Entry of Brahmins and Vaishya in Kayastha Community happened in Slave dynasty ( 1021 to 1526) and Mughal ( 1526 to 1757) rule too to some extent. Book “Aquam-Alhind” (Communities of India) in Urdu-Persian language published in India in the early 1900’s, however, gives an interesting, authentic account of the origin of the word “Kayastha”, which I give below in substance: Sikandar Lodhi (1498-1517), the founder of Agra city, had established a school at Agra (the then capital of India) in around 1500 AD to impart regular teaching of Arabic and Persian to Hindus so as to develop a much needed and large cadre of clerks, accountants and petty officials for his empire. A large number of Hindu young men from various parts of India joined this school (some say they were forced to join) year after year. The school thus became a factory, supplying regular batches of Arabic-Persian literate Hindus for the Sultanate and later, even for the Mughals. The students coming out of the Agra School were called “KATIB”, meaning a writer, which was later corrupted as “KAITH”, or “KAYATH”, and ultimately as “KAYASTHA” The version of the book ends here. It is said that after passing out of the Agra School, the students used to go back to their native places (mostly in U.P., Bihar & Bengal) for employment. Sher Shah Suri took many such educated Kayasthas to his native Bihar and to Jaunpur in Eastern UP which resulted in a sizable Kayastha population in these areas. Similarly, during the Mughal period, large number of Kayasthas were employed at Delhi, and at Agra, Bareilly, Moradabad, and Aligarh in UP which had Mughal Nizamats and sub-courts. Many of them were favoured with Jagirs and Zamindaris at these places Even today a lot of Kayasthas claim their ancestery to these places and to places in Eastern UP, Bihar and Bengal. During the Mughal period when such literate students were taken on Government jobs, it was mentioned in their service roll whether or not the person is a Katib, i.e, writer, passed out of the Agra School. The relevant entry, in Persian, used to be “KATIB – AST”, i.e., (He) is a writer. In course of time the word got corrupted to “Kai-ast”, and later to “Kayasth” So all such persons, irrespective of their origin or birth, started being called as “Kayasth” Most of such persons were from Brahmins Community who left their original purohit work and they became brahmins kaystha,,some from Vaishya community too joined.Entry of sudra was not allowed as Brahmins would have never allowed to give them status equal to them. SInce these poeple were Non Kshatriya they started propogated SHri Chitragupt do not hold sword,but only kalam. Thats why the idols of Shri Chitragupt made after 10th century were with only kalam without sword..
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:18:07 +0000
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