Dhangad (scavenging cleaner) a low caste socially and religiously designated for handling dead bodies and other unclean jobs. Locally, they are also called methar (scavenger), bhuimali (sweeper) or jhadudar (dustman). Dhangad literally means farmer or raiser of livestock. The two components of the word are dhan (paddy) and gad (husking hole). Initially, dhangads lived in the wide grazing land along the Karha valley. Their chief livelihood was farming and rearing livestock. Later, they left South India and spread to different parts of the subcontinent. With migration, their profession also changed. Eventually, they left farming and livestock breeding and took up the jobs of cleaning dirt and rubbish.
In the caste system based on the Hindu religion, there were certain very depressed lower group professionals who lived in different parts of ancient India and Bengal and continued to survive in later periods. Such groups include leatherworkers, blacksmiths, potters, fishermen, hunters, weavers, cremators, and gypsies. dhangads were placed as the pancham (fifth) class after the top four classes of brahman, ksatriya, vaishya and shudra. They were regarded as 'low-born' and were treated as untouchables. Despite the fact that in the early twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) renamed low-born people, including dhangads, as Harijans (children of God), the situation had not changed much. Veteran political leader B R Ambedkar (1891-1956), himself a low-born, could not succeed either, despite his efforts to improve the social condition of the Harijans.
After the formation of the Dhaka Committee in 1830 and the Dhaka Municipality in 1864, the city authorities undertook the work of cleaning along with various other responsibilities of city life. As part of this arrangement, dhangads got the job of cleaning night soil and dirt on the basis of daily wages or as salaried labourers. At later stages, dhangads or methars were employed in other towns of Bangladesh too.
dhangads migrating to Bangladesh from different parts of India can be divided into three categories: Madraji, Kanpuri and Nagpuri. They have some differences in lifestyle and social system. The spoken language of the Madrajis is either Telegu or Tamil. The Nagpuris and Kanpuris speak Hindi or a mixture of Hindi and Urdu. The traditional dresses of dhangad men include dhutis, turbans and sleeveless coats. But nowadays they put on lungis, trousers, and shirts. Women wear saris and blouses. As ornaments, they use earrings, girdles, necklaces, bangles, crescent necklaces, nose-pins, chains, heavy metal rings etc. Male dhangads draw tattoos of snakes, bears, lions, tigers and bulls on their bodies as symbols of bravery. Women, on the other hand, draw tattoos of flowers of various kinds on their bodies. Dhangads are fond of pork and wine. Many dhangads rear pigs for profit.
Dhangads are not very concerned about education, development and welfare. Some welfare organisations for them were formed by some conscious and sympathetic persons. In 1873, the Satyasadhak Samaj (Association of Truth Seekers) was formed in Maharashtra, India. In 1892, the Madras Adi Dravid Janasabha (Madras People's Society of Aborigine Dravidians) was founded. The All India Anti-Untouchables League was established in 1932 at Mahatma Gandhi's initiative. This organisation came to be known as the Harijan Sebak Sangha (Association for serving Harijans). At the initiative of B R Ambedkar, a labour organisation for dhangads was formed in 1936. The Scheduled Castes Federation was founded in 1942. In Dhaka, the Dhaka District Dhangad Union was formed in 1936 and the Harijan Sebak Samiti in 1941. [Anupam Hayat]
In the caste system based on the Hindu religion, there were certain very depressed lower group professionals who lived in different parts of ancient India and Bengal and continued to survive in later periods. Such groups include leatherworkers, blacksmiths, potters, fishermen, hunters, weavers, cremators, and gypsies. dhangads were placed as the pancham (fifth) class after the top four classes of brahman, ksatriya, vaishya and shudra. They were regarded as 'low-born' and were treated as untouchables. Despite the fact that in the early twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) renamed low-born people, including dhangads, as Harijans (children of God), the situation had not changed much. Veteran political leader B R Ambedkar (1891-1956), himself a low-born, could not succeed either, despite his efforts to improve the social condition of the Harijans.
After the formation of the Dhaka Committee in 1830 and the Dhaka Municipality in 1864, the city authorities undertook the work of cleaning along with various other responsibilities of city life. As part of this arrangement, dhangads got the job of cleaning night soil and dirt on the basis of daily wages or as salaried labourers. At later stages, dhangads or methars were employed in other towns of Bangladesh too.
dhangads migrating to Bangladesh from different parts of India can be divided into three categories: Madraji, Kanpuri and Nagpuri. They have some differences in lifestyle and social system. The spoken language of the Madrajis is either Telegu or Tamil. The Nagpuris and Kanpuris speak Hindi or a mixture of Hindi and Urdu. The traditional dresses of dhangad men include dhutis, turbans and sleeveless coats. But nowadays they put on lungis, trousers, and shirts. Women wear saris and blouses. As ornaments, they use earrings, girdles, necklaces, bangles, crescent necklaces, nose-pins, chains, heavy metal rings etc. Male dhangads draw tattoos of snakes, bears, lions, tigers and bulls on their bodies as symbols of bravery. Women, on the other hand, draw tattoos of flowers of various kinds on their bodies. Dhangads are fond of pork and wine. Many dhangads rear pigs for profit.
Dhangads are not very concerned about education, development and welfare. Some welfare organisations for them were formed by some conscious and sympathetic persons. In 1873, the Satyasadhak Samaj (Association of Truth Seekers) was formed in Maharashtra, India. In 1892, the Madras Adi Dravid Janasabha (Madras People's Society of Aborigine Dravidians) was founded. The All India Anti-Untouchables League was established in 1932 at Mahatma Gandhi's initiative. This organisation came to be known as the Harijan Sebak Sangha (Association for serving Harijans). At the initiative of B R Ambedkar, a labour organisation for dhangads was formed in 1936. The Scheduled Castes Federation was founded in 1942. In Dhaka, the Dhaka District Dhangad Union was formed in 1936 and the Harijan Sebak Samiti in 1941. [Anupam Hayat]
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