Nath (surname)

Nath is an Indian surname, commonly found among Bengali Hindus and Assamese Hindus. 'Nath' community belongs to the Yogi-Nath group and are listed as Other Backward Class in West Bengal.[1] Prior to independence, census statistics rarely included the caste name Nath. 19th-century British sources mentioned that castes known as jogis or jugis existed in Bengal, Punjab and Rajputana. The Naths, however, were one of the six subgroups of Jogi in the Rajasthan Hindi census. Some sources claim that Jogis held a low position during the 19th century. They appear to be particularly linked to failed ascetics and weavers who are often of lower status.[2] In Assam, Yogi (nath) were historically known for drumming, now agriculture is their main occupation.[3] In the state of Himachal Pradesh they are classified as Scheduled Caste under India's Reservation system.[4]

  1. ^ "List of Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) Recognized by Govt. of West Bengal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-13.
  2. ^ Nath, M. N. (1993). A Carnival of Parting: The Tales of King Bharthari and King Gopi Chand as Sung and Told by Madhu Natisar Nath of Ghatiyali, Rajasthan. United States: University of California Press. p. 51.
  3. ^ Dikshit, K., Dikshit, J. K. (2013). North-East India: Land, People and Economy. Netherlands: Springer Netherlands.p. 397
  4. ^ "List of Scheduled Castes".