| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Presidency Division (included Khulna Division then) • Burdwan Division (incl. Medinipur Division) • Rajshahi Division (incl. Malda Division) • Dhaka Division | ~2.38 million (around a quarter of province's Hindu population c. 1931) |
| Languages | |
| Bengali | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism | |
Mahishya (IAST: Māhiṣya) is a Bengali Hindu traditionally agrarian caste,[1][2] and formed the largest caste in undivided Bengal.[3] Mahisyas were, and still are, extremely diverse caste consisting of all possible classes in terms of material conditions and ranks.[4][5]
- ^ Society, Indian Anthropological (2005). Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. The Society. pp. 187–191.
- ^ Man and Life. Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology. 1992.
- ^ Sarma, Jyotirmoyee (1980). Caste Dynamics Among the Bengali Hindus. Firma KLM. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-8364-0633-7.
- ^ Pfeffer, Georg; Behera, Deepak Kumar (1997). Contemporary Society: Developmental issues, transition, and change. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-642-0.
- ^ Bandyopadhyay, Sekhar (12 July 2023). "Caste and politics in (West) Bengal". Contemporary South Asia: 4. doi:10.1080/09584935.2023.2229751. S2CID 259862847.