Explore the history of the Dhekaru community, a marginalized group of iron smelters in Birbhum (West Bengal) and Jamtara (Jharkhand). This article traces their fall from being skilled artisans making cannons and matchlocks for the East India Company (McKay & Co.) to being labeled a Criminal Tribe under the CTA 1871 after the factory closed in 1856. We examine the current social stigma where they are viewed as "thieves" and live in isolated hamlets, speaking the Khotta language. The post also highlights the bureaucratic confusion regarding their caste status - whether they are Scheduled Caste (SC) or OBC - and their reliance on AAY ration cards for survival. Based on Anthropological Survey of India data, this is a deep dive into the impact of colonial de-industrialization.
The Dhekaru community presents a striking narrative of industrial collapse and social exclusion. Straddling the border between West Bengal (Birbhum district) and Jharkhand (Jamtara district), this small community of approximately 3,000 people is currently being studied to understand how a group of highly skilled artisans was reduced to a stigmatized existence under the colonial Criminal Tribes Act (CTA) of 1871.
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| Dhekaru community: Iron smelters from Birbhum (WB) and Jamtara |
Masters of Metal: A Martial Heritage
The Dhekaru were not always on the fringes. Historical records and oral traditions suggest they migrated from the Chotanagpur plateau between the 13th and 15th centuries. They were renowned iron smelters and smiths, possessing the high-level skills required to manufacture portable cannons, matchlocks, swords, and spears.
Their expertise was so valuable that they were employed by the East India Company (McKay & Co.) at Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum until 1856. During this period, they were essential industrial laborers, crushing ore and smelting sponge iron for the colonial machinery.
The Collapse: 1856 and the Birth of a "Criminal Tribe"
The destiny of the Dhekaru changed overnight with the closure of the McKay Company’s unit in 1856. Suddenly, nearly 1,500 skilled smelters lost their jobs. With no agricultural land and their specialized trade rendered obsolete, the community faced starvation.
Driven by desperation, many turned to petty thievery and highway dacoity to survive. The British administration, rather than addressing the economic roots of this shift, labeled them a Criminal Tribe under the CTA of 1871. This label transformed a community of master craftsmen into social pariahs.
Living in the Shadow of Stigma
Today, the legacy of that label persists. The Dhekaru live in separate hamlets away from main villages, isolated by a "social fence" of suspicion.
- Social Exclusion: Neighbors from other communities, including the Santal, Dom, and Bagdi, often treat them as suspects or potential informers for thieves. They generally do not allow Dhekaru women to enter their homes.
- Language: They maintain a distinct linguistic identity, speaking Sadri amongst themselves and a mix of Bengali and Hindi known as Khotta with outsiders.
The Bureaucratic Maze: SC or OBC?
Economically, the community is in dire straits, with many families holding AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) cards, indicating the poorest of the poor. However, their path to state support is blocked by confusion.
- While a few families have managed to obtain Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates - allegedly due to political connections - the official stance of the local administration (Block Development Officer) is that the Dhekaru, as blacksmiths/Lohars, fall under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category.
- This lack of a unified classification prevents the majority from accessing the full range of constitutional benefits and housing schemes they desperately need.