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Bhuiyan

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 .

Isa Khan was the chief of the Bengali Baro-Bhuyans
PronunciationBhui-yan
Language(s)Assamese, Bengali, Sylheti
Origin
Region of originAssam, Bengal
Other names
Alternative spellingBhuiya, Bhuyan, Bhuya
Cognate(s)Bhuyan
Popularitysee popular names

Etymology

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

History

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Main article: Baro-Bhuyan

Assam

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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.[2] Historical record of Raut-Kuchi grant (1329 A.D.) shows that western Brahmaputra valley comes from Adi-Bhuiyan group's Purushottam Dasa's grandfather Basudeva, who was a minister of Kamata king Indranarayan, who commanded a thousand men and war elephants.[2] 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.[3][2] Adi- Bhuiyan group maintained status quo with most faith-based ideologies.[2] Adi-Bhuiyan group's later foundation became known as Baro-Bhuyan chieftains.[2]

Cachar

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The Bengali Mirashdars[note 1] living in the former Kachari Kingdom were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.[5]

Bengal

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The Baro-Bhuyans of Bengal ruled and maintained an independent confederacy after the fall of the Bengal Sultanate's final Karrani dynasty.[6][7]

Mughal histories, mainly the Akbarnama, the Ain-i-Akbari and the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi refers to the low-lying regions of Bengal as Bhati[2]. This region includes the Bhagirathi to the Meghna River is Bhati, while others include Hijli, Jessore, Chandradwip and Barisal Division in Bhati.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]

Notables with the surname

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Variants

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Places

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mirashdar is a term referring to a landowner who pays taxes directly to the government.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Ghosh, G. K. (2000). Legends of Origin of the Castes and Tribes of Eastern India. Firma KLM. p. 181. ISBN 978-81-7102-046-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Neog, M (1992). Barpujari, H. K. (ed.). Origin of the Baro-Bhuiyans: The Comprehensive History of Assam. Guwahati, India: Assam Publication Board. pp. 47–66.
  3. ^ a b Nath, D (1989). History of the Koch Kingdom. Delhi: Mittal Publications. pp. 1475–1615.
  4. ^ Laskar, Nitish Ranjan (1985). Mahishya Das of Cachar and their Social Background. Proceedings of North East India History Association. North East India History Association. p. 456.
  5. ^ E M Lewis (1868). "Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms". Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division. Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press Company. pp. 406–408.
  6. ^ Lahiri, N (June 1985). the Pre-Ahom Roots of Medieval Assam. Assam, India: Guwahati: Assam Publication Board. pp. 27–92.
  7. ^ "Bara-Bhuiyans, The". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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