The Namasudras are recognized as the lower caste people of East Bengal (now Bangladesh). There are lots of theories regarding the origin of Namasudras. The Namasudras constituted the largest agrarian caste in East Bengal. With the help of Sri Harichand Thakur and his son Guruchand Thakur of Matua sect, the Namasudras gradually emerged as a well organized community so as to successfully challenge the hegemony of Hindu ritual order and the domination of high caste gentry in colonial Bengal.
Namasudra, Namasmuni, Brahmanic Hegemony Matua, Harichand, Census, Chandal
