in many villages like Chhatna and Beliatore.

Subcastes
Bauris are divided into the following subcastes: Mallabhumia, Sikharia or Gobaria, Panchakoti, Mola or Mulo, Dhalia or Dhulo, Malua, Jhatia or Jhetia, and Pathuria. Some of these subcastes appear to be territorial subdivisions. Mallabhumia, Malua and perhaps also Mola, were residents of Mallabhum, the central and eastern parts of Bankura district. Sikharia were Bauris who hailed from Shikharbhum, the tract between the Kasai and Barakar rivers. The Dhulia subcaste is supposed to be from Dhalbhum, which is the area in Khatra subdivision. Panchakoti refers to the central area of Panchet estate now in Purulia district.

Practices
Traces of totemism still survive in their reverence for the red-backed heron. The heron is looked upon as the emblem of the community.

Classification
The Bauri caste is categorized as a Scheduled Caste in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar, while in Assam, they are recognized as an Ex Tea garden community and the Bauri of Assam and Tripura placed within the Other Backward Classes.

Notable people

 * Sandhya Bauri, MP from Bishnupur (Lok Sabha constituency)
 * Susmita Bauri, MP from Bishnupur (Lok Sabha constituency)
 * Amar Kumar Bauri is a minister in jharkhand.
 * Dasia Bauri, a saint in Orissa.