This document summarizes a study on the socioeconomic conditions of boatsmen in Rishra ferry ghat in West Bengal, India. It discusses two main groups of boatsmen - the indigenous Kaibartya community and immigrant Malla community from Bihar. Data was collected through surveys of 10 boatsmen from each group. The Kaibartya community engages mainly in fishing while the Malla community works in ferry services. Both groups face economic challenges and health issues. With changes in transportation, their livelihoods are threatened unless support is provided. The study aims to understand their current conditions and recommend solutions to problems.

1. Presented by
Moumita Dey
Jrf fellow,Dept of Geography
University of Calcutta

2. Introduction: Boats man are the unique social group of India.In
ancient time they had a great influence on Indian economy.In
Ramayana and mahabharata, we have read about their own kingdom.
Even the powerful kingdom always tried to maintain a cordial
relationship with them. In bengal, Boatsman were very poweful.Their
leader diboyk played a vital role to destroy the powerful pal dynasty.In
Bengal, boatsman mainly belongs to kaibartya cast(jaliya kaibartya).In
colonial period, some bihari boats man came to bengal in search for a
job .They mainly settled down at jute industrial belt of
24pgs.Inhabitants boatsman were involved in fishing while the
immigrants were appointed in ferry service there.As the time changed
and new and modern transport medium has been discovered,malla
and majhi both these two groups have to adopt new strategy to
survive in this new era of rapid urbanisation.

3. Study area:I have collected my data at rishra ferryghat of howrah which
connected with
Khardah ferryghat of north 24 pgs by ferry service.This is one of the most ancient
ferry ghat of Bengal.We have find its name in the manasamangal kabya of
ketakadas khemananda.It has been written that famous sailor and businessman
chand saudagar
Passed from this ghat to reach his destination.The first jutemill was set up in rishra
in the year 1894.Rani rashmani (founder of dakhineswar) gave free licence to the
boatsman of this ghat. They did not have to pay levy to the British government upto
Bali.Now Rishra is one of the developed municipal town of Howrah district.This
ferry ghat has wittnessed the whole evolution of this ancient place.

4. Study area
map:

5. Methodology: I have collected data from ten boatsman of eacgroup(jalia
and kaibartya).I have applied random sampling method to collect
data.Then data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively.I have found
homogenous data so cartographic presentation has not been made based
on these data.

6. Objective:
I have tried to understand the present socio economic condition of suburban
Boatsman.
I have classified them into different cateogory according to nature of their
Profession.
I have find out their problems and try to suggest some solutions
Limmitation:
Boats man were not ready to co operate with me.
Seasonal data have not been collected.
I was not allowed to take phographs of the boatsman

7. Who are kaibartya:
In Manusanhita,it has been written that kaibartya is the child of khatriya
father and baishya mother. According to Risley the word kaibartya derived
from the word ka(water) and Varta(livelihood).According to historian
Jagabandhu Ghosh, kaibartya and mahishya of bengal are the same .Kaibartya
are two types-jalia(fishermen),Haliya (cultivators).
Who are malla?
In northern states of India boatsman are known as malla.They
are also two types-Hindu and Muslim .This community is also found in
Pakistan and Nepal.

8. Malla:
Demography:
In rishra pherry ghat all the mallas are Hindu.
They are scheduled caste.
Their age ranges from 50-70
They can speak hindi and bengali.
They migrated from Uttarpradesh and Bihar.
Their ancestors came here at the time of colonial period.
They live in nuclears families.
80% of them have two children.
Early marriage is prevelant among boys and girls in their society.

9. Economic condition:
They have been in this profession for last 20 years.
As they are illeterate,it is not possible for them to find another suitable
substitute profession instead of boating. A private organisition is in charge of
the ferry service .Malla get their monthly salary timely.Even the private
company appointed the family member of the mallah if they are not able to
continue their job.They earn 6000-8000 rupees per month.They takes three
trips per day.
Home environment:
They live in pakka bari.They have electricity connction and tubewell in their
houses.They have valid voter card and ration card.They use stove for cooking.

10. Culture:
They wear lungi and shirt.
Roti and vegetables are their main food items.
They are vegetarian.
River ganga,surya,and tulsi are their main deities.
They also participate in durga and kalipuja with local people.
In chat puja they worship surya with family members.
In their society,dowry system is exist till now.
Health :
Elderly mallahs have artheritis .
They do not have clear vision.
They take homeopathy medicine.
Sometimes doctors who use ferry service ,provide them free allopathy medicine.

11. MALLA
Tulsi
mancha
and jety

12. Majhi:
Demographic characteristics:
Jele majhi are mainly middle aged people.
They are jaliya kaibartya by caste.
They migrated from Bangladesh to India on the eve of partition.
They speak in bongali dialect (east bengali).
Elderly majhi are illeterate but new generation are educated.
They all live in nuclear family.
Economic condition:
Fishing is their only occupation .
It is not their permanentJob.
They are mainly seen at the time of february to september.
They work as Labour and mason in rest of period of the year.
They stay at their boats for 7 to 8 hours at a strech.
Morning and afternoon is the perfect timing for fishing.
They carry their lunch with them.
They catch hilsa fish and rainy season is the peak time for their profit.

13. Home environment:
Majhis are the local resident .
They live in a pakka house.
They have electricity connection and
tube well.
They have televisions in their houses.
Culture:
Majhi are hindu.
They wear lungi and shirt.
Rice and fish is the main food.
Some majhis are vaishnavs.
Every day they worship Ganga.
Some elderly majhis know famous “Sari
gaan”.

14. Majhi by profession:
There are some majhis who are not boatsman by birth.
They involved in some other profession but when the ferry service was
handed over to the private company they joined it.
They were working as rickshwala before this.
As their new job has fixed salary they are happy in this profession.

15. Dingi majhi Ferry majhi Majhi by
profession
Now a days they
are seen in a very
numbers in ferry
ghat.
Their job seeks
strong devotion.
Their next
generation do not
want to continue
this profession any
more.
This group is
mainly seen in
ghats.
They live in a
community at a
certain place
adjacent to ghat.
They have a mixed
feelings.They will
continue their job
if their salary will
be increased
They are local
people.
They are involved
in other part time
profession.
It is the way to
earn extra,so they
want to continue
it.

16. Dinga
majhi(fisherman
)
Ferry
majhi(Malla)
Majhi by
profession
They do not have
mordern
equipments and
fishing boats.
They have to sell
their fishes to the
middlemen and
they do not get
actual price of
fishes.
They are not able
to continue their
work after a
certain age and if
their next
generation do not
want to join ferry
service, they will
have to face
difficulties to
spend their
livelihood.
They want
financial help
from government .
They need proper
training.
Problems and recommendation:

17. Conclusion:
we never deny the importance of the boats man.For example,if anyone want to go
From khardah to rishra by train or bus,it will take more than two hours.But in ferry
service it can be done within 15 minutes.
On the other hand dingi majhi supplies fish to the market.In local market one can
buy fish at minimum price while exported fishes are always expensive.
They are carrier of boatsman culture.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO SAVE THIS SOCIAL GROUPS BY PROVIDING THEM
BETTER FACILITIES.

18. Lterature review:
Risley;Herber(1892),The Tribes and Castes of Bengal:Ethnographic
Glossary,Bengal Secretariat press,pp 376
Sanyal;Durgachandra,Banglar samajik Itihas,Model publishing
House,Kolkata=73
Das;Gokulchandra(2004),Chabbis Parganar A ncholik
Itihas,Progressive Publishing,Clg strt,Kol=73

19. Acknowlwdgement:
I am thankful to my guide Dr. Nilanjana Das for her guidance and
support
I am thankful to the boats man of Rishra ferry ghat.
I want to express my thanks to the officials of Rishra-Khardah ferry
service.
I am thankful to my friends Arpita and puja to help me in survey.
I AM THANKFUL TO THE SCREENING COMMITTEE OF NAGI
NATIONALCONFERENCE AS THEY HAVE SELECTED MY PAPER FOR
PRESENTSTION