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Basor weaving bamboo baskets in a 1916 book The Basor are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dumar, and have scheduled caste status.[1]
Origin The Basor are a sub-division within the Dom community, who were traditionally involved in the manufacture of bamboo furniture. Their name means a worker in bamboo. The Basor are found mainly in the districts of Jalaun, Hamirpur, Jhansi and Banda. They speak Bundelkhandi, although most can also understand Hindi.[2] Present circumstances The Basor practice strict community endogamy, as well as clan exogamy, which a common practice among most North Indian Hindus. Their clans are called gotras, the main ones being the Bahmangot, Dhuneb, Katahriya, Sikarwar, Samangot, Sonach and Supa. Marriages do not occur with the Muslim Bansphor community. The Basor live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste council, known as a panchayat. The panchayat is headed by a pradhan, a position which is heredity. In addition, there is an overarching panchayat of between three and four villages, which headed by a chaudhary. The panchayat resolves any intra-community dispute, as well as acting an instrument of social control. They are Hindus and have Lakshmi and Durga as their tribal deities.[3] The Basor are marginal farmers and sharecroppers. Their traditional occupation was basket making and animal husbandry. Like other artisan castes, they have seen in their traditional occupation, with a concurrent rise in the number of daily wage labourers. See also References
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