Kudumi Mahato


The Kudmi are a community of India. They are also known as Kudmi, Kurmi Mahto/Mahato or Kudumi Mohanta/Mahanta. They are not same with
Other Areas Kurmi.

Official classification

The Kudmi were classified as a Notified Tribe by the British Raj under the terms of the Indian Succession Act introduced in 1865 as they have customary rules of succession. Subsequently, in 1913, they were classified as a Primitive tribe. Then they were omitted from the list of communities listed as tribes in the 1931 census. Again, they were omitted from the Scheduled Tribe list drawn up in 1950. In 2004, the Government of Jharkhand recommended that they should be listed as a Scheduled Tribe rather than Other Backward Class. The Tribal Research Institute recommended against this proposal, claiming they are a sub-caste of the Kunbi and thus different to tribal people. In 2015, the Government of India also refused to approve the recommendation.

Culture

The traditional occupation of Kudmi is agriculture. The language of Kudmi is Kurmali. The Kudmis are divided into six divisions. Paribar is the smallest unit. A group of Paribar of same Gusti living in a place is known as Bakhal/Bakhair. The members of some Paribars or Bakhai settled in a locality is known as Kulhi. A group of Kulhi with a separate geographical area, burial ground, agricultural field, grazing land and Akhra forms a Gram. Traditionally, a village headman is known as Mahato. A group of twelve village form a Paragan headed by Paraganaif who solves all the inter village dispute. A group of Paragans forms a Thapal controlled by Deshmandal.
Kudmi are divided into 81 clans called Gusti. These includes Kadwar, Bansiar,Tiduar,Kachhmar, Bansoar, Sankhowar, Hinduar, Baghowar, Chiluar, Bakuar, Lakrawar, Ketiar, Kheruwar, Musiar, Bagh Banwari, Jal Banwari, Dumriar, etc. Tussu, Shiv Gajan, Jitia, Karam, Bandna are the major festival of Kudmi. They worship Gramadevata at gramthan, Bansha Pahar, Lord Shiva, Jatal, Sitola Puja, Mahamai and so on. Jhumar and Chhau are their folk dance.

Present circumstances

Kudmi classified as Other Backward Class in Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.