socio-economic condition of kanshari community
TRANSCRIPT
Acknowledgement
All praises go to almighty Creator, for His Mercy that makes us able to complete this study
Paper. We would like to express our sincere Gratitude and thanks to Sanjoy Kumar Chanda,
Asst. Professor, Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh, for his constant
guidance, Encouragement, cooperation and helpful suggestion in every stage of preparing the
paper. We would also like to thank the respondents and participants of Kansari community
who kindly helped us by giving many information. We are also grateful to our classmates
who helped us in various way.
Group ‘F’
Sezan Tanvir
Anamika Mitra
Nayan Moni Sarker
Farhana Sultana
Umme Homayra Liza
Sociology Discipline
Khulna University
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Abstract
This study was conducted on the Kansari community in Khulna. The main objective of the
study was to identify the socio-economic condition of the Kansari people. To construct the
dtudy, two Focus Group Discussion were used as method of data collection. Khansaris’ are
the one of the most integral parts of our Bengali culture. From the British & pre British
period this culture took a great place in our Bengali society. Though for various reasons this
culture is getting diminished but after that some people also keep this trends. In every
occasion of Hindu society the utensils of kansa takes the important part but now the picture is
getting changed day by day. Mainly the people who are involved with making utensils with
kansa or pitol they are counted as Kansari. They are not only involved with making but also
repairs it.
In Bangladesh the origin of Kansaris’ mainly indicates to Bikrompur, Dhaka & Polong,
Soriotpur. In Khulna the Kansaris’ who are involved with this profession they are mainly
lineage of those Kansaris’. There are only 3 people that I’ve found in Khulna city who are
mainly involved in this business for 3-4 generation. Beside them there are also some other
people who are involved in this business for 15-25 yrs.
Keywords
Kansari, Khulna, Caste, Socio-economic condition, Kasha
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Table of contents
Topic name Page numberAcknowledgement 1Abstract 2Keywords 2Introduction 4Methodology 5ResultsFGD 1FGD 2
6-78-9
Discussion 10-12Conclusion 13
Appendix 1Figures
14-15
Appendix 2Checklist
16
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Introduction
Bangladesh is a small country with many small communities. Which play a vital role in our
culture and tradition. But it is the matter of great regret that most of the communities are
declining day by day. Consequently our culture and tradition is also in a threat of extinction.
As there are many small communities in our society and they have different way of life. So it
is tried to know about their way of life. Among many communities Kansari is one of them
who make products with Kasha. This industry has a glorious history. Once upon a time when
products make with Kasha had a great demand. It was used as gift in various occasions like
marriage. It was used in domestic affairs too.
In Bangladesh Kansari community is found in Rajshahi, Noagon, Kustia, Bikrampur and
Shariotpur. This FGD has conducted at Shantidham more in Khulna. These people had come
Khulna for searching of life. The demand of Kasha products declined day by day. In order to
preserve their forefather occupation and tradition they shifted Khulna. It is a too small
community. There are few shops at Shantidham more.
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Methodology
A. Design: The study was conducted through the use of interview technique. Data
were collected from the Kansari respondents form the field. For in-depth study two Focus
Group Discussion are incorporated. The study is basically descriptive in nature.
B. Unit of Analysis: Kansari peoples, mainly the older people (age of 50-60 years)
and young people (age of 20-25 years).
C. Study Area: The Shantidham more area of Khulna city corporation.
D. Sampling: Purposive sampling was used to collect data from the field. To collect
primary data, total 9 samples were divided into two groups for conducting FGD.
E. Sources of data: The data were collected from two sources:
(a) Primary sources: Data were collected from the field by using qualitative
techniques like FGDs.
(b) Secondary Source: Various articles, research papers, newspapers, magazines and
internet also.
F. Data Collection from Field: Five interviewers in a group have collected data from
field.
G. Data Processing and Analysis: Data were computerized, analyzed and
interpreted by using software like MS Word.
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Results
FGD-1
It is described the condition of the aged people of the community. Here one FGD was
conducted with five members in a group. They shared the following characteristics: they
belonged within the age group of fifty to sixty; they were involved with permanent
occupation. It was observed a typical lifestyle of them.
Education: The aged people, who participated in the Focus Group Discussion, three among
them, completed the primary level of education and remaining two only can write their name.
Their financial condition is not well. Though they do not get proper education, they send their
children to school. They dream a dream that their children be fit for society through getting
proper education.
Occupation: They are mainly trader. There are many classes in trader Kongsobanik is one of
them. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik mentioned that “there are some Muslim people who involve
themselves in this occupation. They live in Bikrampur and they are very few in number”.
They mainly make Kasha products sell them and buy old utensils and repaired. They make
pitcher, bucket, water-pot, utensils and so on. It needs 1.5 to 2 kg brass to make a pitcher.
Kasha products are mainly made with copper and Rang in Kustia. But this community use
brass to make the products. They use metal polish for brightness. Porimol Bain mentioned
that “it has no side effects and it is not harmful for health”. It makes low decibel sound
which machine is used for making products.
Income: Their income is not well. They earn around 8000-10000 BDT in a month. It is not
fixed. In Bangle month Vadro, Kartik and Chaytro is the off season for Kasha products. Its
demand falls down in this month.
Food habit: Like other people they enjoyed the same dishes of meal such as rice, meat,
pulse, vegetables and so on.
Housing pattern: Their housing pattern is not so good. As their income level is poor
consequently their living place is not well structured. Their house is made of bamboo fence
with the cover of house is tin and concrete floor.
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Socio-economic condition: Their socio-economic condition is not well. The demand of
Kasha products is declining day by day. It is hard to survive for them to live with such small
income. Their income is not fixed. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik earns around 8000-10000 BDT
in a month which is not sufficient to lead a life in Khulna city.
Health facilities: They do not get proper health facilities. They have not enough money to
get better treatment. They went to quack for treatment. In excessive case, they went to
M.B.B.S doctor.
Land right: Inherently they have gotten some land but it is a matter of sorrow that all these
grasped by river Padma. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik has some land.
Political right: They are not directly related to politics. They have voting rights and they cast
their vote.
Marital status: They all are married. They celebrated outer caste marriage. In the past it was
occurred inner caste. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik mentioned, “Inner caste marriage as a
superstition”.
Religious ceremony: Most of the people who belong to Kansari communities are follower of
Hinduism. So they celebrate all religious festivals observed by Hinduism. But they do not
take part in our national festival Pahela Baishakh.
Funeral system: As they are followers of Hinduism, through burning dead body they
complete funeral rites. They express their mourn till 15 days after death.
Expectation: The demand of Kasha products is declining day by day. Because of price hike
of brass and other metal has replaced by it. There is no future in this industry. So they don’t
want that their next generation involve themselves in this industry. They want that govt. pay
special attention on their industry and community.
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FGD-2
This Focus Group Discussion was conducted on one group of four young people. Their
average age was 20-25 years. They shared the following characteristics: lower education
level mostly among young people, lower economic support, lower expectancy from
community and unwillingness of entering their traditional occupation.
Education: The young people, who participated in the Focus Group Discussion, two among
them, completed the secondary level of education and remaining two completed primary
level. Most of them don’t get proper chance for education. Samor Banik, 22 years old said
“we want to be more educated, but because of our family’s occupation, we don’t get the
chance.”
Occupation: They are mainly student. But many of them already entered in their traditional
occupation. Anand Banik mentioned that “we don’t want to enter this profession and ruin
our life; we want to involve profession like govt. service”.
Income: The young did not have a definite amount of income. Shankar kumar said, “we
don’t take definite amount of money, because, who we are working, most of us working in our
family’s shop.”
Marital status: Mostly they are unmarried. They celebrate outer caste marriage generally.
Caste system: The young people generally don’t follow caste system. They marry inside or
outside their caste both. Subol Banik mentioned, “we don’t follow our caste value, we
consider it as a false notion to marry inside caste.”
Food habit: Like other people they enjoyed the same dishes of meal such as rice, meat,
pulse, vegetables and so on.
Health facilities: They do not get proper health facilities. They have not enough money to
get better treatment. They go to quack for treatment. In excessive case, they visit local doctor.
Land right: Yong boys generally become the inherent of family property. Girls get property
in very rare cases.
Political right: They are not related to politics. They have voting rights and they cast their
vote.
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Religious ceremony: Most of the young people who belong to Kansari communities are
follower of Hinduism. So they celebrate all religious festivals observed by Hinduism. But
they do not take part in our national festival Pahela Baishakh.
Bad habit: Most of the young people of Kansari community don’t have bad habits like
taking drugs. But many of them smoke ciggarate. Some of them smoke biri and ganja.
Expectation: Most of the young people have distinct future hope that they will develop from
present condition. And they also want to be highly educated and involve in job outside their
community.
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Discussion
Most of the people of this community are Hindu. In this community mainly they called
themselves as Kangsa Banik. According to them there are four types of Baniks in their
society. They are:
Kanagsa Banik
Sonkho Banik
Swarna Banik
Gondho Banik
Mainly they are the parts of Vaisa caste. But now there are also some nomosudras i.e.
scheduled caste people also involved in this occupation.
The people of Kansari community are the people of this country. So the physical structure of
the Kansari community’s people is same as us.
The people of this community are not so much educated. Mainly the people who are involved
with this profession even they were not completed their S.S.C. But now they want to educate
their children even female child also.
The culture of Kansari community is also as same as us but after that there are also so many
differences than us they are:
They eat vegetables in every Wednesday; but this culture does not follow by all.
The main festival of this community is Biswakarma puja & lord Ganesh puja.
They do not maintain the Halkhata festival because they does not sell in borrow.
They also maintain Nil puja which occurs in the last day of Chaitra month
There dress patterns are also as same as us.
The present conditions of Kansari’s are very bad. Now a lot of people leave this profession.
The reasons are:
Lacking of raw materials
Making cost is very high
People can’t afford this types of utensils
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Availability & cheap cost of Melamine & Ceramic utensils
Migration
Involving in other profession
It’s also found that where in Bikrampur, Dhaka 25 years before where 25 families were
involved in this business now there are only 2 families are involved with this business. Now a
lot of people have migrated from Bangladesh to India. Though few of them do not change
their profession but maximum changed their profession. In the Kansari business there are
variations in their income period. In this profession there are some seasons when the income
is higher & sometimes it is being lower. Mainly in the months of Hindu marriages &
religious festivals the income is getting higher.
Example: In Bengali year, Agrayan- Falgun & Baisakh, Jaistha these months they get more
works but now this condition id also changed because very few people can afford this types
of goods.
The living condition is also not satisfactory. They are fighting against poverty. The monthly
income of a Kansari is hardly 5000-5500 or highest 9000-10000 tk. It is very tough for
anyone to pass a family life with this little income. Most of this community people lived in
Semi Paka houses. In Khulna they lived in rental houses. Some of them buy lands in their
own villages but that are very little in size.
Before long time in Bengali society it was happened that the upper caste Hindu people
counted lower caste people as untouchable. But now the condition is totally changed. Now
there is a good contact between all these communities. Even now they made family relations
between several communities.
The main recreational activities of original Kansari community people were playing pasha
games. But now this culture is totally diminished. After living in cities for a long time they
also adopt the city recreational activities.
The Socio economic conditions of the Kansari community are not so much good. Everyone
lives in poor condition. The conditions are described below:
The people cannot afford a good life.
They don’t have their own lands.
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As a member of minority community they faced so much problems & negligence.
They cannot give good education to their children.
In their society dowry is a big problem.
In the past women also involve in this profession. They made design on the body of pitcher,
water-pot, and utensils and so on. Now they are detached from it. But they don’t waste their
time idly rather than involve themselves in productive work like sewing. Because of poverty
women are also involved in various works like:
Tailoring
Making handicrafts
Working as maid servants.
In Kansari community women are also involved in making goods which are used in the
Hindu worships. But this type of goods they makes only the time of Durga and Kali puja.
Because of illiteracy they have to choose this type of occupation but after that they cannot
maintain their own family. Though now the female child goes to the schools but after a
certain time they are dropped out. They have no property right. But their opinion gets
importance in decision making.
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Conclusion
Day by day the demand of kasa’s utensils is reducing. So the incomes of Kansari’s are also
reducing. Though it is a part of our society but for technological change & high expenses this
culture is day by day diminished. Govt. doesn’t take any steps to keep this art. Now a lot of
people leave this profession & involved in other profession. Many people have to migrate in
India. In rural areas people of this community leave their profession & involving in
agricultures. This is very much harmful for our culture. If our govt. does not take any steps to
save this community then very soon one day will come when this community is also
diminished.
They sorrowfully express that many people come to them to hear their words. But their
condition remains same. Kansari industry is part of our culture. To protect this industry we
should come forward. To preserve our tradition and stand this industry we should use utensils
made with Kasha besides modern utensils.
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Appendix 1
Figure 1.1. A Kasanri respondent in front of his shop
Figure 1.2. Some Kasha products
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Figure 1.3. Group ‘F’ members with a Kansari respondent
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Appendix 2
A Checklist on
Socio-Economic Condition of
Kansari Community: A Study in Khulna City
Date-
Personal Profile
1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Educational level:
Other Information
5. Origin:
6. Type of occupation:
7. Religion:
8. Cultural programs and festivals:
9. Religious ceremony:
10. Food habit:
11. Housing condition:
12. Interaction with other community:
13. Recreational activities:
14. Socio economic condition:
15. Funeral system:
16. Caste system:
17. Land right:
18. Political right:
19. Health facilities:
20. Status of women:
21. Prospect of the occupation:
22. Present condition:
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