Who are the original Bengalis or the Adi Bengalis ?

Who are the original Bengalis or the Adi Bengalis ?

These original Bengalees. 

They are 

(1) Kaevartta, 

(2) Mahato, 

(3) Gope, 

(4) Namashudra, 

(5) Rajbanshis

(6) Cakmas´. 

The Ca´kmas are the original Bengalees. Today, unfortunately, the same Ca´kmas are treated as tribal people of the hills. These six communities comprised the original Bengalees.”

“The original inhabitants of Bangalistan include the Rajbanshis from North Bengal; the Mahatos from Ra´r´h; the Cakmas from Chattagram and Tripura; the Mahisyas from Midnapore and 24 Paraganas; the Sadgopes from Birbhum; the Namashudras from Jessore and Khulna; and the Ugra Ks´atriyas from Burdwan. These original Bengalees may be called the “Jata Bengalees”.

The proof that these communities are the original Bengalees is that they are situated in numerous adjacent villages throughout the regions they inhabit. Village after village of these original inhabitants are located together. They do not populate one or two isolated villages, nor are there merely several people from these communities scattered in a few villages throughout the region. This proves the the local people were consolidated in particular areas. In contrast, the Brahmins and the Kayasthas are found in only a few villages and are few in number, thus we cannot be sure that they are the original inhabitants of Bengal. They may have come from other parts of Bengal to do some special kind of work, as priests for example, or they may have come from outside Bengal.

Whenever any developmental programme for Bengal, one should keep the interests of the Ja´ta Bengalees uppermost, as they are the original inhabitants and taken together comprise the majority community. If they are benefited, the whole of Bengal will be benefited.

The original name of the Bengali community was “Kaebarta” meaning “a community of fishermen”. They were divided into five groups – the Namashudras in the east; the Rajabangshir in the north; the Mahisyas in the south; the Sadgopes in the northern part; and the Mahatos in the west. Mahato came from “Mahatma”. These original five communities were not tribals.

by Amra Bangali