BATTLE OVER BHUMIHAR VS BHUMIHAR BRAHMIN IDENTITY

BATTLE OVER BHUMIHAR VS BHUMIHAR BRAHMIN IDENTITY

1-AUG-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------A socio-political battle regarding whether to be identified as 'Bhumihar' or 'Bhumihar Brahmin' has reignited in Bihar. While this debate has surfaced during the current session of the Legislative Assembly, the issue is not new. It had been largely resolved at one point, but opposition began to gain momentum after the 2023 census report recorded the community simply as 'Bhumihar'. Today, former minister Jivesh Mishra once again brought this matter to the state government's attention. Let us look at how history has unfolded in this regard...

Turning the pages of history, the demand to officially and socially use the term 'Bhumihar Brahmin' instead of just 'Bhumihar' first gained prominence in Bihar during the early 20th century, coinciding with the 1911 British Census. Between 1889 and 1896, the 'Pradhan Bhumihar Brahmin Sabha'—organized under the leadership of Raja Prabhu Narayan Singh of Banaras—had vigorously advocated for the community to be formally recognized as Brahmins.

Following persistent efforts by the Bhumihar community In the 1911 Census of India, the Bhumihar community was recognized and recorded as 'Bhumihar Brahmin' for the first time. In 1916, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati authored the book *Bhumihar Brahmin Parichay*, establishing—based on scriptures and historical evidence—that this community descends from *Ayachak* (non-alms-seeking) Brahmins.

In 2023, social and political organizations openly voiced their concerns regarding the recording of the community simply as 'Bhumihar' instead of 'Bhumihar Brahmin'. The caste survey report released that year listed the community merely as 'Bhumihar'. The community seeks to have its name officially recorded as 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' prior to the 2027 national caste census.

Social and political activists alleged that certain leaders deliberately split the Bhumihar population into four categories during Bihar's 2023 caste survey. The community was divided into four distinct sub-categories: Bhumihar, Bhumihar-Brahmin, Bhuinhar, and Bhuiyar. This caused significant resentment among the people.

The dissatisfaction stemmed from the perception that this division undermined their primary identity and diluted their population figures. Some community organizations alleged that while this single community was recorded across four separate columns or categories during the enumeration, other castes were listed under a single name.

Community members and representatives argue that historical documents, old land records (*khatiyans*), and the 1931 census all record their identity as 'Bhumihar Brahmin'. Regarding the government's stance: following the controversy and confusion that arose after the survey, clarifications were issued at political and administrative levels stating that objections concerning the community's traditional and historical identity—as reflected in revenue records and documents—should be addressed; however, the Bihar caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government and the digitization of land records have given rise to new concerns regarding identity. A section of the community wants their caste name to be officially designated as 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' before the 2027 national caste census.

When Vijay Kumar Sinha assumed the role of Minister for Revenue and Land Reforms following the 2025 elections, he issued clear instructions to record the caste as 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' instead of just 'Bhumihar' in revenue documents and land records (*khatiyan*). Objecting to the earlier removal of the word 'Brahmin' from these records, he asserted that no one had the authority to alter the designation. Following his directive, the 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' option was added to the Revenue and Land Reforms Department's online portal.

Drawing the government's attention to the matter, it was pointed out that 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' is recorded in land revenue records, various official documents, district gazetteers, and other state records. However, the caste list from the recent caste census conducted by the Bihar government—as well as caste certificates—lists the caste simply as 'Bhumihar.' These discrepancies across records have created confusion. The 1931 census report and numerous land records held by the Revenue Department also list the caste as 'Bhumihar-Brahmin.' Therefore, a request has been made to the government to ensure that 'Bhumihar-Brahmin' is recorded in official documents and caste certificates.

In fact, NDA MLAs belonging to the Bhumihar-Brahmin community, who have been campaigning for years—specifically since 2023—to have the 'Brahmin' suffix officially included, have become frustrated. When the issue was raised through a 'calling attention' motion, the matter—representing four years of effort—was once again deferred on the grounds that it was 'under consideration.' Consequently, an agitated MLA, Vishal Prashant, demanded that the Bhumihar-Brahmin community be included in the Scheduled Tribes category.