History of Bind caste

Bind tribe
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They originate from the Vindhya hills in central India. According to their traditions, the daughter of Nisadh, on the way to her husband's house, was passing by a river, when she was charmed by a river nymph. She was taught to make a reed mat by the nymph. The community has since been involved in the manufacture of reed mats, which are as chatai. The Bind are sub-divided into seven occupational groups. These sub-groups are the Suraia, Nisadh, Kulawat, Mallaah, Guria, Kewat and Bind proper. Each of these sub-groups have specialized occupations. The speciality of the Kewat, Nisadh and Kulawat is to catch fish. The Mallaah and Guria are traditionally boatmen. Bind community also claim that they belong to Siṃha community. [3]

In Bihar, according to their traditions, the Bind once belonged to the Noniya caste. The Noniya were forced to become grave diggers by the early Muslim rulers, while the ancestors of the Bind fled to the forests, and evolved into a distinct community.In Uttar Pradesh they are known as Bind ,Nunera chamar and Beldar. They have two sub-divisions, the Noniya, Jethaut and the Kharaut. They are found in the districts of Samastipur, Begusarai, Darbhanga and Saran. [4]
[edit]Present circumstances

The main occupation of the Bind has remained the manufacture of reed mats. They collect reed from the river banks. The community are entirely landless, but many are sharecroppers. The Kewat Bind are essentially fishermen, while other sub-groups are involved in the rasing of milch cattle.
The Bind have a traditional caste council, and like other occupational castes, maintains strict social control, over members. The Bind are Hindu, and customs similar to other similar groupings such as the Kewat. They are concentrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and speak Bhojpuri.[5]
In Bihar, the Jethaut are mainly engaged in fishing, well sinking and basket making, the Noniya are salt manufacturers, while the Kharaut are mainly farmers. They speak the Maithili dialect of Hindi.[6]