Bayar (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Bayar, or sometimes pronounced Biyar are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
.
tribes, who were once the dominant group in eastern Uttar Pradesh
. The Bayar are still found mainly in Varanasi District
, in and Chakia and Chandauli
. A small number are also found in Mirzapur District
. They speak Awadhi
.
, with the Kanaujiya intermarrying only with the Barwar, Sakarwar and Mahato. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy distinct 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.
The Bayar are community of cultivators and graziers, often occupying tracts of land outside their villages to graze. They also raise a number of crops such as pototoes. A significant minority are sharecroppers, cultivating the lands of Bhumihar
, Ahir, Thakur
and Brahmin
landowners.
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 the state of 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...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Origin
The word bayar is said to mean seed bed in Hindi, and it is suggested that they may have acquired this name on account of their occupation as cultivators of rice and constructers of embankments. According to some traditions, the Bayar are connected to the BharBhar
The Bhar are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Rajbhar. British historian General Cunningham said that Bhars are branch of the Ahir tribe.-History and origin:...
tribes, who were once the dominant group in eastern 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...
. The Bayar are still found mainly in Varanasi District
Varanasi District
Varanasi district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, with Varanasi city as the district headquarters. Varanasi district is a part of Varanasi division. The district occupies an area of 1,535 km². The district has a population of 3,138,671 .-Divisions:The...
, in and Chakia and Chandauli
Chandauli
Chandauli , also known as Chandoli, is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chandauli district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chandauli District.-Geography:...
. A small number are also found in Mirzapur District
Mirzapur District
Mirzapur district is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district is bounded on the north by Sant Ravidas Nagar and Varanasi districts, on the east by Chandauli district, on the south by Sonbhadra district and on the norhwest by Allahabad district. The district...
. They speak 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,...
.
Present circumstances
The Bayar are strictly endogamous community, and practice the principle of clan exogamy. These clans are referred to as kuris, and their main clans are the Kanaujiya, Sakarwar, Barwar, Mahato, Kahto, Kashi and Barhar. These clans are also hypergamousHypergamy
Hypergamy is the act or practice of seeking a spouse of higher socioeconomic status, or caste status than oneself....
, with the Kanaujiya intermarrying only with the Barwar, Sakarwar and Mahato. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy distinct 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.
The Bayar are community of cultivators and graziers, often occupying tracts of land outside their villages to graze. They also raise a number of crops such as pototoes. A significant minority are sharecroppers, cultivating the lands of Bhumihar
Bhumihar
Bhumihar or Babhan or Bhuin-har is a Brahmin Hindu community mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.- Varna status :...
, Ahir, Thakur
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...
and Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
landowners.