Bhuiyan Explained

Pronunciation:Bhui-yan
Region:Assam, Bengal
Language:Assamese, Bengali, Sylheti
Alternative Spelling:Bhuiya, Bhuyan, Bhuya
Cognate:Bhuyan
Popularity:Leadership, King

Bhuiyan (also Bhuiya, Bhuyan, Bhuya) was a title for landowners in medieval Bengal and Assam.[1] It has been adopted as a surname by different communities in West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh .

Etymology

Bhuiyan was a title used to refer to a landlord or chieftain. It originates from the Sanskrit word, Bhumi, meaning 'land'.[2] [3]

History

See main article: Baro-Bhuyan.

Assam

The origin of this group is shrouded in mystery. This original group is often referred to as the Adi Bhuyan, or the progenitor Bhuiyans. One of the earliest evidence of Bhuyans in Mlechchha dynasty during the 9th century reign of Balavarman III by using 'parcelization' of power. Historical record of Raut-Kuchi grant (1329 A.D.) shows that western Brahmaputra valley comes from Adi-Bhuiyan group's Purushottam Dasa grandfather Basudeva, who was a minister of Kamata king Indranarayan, who commanded a thousand men and war elephants. The grant also stated that, Basudeva obtainted glory of sovereignty with his wealth and valour. In the manuscript Adi-charita (Old- Character), which mentions about the Adi-Bhuyan group. The progenitor Bhuiyans (Adi-Bhuiyans) ensconced in Chutiya Kingdom when Sukaphaa established the Ahom Kingdom in 1208. Adi- Bhuiyan group maintained status quo with most faith-based ideologies. Adi-Bhuiyan group's later foundation became known as Baro-Bhuyan chieftains.

Cachar

The Bengali Mirashdars living in the former Kachari Kingdom were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.[4]

Bengal

The Baro-Bhuyans of Bengal ruled and maintained an independent confederacy after the fall of the Bengal Sultanate's final Karrani dynasty.[5] [6]

Mughal histories, mainly the Akbarnama, the Ain-i-Akbari and the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi refers to the low-lying regions of Bengal as Bhati. This region includes the Bhagirathi to the Meghna River is Bhati, while others include Hijli, Jessore, Chandradwip and Barisal Division in Bhati. Keeping in view the theatre of warfare between the Bara-Bhuiyans and the Mughals, the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi mentions the limits of the area bounded by the Ichamati River in the west, the Ganges in the south, the Tripura to the east; Alapsingh pargana (in present Mymensingh District) and Baniachong in the north. The Bara-Bhuiyans rose to power in this region and put up resistance to the Mughals, until Islam Khan Chisti made them submit in the reign of Jahangir.

Notables with the surname

Variants

Places

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ghosh, G. K. . Legends of Origin of the Castes and Tribes of Eastern India . 2000 . Firma KLM . 978-81-7102-046-1 . 181 . en.
  2. Book: Origin of the Baro-Bhuiyans: The Comprehensive History of Assam. Neog. M. in Barpujari, H. K. (ed.). Assam Publication Board. 1992. Guwahati, India. 47–66.
  3. Book: Nath, D. History of the Koch Kingdom. Mittal Publications. 1989. Delhi. 1475–1615.
  4. Book: Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division. Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms . 406–408. https://archive.org/details/principalheadsh00unkngoog/page/n419. 1868. Calcutta. E M Lewis. Calcutta Central Press Company.
  5. Book: Lahiri . N . the Pre-Ahom Roots of Medieval Assam . June 1985 . Guwahati: Assam Publication Board . Assam, India . 27–92.
  6. Web site: Bara-Bhuiyans, The – Banglapedia. en.banglapedia.org. 2019-07-02.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bhuiyan".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.