International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Caste, Land, and Power in Early Medieval Bengal: An Epigraphic Analysis (c. 6th –7th Century CE)

This paper explores the evolution of the caste system in ancient and early medieval Bengal (c. 5th–7th century CE) through a critical analysis of copperplate inscriptions issued during the Gupta period and its aftermath. Rather than reflecting a rigid, pan-Indian varna hierarchy, these epigraphic sources reveal a fluid and regionally distinctive process of caste formation shaped by landholding patterns, political authority, and religious patronage. Bengal’s social order was characterized by the dominance of Brahmanas not only as ritual authorities but also as agrarian elites, receiving extensive tax-exempt land grants (agraharas) and serving as intermediaries between state power and rural society. Drawing upon key inscriptions—including the Dhanaidaha, Damodarpur, Kalaikuri–Sultanpur, Gunaighar, and Nidhanpur copperplates—this study demonstrates how caste identities were constructed, codified, and negotiated through legal instruments and royal charters. The inscriptions highlight the absence or marginal presence of Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, the emergence of intermediary castes such as Kayasthas and Vaidyas, and the incorporation of local and tribal groups into a Brahmanical framework through processes of Sanskritization. Tables, comparative summaries, and thematic mappings are used to trace the complex interplay between social hierarchy, occupational roles, and ritual status. By situating caste within the broader context of agrarian expansion, administrative structuring, and regional integration, this paper argues that caste in early Bengal was a dynamic social project rather than a fixed dharmashastric ideal. It challenges traditional historiography that views caste as a static institution, instead foregrounding its historical construction through epigraphic, political, and economic mechanisms. Ultimately, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of early Indian social formations by highlighting the specificity of Bengal’s caste landscape and its role in shaping the subcontinent’s early medieval order.