Karmakar

Karmakar (Bengali: কর্মকার) is a Bengali Hindu caste spread throughout West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Karmakars are traditionally blacksmiths by trade.They are one of the fourteen castes belonging to 'Nabasakh' group.[1] They are recognized as Other Backward Class by the Government of West Bengal.[2]

Mythology

According to mythology the forefather of Karmakars was the son of Vishvakarma and a Shudra mother.

History

The Karmakars used to be blacksmiths by profession. Over time, the Karmakars have produced engineering masterpieces. In 1637, Janardan Karmakar (Blacksmith) of Sylhet built the great gun of Murshidabad, the Jahan Kosha Cannon 'Destroyer of the World', which is 18' in length and weighs around 7 tons.[3][4][5] Another grand cannon named Dal Madal Kaman was built by Jagannath Karmakar in 1565 for the kingdom of Mallabhum.[6]In the late 18th century, Panchanan Karmakar pioneered the Bengali printing industry by inventing a movable type punch marked Bengali scripts.[7]

Religious practices

Traditionally they worship Lord Viswakarma, all through the year but particularly on the last day of the month of Bhādra in the Bengali calendar, which normally falls on 17 September every year.

Notables

See also

References
  1. Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus. p. 115.
  2. "Anagrasarkalyan | Backward Classes Welfare Department". anagrasarkalyan.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  3. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh: Humanities, Volumes 36-38 Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1991
  4. The Land of the rupee Bennett, Coleman, 1912, the University of Michigan
  5. District Census Handbook, West Bengal: Birbhum India. Superintendent of Census Operations, West Bengal, Bisweswar Ray, Superintendent, Government Printing, the University of Michigan
  6. Dasgupta, Biswas & Mallik 2009, p. 55.
  7. "Flower power resurrects Carey legacy". timesofindia.com. The Times Of India Kolkata. Retrieved 9 February 2012.

Bibliography
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