Name: Toton Biswas
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-1, January-June 2026
Page Number: 151-161
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19284453

ABSTRACT:
The Namasudras are one of the Scheduled Castes of India; they are primarily inhabitants of Greater Bengal. In the context of Partition, due to the division of Bengal, they became divided. Through the ideology propagated by Harichand Thakur and the leadership of Guruchand Thakur, they emerged as the Matua community. Now the questions are- has any ideological evolution actually taken place among this marginalized population? However, it is not beyond question whether all Namasudras are Matua? or whether all Matuas are Namasudra? Just as society and culture are deeply interconnected, similarly, Namasudras and Matuas have often coexisted in terms of social position. Not only Namasudras, but over time people from various castes and communities have embraced the Matua faith. In the context of time and place, the Matua religion has, in a sense, evolved into a religion of universal humanity; and the Namasudra society has also undergone transformation.

Keywords: Namasudra, Matua, Society, Caste, Religion, Marginal