Wikipedia Debunk
Refuting the Unsupported Shudra Claims
Are Bhumihars Vaishyas? Were they ever classified as Shudras or Vaishyas in any British census or document?
No, Bhumihars were never classified as Shudras or Vaishyas in any document or British Censuses. Every classification is given below with photos from Indian Census records conducted by the British.
Someone named Jeffrey Witsoe wrote a book falsely claiming that Bhumihars were classified as Shudras in some censuses conducted during the British era. He neither mentioned the year nor quoted any alleged text. He simply made a baseless claim without revealing the census year or providing any clue whatsoever, not even a reference to any document.
Note: The Wikipedia page of Bhumihars has used the same book by Jeffrey Witsoe for mentioning that Bhumihars were classified as Shudras in an early British census, without any primary reference or even year of that alleged census.
To verify his unsupported claims, we searched through the records of every Indian census conducted by the British, examined every caste classification, and found that Bhumihars were never classified as Shudras, or even Vaishyas, in any census record, or for that matter, in any other British document.
The actual classification of Bhumihars in every census conducted by the British is given below, with actual photos of census documents, links and references.
1831 – Survey by James Prinsep
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Kshatriya (with Khatris)
Remarks: In this categorisation attempt by James Prinsep in 1831, Bhumihars along with Khatris were classified as Kshatriyas, not as Vaishya or Shudra.
Source: Benares Illustrated – James Prinsep
1865 – North-West Provinces Census
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Either Kshatriya or Brahmin (varies by division)
Division Breakdown:
- Jaunpur – Separately Bhumihar
- Azamgarh – Kshatriya
- Gorakhpur – Brahmins
- Benares – Brahmins
Remarks: It was not a nationwide census; it was only conducted for a select few provinces, and Bhumihars were not classified as Shudras or even Vaishyas in the 1865 census — they were either grouped with Kshatriyas or Brahmins.
Source: Census of the N.W. Provinces 1865
1872 – Bengal Province Census
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Below Rajputs and Brahmins, but placed above every other caste in Bengal Province (explicitly styled "Military Brahmans")
Remarks: In the 1872 census, the British did not place Bhumihars (Babhans) under the Vaishya or Shudra varna, nor did they assign them to any varna. However, since Bhumihars were listed after Brahmins and Rajputs, readers often assume they were therefore classified as Vaishyas. This assumption is incorrect, because Vaishyas are described entirely separately from Bhumihars at point 51 (Trading Classes), pages 171–172, after Baidyas and Kayasthas. In contrast, Bhumihars were discussed separately at point 46, placed before, and entirely distinct from, Kayasthas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Baidyas. They were described as first among the intermediate castes, explicitly termed "Military Brahmans," and stated to enjoy a higher position than any other caste except Brahmans and Rajputs.
Source: Report on the Census of Bengal 1872
1881 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Same as 1872 (Military Brahmans)
Remarks: The serial ordering within a category in this table is not indicative of caste rank; it is based on the alphabetical order of names. Wherever serial ordering corresponds to social rank, this is noted separately (and is not the case here).
Source: Census India Catalog 31865
1891 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Patrician Clans (Bihar) / Military & Dominant (UP)
Remarks: In the 1891 census, Babhans/Bhumihars were classified with Tyagis, Rajputs, Jats, and Brahmins in Bihar and UP. Vaishyas and Shudras were classified separately, and while many castes fell under those categories, Babhans/Bhumihars did not.
Sources: Archive.org | Census India Catalog 32386
1901 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation of Bhumihars: Group II (defined as the class allied to Brahmins)
Remarks: In the 1901 census, Bhumihars were placed above Rajputs, Kayasthas, and Vaishyas — clearly not classified as Vaishya or Shudra. The serial order denotes social ranking, as evident from the title of the table, "Caste, Tribe and Race by Social Precedence." Bhumihars were classed as a caste allied to Brahmins and thus placed in Group II. The census also noted that the general public viewed Bhumihars as superior to the Rajputs.
Note: Not every table in a census uses serial ordering to denote social ranking. However, the 1901 table is explicitly titled "by social precedence," meaning the ordering in this case denotes social ranking.
Sources: Archive.org Link 1 | Archive.org Link 2
1911 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation: Bhumihar Brahman
Source: Census India Catalog 28207
1921 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation: Bhumihar Brahman
Source: Archive.org
1931 – Indian Empire Census
Categorisation: Bhumihar Brahman
Source: Census India Catalog 31806
