Brahmin Women

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Brahmins are considered as a caste of highest order in accordance to Hindu Chaturbama system. Though it is normally believed that the Brahmin is a single community, it is not actually so. Besides geographical and linguistic divisions this community is divided and sub- divided into a number of fractions. This aspect is discussed in the book besides mythological stories connected with the origin of this supreme caste. Though considered as supreme caste, the women of this group suffers the most particularly after implementation of Manu Smriti. At the same time social and economic changes had verious impact on them more so on women. There was both positive as well as negative impact. The book discusses all these aspects in details considering backgrounds in all respect and suggests suitable action plan with the thought that planners may think appropriate to help the women of Brahmin community to come up.

G. K. GHOSH, a Graduate in Chemical Engineering is presently Director, Khadi & Village Industries Commission. A well read and well experienced person having multidisciplinary knowledge. He had presented over twenty papers in various annual sessions of Indian Science Congress in the section of Anthropology and Archaeology He has contributed in a proposed Encyclopaedia on tribes to be brought out by National Institute of Rural Development. A prolific writer who has already written over twenty books of various subjects like women development, anthropology. Environment, renewable energy. developmental perspective. beekeeping and textiles. He had already written over thirty articles in Oriya, Bengali and English published in periodicals of repute He is now also holding charge of UNDP Sponsored Leather Project in West Bengal in addition to normal assignment. SHUKLA GHOSH, a graduate from University of Calcutta. She had presented over three papers in various annual sessions of India Science Congress in the section of Anthropology and Archaeology. She had written over five books of various subjects and few out of there are already published. A prolific singer who had grounding both in classical as well as Rabindra Sangeet.

Brahmins as a class are considered to be the highest class of people in Hindu social order in accordance to the chaturvarnas system. They were supposed to carry out various duties mostly connected with culture and intellectuality. They were also considered as important persons in administration right from village to kingdom since most of the ministers were Brahmins.

Within the Hindu social system Brahmins stand apart with their own code of ethics, rituals and social system. Due to the higher position in the society their social ego also plays important role while they choose the professions even when situation changes. This problem, both social and psychological has adverse effect on Brahmin women and Brahmins living below poverty line. That is precisely the reason why there is need to study about problems of Brahmin women more closely and to arrive at some suggestion.

Contrary to normal belief, Brahmins are not a single community. Apart from linguistic divisions due to geographical situation, within same linguistic groups of Brahmins there are several divisions and every division has their own status in respect to other division, accordingly rituals, social system and so on also varies up to certain extent. Sometime marriage between the groups used to taboo although this taboo is gradually breaking.

Within such complex socio-religious system women of the community suffer both socially and economically.