Mal (caste)

Mal
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Bengali, Assamese, Maithili, Hindi
Populated states	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bangladesh
Population	205,000 (West Bengal, 1981 census) 273,641 (West Bengal, 2001 census)[1] 306,234 (West Bengal, 2011 census)[2]

The Mal is a Hindu caste found in the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Mal and Malla are derived from the Sanskrit word malla, meaning wrestler.^[3][4]

Paharia Mal or Mal Paharia is considered as Scheduled Tribe while the other Mal groups are considered as Scheduled Castes by the Government of West Bengal.^[5][6][7]

Demographics

Mal numbered 273,641 in the 2001 census and were 1.5 per cent of the total Scheduled Caste population of West Bengal. 39.6 per cent of the Mal were literate - 51.9 per cent males and 26.8 per cent females were literate.^[8]

Divisions

Raja Mals were rulers of Bengal-Jharkhand junction area. Chatradhari Mals were supposed to be ministers of Raja Mals.^{[citation needed]} Sapure Mals are mainly snake charmers. Paharia Mals generally live in hilly areas, and have their own distinct language. Raja Mals do not practice widow marriage like other orthodox Hindus.^[3]

See also

• Mal Muslim

References

1. "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights - The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
2. "(SC)2011census". censusindia.gov.in.
3. Singh, Kumar Suresh (29 Aug 2008). The scheduled castes (2, illustrated ed.). Anthropological Survey of India, 1993. ISBN 9780195632545.
4. Dasgupta, Biswas & Mallik 2009, p. 19.
5. "Scheduled Caste List Of West Bengal State". anagrasarkalyan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2015-03-08.
6. "Scheduled Caste Welfare - List of Scheduled Castes". socialjustice.nic.in(Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment). Archived from the original on 2012-09-13.
7. "Scheduled Tribe List Of West Bengal State". anagrasarkalyan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2009-08-29.
8. "West Bengal, Census of India 2001, Data Highlights - The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2009-06-28.

• Dasgupta, Gautam Kumar; Biswas, Samira; Mallik, Rabiranjan (2009), Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur, A Mittal Publication, p. 19, ISBN 978-8183242943