Gandhabanik

Gandhabanik
Cover of Gandhabanik magazine, Issue-1, 1367
Kuladevi (female)	Gandheswari mata
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Bengali
Populated states	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, Assam

Gandhabanik (Bengali: গন্ধবণিক) is a Bengali Hindu trading caste, who as the caste name suggests, traditionally used to trade in perfumes, cosmetics, spices etc.^[1][2] They were also engaged in agriculture.^[3][4] As of late nineteenth century they were one of the fourteen castes belonging to Nabasakh group.^[5]

It is believed that the legendary sea merchant Chand Sadagar of ancient Champaknagar was from Gandhabanik community.^[6][7]

Varna Status

Gandhabaniks have generally been considered as 'middle class shudras' in the caste structure of Bengal.^[8][6][9]

References

1. The Eastern Anthropologist. Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society. 1963. pp. 66, 68.
2. Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress. 1973. p. 589.
3. Bhowmick, P. K. (1969). Occupational Mobility and Caste Structure in Bengal: Study of Rural Market. Indian Publications.
4. Singh, K. S.; India, Anthropological Survey of (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 946. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
5. Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus. p. 115.
6. Sengupta, Saswati (2020-11-30). Mutating Goddesses: Bengal's Laukika Hinduism and Gender Rights. Oxford University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-19-099325-2.
7. Bhaumik, Sudarshana (2022). The Changing World of Caste and Hierarchy in Bengal: Depiction from the Mangalkavyas C. 1700-1931. Routledge, Taylor & Francis. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-003-14618-6.
8. Mitra, A. (1953). The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (Report). Census 1951. Land and Land Revenue Department, Government of West Bengal. p. 21.
9. Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.