Musahar | |
---|---|
Religions | Hinduism |
Languages | Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili |
Country | India, Nepal, Bangladesh |
Original state | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand |
Region | Eastern Gangetic Plain and the Terai |
Family names | Manjhi |
Notable members | Dashrath Manjhi, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Bhagwati Devi |
Musahar or Mushahar[1] (Nepali: मुसहर जाति) are a Dalit community found in the eastern Gangetic plain and the Terai. They are also known as Rishidev, Sada, Manjhi, Banbasi.[2] The other names of the Musahar are Bhuiyan and Rajawar.[3] Their name literally means 'rats-ridder' due to their main former occupation of catching rats, and there are many who are still forced to do this work due to destitution and poverty.