Ethnic group at stake

Members of the Musahar community in Nilphamari. Photo: Star

Denied their identity by the authorities, the Musahar community is on the verge of cultural extinction. Living in two villages on the Nilphamari – Dinajpur border, the ethnic group consists of just 85 families and 400 individuals. The head of their community is called the Mondol.
The oldest Musahar, Dhiren Rikhiason, 83, told the Daily Star his forefathers were brought to Bengal from the remote Bihari jungle by the British to work on railway construction. “Our people were treated by rail contractors almost as slaves,” he said, “They faced whipping and hard labour in exchange for worm-eaten wheat, rice, kaun grain or chhatu flour.”
After the railway was completed the Musahar were abandoned and began to eke out a living in forest clearings, settling in small groups. The Musahar relied on jungle food including roots, tree stems, water lilies and a kind of jungle corn called marua, which was ground into a sticky paste and eaten with snails. Their favourite food, however, is rat meat which is used for entertaining guests and features at festivals.
Despite having their own language and distinct customs, the Musahar are mistakenly considered a part of the Santal community by the government. “Santals live by hunting but our tradition is catching and trading snakes,” said Ramdas Rikhi, the present Mondol of the Musahar, “Santals eat mongoose, fox and wild cat but we don't.  Their language is different from ours.” In addition, while the Musahar are nature worshippers who perform Jitua, Fagua and Karma pujas, Santals do not.

A Musahar family eat roasted rat meat. Photo: Star

Swapan Bhuyan, an adviser of the Bangladesh Adivasi Samiti, the ethnic minorities' association, said although the Musahar have their own identity they are treated as Santals in government papers. For this reason the community is neglected. Santals are darker in complexion than Musahars, he added.
With little research having been done on the Musahar, it has not even been determined if they are an Austro-Mongolian or Austro-Dravidian people.
Deprived of government recognition and support, the situation of the Musahar is bleak. With the government ban on snake trading the Musahar have turned to agricultural labour and working in brick kilns, and they are sometimes forced to undertake hazardous work for little pay by influential locals. In many cases their cattle are snatched and Bangalee hoodlums beat them, and when Musahar women are raped they must often go without remedy.
ATM Ziaul Huq, the UNO of Khansama upazila in Dinajpur, admitted there are differences between Santals and Musahars in physical appearance, colour, language and lifestyle. However, according to government documents, he said, the Musahar are considered as a branch of the Santal community.
Swapan Bhuyan, an adviser of the Bangladesh Adivasi Samiti, the ethnic minorities' association, said although the Musahar have their own identity they are treated as Santals in government papers. For this reason the community is neglected. Santals are darker in complexion than Musahars, he added.
With little research having been done on the Musahar, it has not even been determined if they are an Austro-Mongolian or Austro-Dravidian people.
Deprived of government recognition and support, the situation of the Musahar is bleak. With the government ban on snake trading the Musahar have turned to agricultural labour and working in brick kilns, and they are sometimes forced to undertake hazardous work for little pay by influential locals. In many cases their cattle are snatched and Bangalee hoodlums beat them, and when Musahar women are raped they must often go without remedy.
ATM Ziaul Huq, the UNO of Khansama upazila in Dinajpur, admitted there are differences between Santals and Musahars in physical appearance, colour, language and lifestyle. However, according to government documents, he said, the Musahar are considered as a branch of the Santal community.