What is "bhoi"

The Bhoi (also known as Bauri) are an ethnic community native to several Indian states.

In the Khurda district of Orissa, the Bhoi community are also known as Bauri and are traditionally agricultural labourers. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste in India's system of positive discrimination. Their occupation means that they are considered much more ritually pure than many other similarly-classified communities in the state, although their penurious condition means that they often resort to eating ritually impure foods, such as frogs, oysters and snails.

In Gujarat, their traditional occupations include acting as palanquin-bearers, fishermen and water-carriers. They are a very low-ranked caste but not so low as to be untouchable. There, according to The People of India, the community comprises various endogamous sub-groups.

According to The People of India, the Bhois of Maharashtra originally lived in Mumbai, Nashik, Dhulia, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sholapur districts of Maharshtra. They now live throughout the state. After India gained independence in 1947, they were included in the list of the Nomadic tribes for Maharashtra. The 22 sub-groups of the community found there use the Ahirani language within their family and within kin groups but speak in Marathi while talking to the others.

The Bhoi are also found in Assam, where they are a Scheduled Tribe.