Nishad caste | Mallah Jati Ka itihas | मल्लाह जाति (Mallah Caste)

A Quick Look at Nishad Caste | Mallah Jati Ka Itihas:

The Nishad caste, also called the Mallah jati, is a group of Hindus in India with a long and interesting past. Most of them live in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where they work in water-related jobs like fishing, boats, and sand digging. They are also known by names like Kewat, Bind, Kashyap, Bheel, Nayak, Koli, Sahani, etc

Where and how the Nishad Caste came to be

Myths and stories cover up the Nishad caste's past and where it came from. Some sources say that they are the offspring of the Nishada tribe, which is described in old Indian books like the epic Mahabharata. People said that the Nishadas were hunters, fishermen, mountaineers, or robbers who lived in the woods and hills. Some of them were also related to famous figures from the epics, like Eklavya, the archer who was a student of Dronacharya, Guha, the king of Nishadas who was a friend of Rama, and Nala, the king of Nishadas who married Damayanti3.

Another story says that the Nishad caste came about when the Aryans came to India around 1500 BCE and mixed with the native people. The Aryans put the people they met into four groups, or varnas: Brahmin, who was a priest, Kshatriya, who was a warrior, Vaishya, who was a trader, and Shudra, who was a helper. The Nishads didn't fit into any of these groups, so they were seen as outcasts or people who couldn't be touched. They were also known as Panchamas or the fifth varna4.

Since ancient times, people from the Nishad group have been treated badly in both social and economic ways. They were not allowed to go to school, own land, go to churches, or have other basic rights. They were forced to live in places where they were alone and left out, like by rivers and lakes. They were also taken advantage of by the top classes, who had all the power and resources.

Nishad Caste Struggle to Find Its Identity and Gain Power

Since the British era, the Nishad group has been fighting for recognition and power. They have been asking to be seen as a separate group with a great history and a place in society. They have also asked the government for reservations and aid programs to help them get ahead in life.
Since the 1930s, different group organizations have been formed to bring the Nishad caste together and get them to work together under a single flag. Rashtriya Nishad Sangh, Nishad Kalyan Sabha, Maharaja Nishadraj Guhya Smarak Samiti, and other groups are some of these. These groups have been having parades, conferences, and protests to say what they want and what they think is right.
In Bihar, the Nishad caste is made up of about 20 groups, such as the Mallahs, whose traditional jobs have to do with water. They have been asking to be moved from the "Other Backward Classes" (OBC) to the "Scheduled Tribes" (ST) group, which would give them more rights and perks. The government has not yet given in to this demand, though.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad caste is made up of 17 OBC groups that the Samajwadi Party-led Government of Uttar Pradesh wants to give Scheduled Caste (SC) status. But this plan has been stopped by the courts and turned down by the Indian government.

Different political groups have also tried to get the Nishad caste to vote for them by making them promises and plans. Some of these groups are the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party. By voting for different parties at different times, the Nishad group has played a big role in the politics of these states.

In the end,
The Nishad caste, also called the Mallah jati, is a group of Hindus in India with a long and interesting past. Most of them live in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where they work in water-related jobs like fishing, boats, and sand digging. They are also called Kewat, Bind, Kashyap, Bheel, Nayak, Koli, Sahani, and many other names.

Myths and stories cover up the Nishad caste's past and where it came from. Some sources say that they are the offspring of the Nishada tribe, which is described in old Indian books like the epic Mahabharata. Another source says that they are the offspring of different native groups and the Aryans who came to India around 1500 BCE.

Since ancient times, people from the Nishad group have been treated badly in both social and economic ways. They have been kept from getting an education, owning land, going to churches, and having other basic rights. They have been forced to live in places where they don't fit in, like by rivers or lakes. They have also been taken advantage of by the top castes, who had the power and managed the resources.
Since the British era, the Nishad group has been fighting for recognition and power. They have been asking to be seen as a separate group with a great history and a place in society. They have also asked the government for reservations and aid programs to help them get ahead in life.

Different political groups have also tried to get the Nishad caste to vote for them by making them promises and plans. By voting for different parties at different times, the Nishad group has played a big role in the politics of these states.

Nishad caste, also called Mallah jati, is a group of Hindus who deserve respect and honor for what they have done for India's culture and business. They are a proud and strong group of people who have gotten through a lot of hard times. They are a group of people with a long history and a bright future.