Dom (caste)

TheDom(Sanskrit:डोमDomameaning: a man ofDalitcaste, living by singing and music), also known asDomra,Domba,Domaka, DombaraandDombari,are castes, or groups, scattered acrossIndia.Dom were a caste of drummer.^[1]According toTantrascriptures, the Dom were engaged in the occupations of singing and playing music.^[2]Historically, they were considered anuntouchable castecalled theDalitsand their traditional occupation was the disposal and cremation of dead bodies.^[3]^[4]They are in the list ofScheduled casteforReservation in Indiain the Indian states ofUttar Pradesh,Bihar,Odisha,Andhra Pradesh,JharkhandandWest Bengal.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Etymology

Individuals who live by singing and music were referred to as Dom in Tantric scriptures. According to historian M.P Joshi, the word Duma is connected to the sound of a drum.^[2]Its presumed root,ḍom,which is connected with drumming, is linked todamaraanddamaru,Sanskrit terms for "drum" and the Sanskrit verbal root डम्ḍam-'to sound (as a drum)', perhaps a loan fromDravidian,e.g.Kannadaḍamāra'a pair of kettle-drums', andTeluguṭamaṭama'a drum,tomtom'.^[11]

History

The termdomis mentioned inTantrascriptures as individuals who live by singing and music. During the reign of theChand dynastyandGorkha,all service castes were referred to as Dom and were prohibited from wearing gold and silver ornaments. They had to work as palanquin bearers, but they were prohibited from using palanquins at their weddings. They had to live in separate villages with different cremation sites and water sources. They had to bury the dead cows of others of which they ate flesh. During the British period, the British prohibited these discriminative practices. Social activistLala Lajpat Raiand dalit leader Khusi Ram sought to reject low caste status and introduced the termShilpkarto replace the pejorative Dom. They conducted purification rituals ofArya Samajin which shilkars wore sacred threads (Janeu) and were allowed to use a palanquin in their wedding. Since then, in Uttarakhand, the Shilpkar replaced Dom in the official category. But it has done little to reduce the social stigma in the central Himalaya region.^[2]

Manynomadicandperipateticgroups in Uttar Pradesh are said to be of Dom origin such as theBangali,Bhantu,Bazigar,Habura,Kanjar,andSansi.It could also be that the term Dom is generically used to describe any peripatetic nomad, as all of the aforementioned groups are distinct and strictly endogamous. Some speak a dialect orargotof their own, while others speak the prevailing dialect or language.^[12]

The Doms were formerly classified as acriminal tribeunder theCriminal Tribes Actsof theBritish Raj.^[13]^[14]

Occupations

Hunza Valley

The people are called Bericho, Dom, or Doma. The Dom identity developed out of their work as musicians. They are a heterogeneous group, descended from a number of families that took up service with the various local rulers. The Dom belong to theNizari Ismailisect inHunza.^[15]^{[failed verification]}

Uttarakhand

During the Chand and Gurkha dynasties (c. 700-1816 CE) in northern India, including regions that are now part ofUttarakhand,the term 'Dom' collectively referred to various occupational groups, including artisans and professional entertainers such as singers and musicians. Members of Dom castes were also involved in the disposal of dead animals, including cows.^[2]

Delhi

Dom were engaged in occupation of beating drums in marriage ceremonies inDelhiof caste hindus. But marriages of high caste are facilitated by a Brahmin priest where a drum is not beaten. In Delhi, Dom women facilitate marriages ofBhangicaste by singing and drum beating as Brahmin do not facilitate marriages of Bhangi caste as they are considered untouchable.^[1]

Chhattisgarh

InJashpur districtofChhattisgarh,the Dom were rulers from the 16th century to 18th century, until the defeat of king Raibhan of the Dom dynasty by Sujan Rai of Sonpur who establishedJashpur State.^[16]

Varanasi

InVaranasi,the city inUttar Pradesh,the Dom perform the most important task ofcremationof dead bodies.^[17]According to puranic legend, RajaHarishchandrawas purchased by Kallu Dom and Harishchandra was working under him.^[18]^[19]However, according to another legend, Harishchandra was said to have been sold to a Chandala, and the Chandala entrusted him with the responsibility of overseeing the cremation ground (shmashana).^[20]

Andhra Pradesh

Dom originally hails from the hilly tract ofVisakhapatnamin Andhra Pradesh and they were known for their occupation as drummers and are often considered "untouchables" in the caste system due to their historical role in disposing of bodies, including both animal and human remains.^[21]^[22]

Rajasthan

InRajasthan,theKalbeliatribe is engaged in dance andsnake charming.^[23]

Present

The traditional occupation of Dom was making musical instruments and households items of bamboo. They still make musical instruments and households items of bamboo. But due to the advent of electronic music, sales of musical instruments have dwindled.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

There are around 706,000 Doms inOdisha.^[24]

Doms numbered 316,337 at the 2001 census and were 1.7 percent of thescheduled castepopulation of West Bengal. The same census found overall 46.0 percent of Doms (aged 7 and up) were literate. Along gender lines, 58.9 percent of males and 32.6 percent of females were found by the census to be literate.^[7]

The2011 Census of Indiafor Uttar Pradesh showed the Dom as a Scheduled Caste with a population of 110,353.^[5]

Official classification

Dom are listed asScheduled Casteforreservation in Indiain Indian state ofUttar Pradesh,Bihar,OdishaandWest Bengal.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Doms in Nepal

TheCentral Bureau of Statisticsof Nepal classifies the Dom as a subgroup within the broader social group ofMadheshi Dalits.^[25]At the time of the2011 Nepal census,13,268 people (0.1% of the population of Nepal) were Dom. The frequency of Doms by province was as follows:

The frequency of Doms was higher than national average (0.1%) in the following districts:^[26]

Saptari(0.3%)
Dhanusha(0.2%)
Mahottari(0.2%)
Parsa(0.2%)
Siraha(0.2%)
Sunsari(0.2%)

References

^^a ^bRama Sharma (1995).Bhangi, Scavenger in Indian Society: Marginality, Identity, and Politicization of the Community.M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 126.ISBN 978-8185880709.
^^a ^b ^c ^dStefan Fiol (2017).Recasting Folk in the Himalayas: Indian Music, Media, and Social Mobility.University of Illinois Press. p. 51-53.ISBN 978-0252099786.
^Panchali Ray (2019).Politics of Precarity:Gendered Subjects and the Health Care Industry in Contemporary Kolkata.OUP India. p. 207.ISBN 978-0-19-909553-7.
^Robert E. Van Voorst (2018).RELG: WORLD.Cengage Learning. p. 85.ISBN 9781337671866.
^^a ^b ^c"A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix – Uttar Pradesh".Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2018.Retrieved6 February2017.
^^a ^b"Bihar Caste List 2022".Biharonlineportal.Retrieved26 November2022.
^^a ^b ^c"West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights – The Scheduled Castes"(PDF).Office of the Registrar General, India.Retrieved28 June2009.
^^a ^b"Dom".Retrieved26 November2022.
^"Legal Database".11 August 2018.
^"List of Scheduled Castes | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment - Government of India".socialjustice.gov.in.Retrieved14 September2023.
^T. Burrow and M.B. Emeneau,A Dravidian Etymological Dictionary2nd ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984), p. 257, entry #2949.
^Nomads in India: proceedings of the National Seminar / edited by P.K. Misra, K.C. Malhotra
^Bates, Crispin (1995). "Race, Caste and Tribe in Central India: the early origins of Indian anthropometry". In Robb, Peter (ed.).The Concept of Race in South Asia.Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 227.ISBN 978-0-19-563767-0.Retrieved1 December2011.
^Gupta, Ganesh (2005).Padabi Abhidhan[Dictionary of Family Names] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Annapurna Prakashan. p. 52.
^Disappearing peoples?: indigenous groups and ethnic minorities in South and Central Asia.Brower, Barbara Anne., Johnston, Barbara Rose. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press. 2007.ISBN 978-1-59874-726-3.OCLC 647914842.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
^Shashishekhar Gopal Deogaonkar (1985).The Hill Korwa.Concept Publishing Company. p. 22.Retrieved25 November2022.
^"Doms of Varanasi make a living among the dead".reuters. 26 October 2017.Retrieved26 November2022.
^Namit Arora(2021).Indians: A Brief History of A Civilization.Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 329.ISBN 978-9353052874.
^Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi, Makhan Jha, Baidyanath Saraswati (1979).The Sacred Complex of Kashi: A Microcosm of Indian Civilization.Concept Publishing Company. p. 306.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Bibek Debroy (2008).Sarama and Her Children: The Dog in Indian Myth.Penguin Books India. p. 116.ISBN 978-0143064701.
^"India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Andhra Pradesh - 2011".censusindia.gov.in.Retrieved14 September2023.
^Njuki, Jemimah; Parkins, John R.; Kaler, Amy (25 November 2016).Transforming Gender and Food Security in the Global South.Routledge. pp. 118–119.ISBN 978-1-317-19001-1.
^"Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan".UNESCO.United Nations.Retrieved4 July2024.
^"Census of India Website: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India".censusindia.gov.in.Retrieved11 May2020.
^Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II[1]
^"2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 14 March 2023.Retrieved13 April2023.

External links

[M.D._Publications_Pvt._Ltd.-1] Rama Sharma (1995).Bhangi, Scavenger in Indian Society: Marginality, Identity, and Politicization of the Community.M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 126.ISBN 978-8185880709.

[University_of_Illinois_Press-2] Stefan Fiol (2017).Recasting Folk in the Himalayas: Indian Music, Media, and Social Mobility.University of Illinois Press. p. 51-53.ISBN 978-0252099786.

[Panchali_Ray-3] Panchali Ray (2019).Politics of Precarity:Gendered Subjects and the Health Care Industry in Contemporary Kolkata.OUP India. p. 207.ISBN 978-0-19-909553-7.

[Robert_E._Van_Voorst-4] Robert E. Van Voorst (2018).RELG: WORLD.Cengage Learning. p. 85.ISBN 9781337671866.

[Registrar_General-5] "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix – Uttar Pradesh".Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2018.Retrieved6 February2017.

[Biharonlineportal-6] "Bihar Caste List 2022".Biharonlineportal.Retrieved26 November2022.

[West_Bengal-7] "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights – The Scheduled Castes"(PDF).Office of the Registrar General, India.Retrieved28 June2009.

[scstrti-8] "Dom".Retrieved26 November2022.

[9] "Legal Database".11 August 2018.

[10] "List of Scheduled Castes | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment - Government of India".socialjustice.gov.in.Retrieved14 September2023.

[11] T. Burrow and M.B. Emeneau,A Dravidian Etymological Dictionary2nd ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984), p. 257, entry #2949.

[12] Nomads in India: proceedings of the National Seminar / edited by P.K. Misra, K.C. Malhotra

[13] Bates, Crispin (1995). "Race, Caste and Tribe in Central India: the early origins of Indian anthropometry". In Robb, Peter (ed.).The Concept of Race in South Asia.Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 227.ISBN 978-0-19-563767-0.Retrieved1 December2011.

[gupta-14] Gupta, Ganesh (2005).Padabi Abhidhan[Dictionary of Family Names] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Annapurna Prakashan. p. 52.

[15] Disappearing peoples?: indigenous groups and ethnic minorities in South and Central Asia.Brower, Barbara Anne., Johnston, Barbara Rose. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press. 2007.ISBN 978-1-59874-726-3.OCLC 647914842.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)

[Concept_Publishing_Company-16] Shashishekhar Gopal Deogaonkar (1985).The Hill Korwa.Concept Publishing Company. p. 22.Retrieved25 November2022.

[17] "Doms of Varanasi make a living among the dead".reuters. 26 October 2017.Retrieved26 November2022.

[18] Namit Arora(2021).Indians: A Brief History of A Civilization.Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 329.ISBN 978-9353052874.

[19] Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi, Makhan Jha, Baidyanath Saraswati (1979).The Sacred Complex of Kashi: A Microcosm of Indian Civilization.Concept Publishing Company. p. 306.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[20] Bibek Debroy (2008).Sarama and Her Children: The Dog in Indian Myth.Penguin Books India. p. 116.ISBN 978-0143064701.

[21] "India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Andhra Pradesh - 2011".censusindia.gov.in.Retrieved14 September2023.

[22] Njuki, Jemimah; Parkins, John R.; Kaler, Amy (25 November 2016).Transforming Gender and Food Security in the Global South.Routledge. pp. 118–119.ISBN 978-1-317-19001-1.

[23] "Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan".UNESCO.United Nations.Retrieved4 July2024.

[24] "Census of India Website: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India".censusindia.gov.in.Retrieved11 May2020.

[25] Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II[1]

[26] "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 14 March 2023.Retrieved13 April2023.

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v t e Dom people
Dom peoples	Abdals Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians Bede Deha Dom Ghorbati Lyuli Kalbelia Kawliya Lom Lori Mirasi Narikurava Nawar Orh Patharkat Rom / Rrom / Roma / Romani Sinti
Castes	Abdal Domba Gandhila Heri Hurkiya Kan Madari Qalandar Perna Sapera(Muslim)
Language	Domari language Lomavren language Romani languages Seb Seliyer language