Chamar Caste Movement and Its Leaders in District Bijnor (1900–1950 Ad)

Abstract

This research paper explores the rise, development, and impact of the Chamar caste movement in Bijnor district (Uttar Pradesh) during the first half of the twentieth century. Emphasizing the socio-political awakening among the Chamars, this study analyses the role of key leaders, caste organizations, religious identity assertion, and their contribution to the anti-caste and national freedom movements. Using archival sources, oral traditions, and secondary literature, this paper highlights how the Chamars of Bijnor transformed their socio-political status from a marginalized leather-working caste to a politically active community asserting dignity and representation.