Acknowledgement

All praises go to almighty Creator, for His Mercy that makes us able to complete this study Paper. We would like to express our sincere Gratitude and thanks to Sanjoy Kumar Chanda, Asst. Professor, Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh, for his constant guidance, Encouragement, cooperation and helpful suggestion in every stage of preparing the paper. We would also like to thank the respondents and participants of Kansari community who kindly helped us by giving many information. We are also grateful to our classmates who helped us in various way.

Group F Sezan Tanvir Anamika Mitra Nayan Moni Sarker Farhana Sultana Umme Homayra Liza Sociology Discipline Khulna University

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Abstract
This study was conducted on the Kansari community in Khulna. The main objective of the study was to identify the socio-economic condition of the Kansari people. To construct the dtudy, two Focus Group Discussion were used as method of data collection. Khansaris are the one of the most integral parts of our Bengali culture. From the British & pre British period this culture took a great place in our Bengali society. Though for various reasons this culture is getting diminished but after that some people also keep this trends. In every occasion of Hindu society the utensils of kansa takes the important part but now the picture is getting changed day by day. Mainly the people who are involved with making utensils with kansa or pitol they are counted as Kansari. They are not only involved with making but also repairs it. In Bangladesh the origin of Kansaris mainly indicates to Bikrompur, Dhaka & Polong, Soriotpur. In Khulna the Kansaris who are involved with this profession they are mainly lineage of those Kansaris. There are only 3 people that Ive found in Khulna city who are mainly involved in this business for 3-4 generation. Beside them there are also some other people who are involved in this business for 15-25 yrs.

Keywords
Kansari, Khulna, Caste, Socio-economic condition, Kasha

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Table of contents

Topic name
Acknowledgement Abstract Keywords Introduction Methodology Results FGD 1 FGD 2 Discussion Conclusion Appendix 1 Figures Appendix 2 Checklist

Page number
1 2 2 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-12 13 14-15 16

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Introduction
Bangladesh is a small country with many small communities. Which play a vital role in our culture and tradition. But it is the matter of great regret that most of the communities are declining day by day. Consequently our culture and tradition is also in a threat of extinction. As there are many small communities in our society and they have different way of life. So it is tried to know about their way of life. Among many communities Kansari is one of them who make products with Kasha. This industry has a glorious history. Once upon a time when products make with Kasha had a great demand. It was used as gift in various occasions like marriage. It was used in domestic affairs too. In Bangladesh Kansari community is found in Rajshahi, Noagon, Kustia, Bikrampur and Shariotpur. This FGD has conducted at Shantidham more in Khulna. These people had come Khulna for searching of life. The demand of Kasha products declined day by day. In order to preserve their forefather occupation and tradition they shifted Khulna. It is a too small community. There are few shops at Shantidham more.

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Methodology
A. Design: The study was conducted through the use of interview technique. Data were collected from the Kansari respondents form the field. For in-depth study two Focus Group Discussion are incorporated. The study is basically descriptive in nature. B. Unit of Analysis: Kansari peoples, mainly the older people (age of 50-60 years) and young people (age of 20-25 years). C. Study Area: The Shantidham more area of Khulna city corporation. D. Sampling: Purposive sampling was used to collect data from the field. To collect primary data, total 9 samples were divided into two groups for conducting FGD. E. Sources of data: The data were collected from two sources: (a) Primary sources: Data were collected from the field by using qualitative techniques like FGDs. (b) Secondary Source: Various articles, research papers, newspapers, magazines and internet also. F. Data Collection from Field: Five interviewers in a group have collected data from field. G. Data Processing and Analysis: Data were computerized, analyzed and interpreted by using software like MS Word.

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Results
FGD-1
It is described the condition of the aged people of the community. Here one FGD was conducted with five members in a group. They shared the following characteristics: they belonged within the age group of fifty to sixty; they were involved with permanent occupation. It was observed a typical lifestyle of them. Education: The aged people, who participated in the Focus Group Discussion, three among them, completed the primary level of education and remaining two only can write their name. Their financial condition is not well. Though they do not get proper education, they send their children to school. They dream a dream that their children be fit for society through getting proper education. Occupation: They are mainly trader. There are many classes in trader Kongsobanik is one of them. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik mentioned that there are some Muslim people who involve themselves in this occupation. They live in Bikrampur and they are very few in number. They mainly make Kasha products sell them and buy old utensils and repaired. They make pitcher, bucket, water-pot, utensils and so on. It needs 1.5 to 2 kg brass to make a pitcher. Kasha products are mainly made with copper and Rang in Kustia. But this community use brass to make the products. They use metal polish for brightness. Porimol Bain mentioned that it has no side effects and it is not harmful for health. It makes low decibel sound which machine is used for making products. Income: Their income is not well. They earn around 8000-10000 BDT in a month. It is not fixed. In Bangle month Vadro, Kartik and Chaytro is the off season for Kasha products. Its demand falls down in this month. Food habit: Like other people they enjoyed the same dishes of meal such as rice, meat, pulse, vegetables and so on. Housing pattern: Their housing pattern is not so good. As their income level is poor consequently their living place is not well structured. Their house is made of bamboo fence with the cover of house is tin and concrete floor.

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Socio-economic condition: Their socio-economic condition is not well. The demand of Kasha products is declining day by day. It is hard to survive for them to live with such small income. Their income is not fixed. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik earns around 8000-10000 BDT in a month which is not sufficient to lead a life in Khulna city. Health facilities: They do not get proper health facilities. They have not enough money to get better treatment. They went to quack for treatment. In excessive case, they went to M.B.B.S doctor. Land right: Inherently they have gotten some land but it is a matter of sorrow that all these grasped by river Padma. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik has some land. Political right: They are not directly related to politics. They have voting rights and they cast their vote. Marital status: They all are married. They celebrated outer caste marriage. In the past it was occurred inner caste. Bashu Dev Kongsobonik mentioned, Inner caste marriage as a superstition. Religious ceremony: Most of the people who belong to Kansari communities are follower of Hinduism. So they celebrate all religious festivals observed by Hinduism. But they do not take part in our national festival Pahela Baishakh. Funeral system: As they are followers of Hinduism, through burning dead body they complete funeral rites. They express their mourn till 15 days after death. Expectation: The demand of Kasha products is declining day by day. Because of price hike of brass and other metal has replaced by it. There is no future in this industry. So they dont want that their next generation involve themselves in this industry. They want that govt. pay special attention on their industry and community.

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FGD-2
This Focus Group Discussion was conducted on one group of four young people. Their average age was 20-25 years. They shared the following characteristics: lower education level mostly among young people, lower economic support, lower expectancy from community and unwillingness of entering their traditional occupation. Education: The young people, who participated in the Focus Group Discussion, two among them, completed the secondary level of education and remaining two completed primary level. Most of them dont get proper chance for education. Samor Banik, 22 years old said we want to be more educated, but because of our familys occupation, we dont get the chance. Occupation: They are mainly student. But many of them already entered in their traditional occupation. Anand Banik mentioned that we dont want to enter this profession and ruin our life; we want to involve profession like govt. service. Income: The young did not have a definite amount of income. Shankar kumar said, we dont take definite amount of money, because, who we are working, most of us working in our familys shop. Marital status: Mostly they are unmarried. They celebrate outer caste marriage generally. Caste system: The young people generally dont follow caste system. They marry inside or outside their caste both. Subol Banik mentioned, we dont follow our caste value, we consider it as a false notion to marry inside caste. Food habit: Like other people they enjoyed the same dishes of meal such as rice, meat, pulse, vegetables and so on. Health facilities: They do not get proper health facilities. They have not enough money to get better treatment. They go to quack for treatment. In excessive case, they visit local doctor. Land right: Yong boys generally become the inherent of family property. Girls get property in very rare cases. Political right: They are not related to politics. They have voting rights and they cast their vote.

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Religious ceremony: Most of the young people who belong to Kansari communities are follower of Hinduism. So they celebrate all religious festivals observed by Hinduism. But they do not take part in our national festival Pahela Baishakh. Bad habit: Most of the young people of Kansari community dont have bad habits like taking drugs. But many of them smoke ciggarate. Some of them smoke biri and ganja. Expectation: Most of the young people have distinct future hope that they will develop from present condition. And they also want to be highly educated and involve in job outside their community.

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Discussion
Most of the people of this community are Hindu. In this community mainly they called themselves as Kangsa Banik. According to them there are four types of Baniks in their society. They are: Kanagsa Banik Sonkho Banik Swarna Banik Gondho Banik Mainly they are the parts of Vaisa caste. But now there are also some nomosudras i.e. scheduled caste people also involved in this occupation. The people of Kansari community are the people of this country. So the physical structure of the Kansari communitys people is same as us. The people of this community are not so much educated. Mainly the people who are involved with this profession even they were not completed their S.S.C. But now they want to educate their children even female child also. The culture of Kansari community is also as same as us but after that there are also so many differences than us they are: They eat vegetables in every Wednesday; but this culture does not follow by all. The main festival of this community is Biswakarma puja & lord Ganesh puja. They do not maintain the Halkhata festival because they does not sell in borrow. They also maintain Nil puja which occurs in the last day of Chaitra month There dress patterns are also as same as us. The present conditions of Kansaris are very bad. Now a lot of people leave this profession. The reasons are: Lacking of raw materials Making cost is very high People cant afford this types of utensils
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 Availability & cheap cost of Melamine & Ceramic utensils Migration Involving in other profession Its also found that where in Bikrampur, Dhaka 25 years before where 25 families were involved in this business now there are only 2 families are involved with this business. Now a lot of people have migrated from Bangladesh to India. Though few of them do not change their profession but maximum changed their profession. In the Kansari business there are variations in their income period. In this profession there are some seasons when the income is higher & sometimes it is being lower. Mainly in the months of Hindu marriages & religious festivals the income is getting higher. Example: In Bengali year, Agrayan- Falgun & Baisakh, Jaistha these months they get more works but now this condition id also changed because very few people can afford this types of goods. The living condition is also not satisfactory. They are fighting against poverty. The monthly income of a Kansari is hardly 5000-5500 or highest 9000-10000 tk. It is very tough for anyone to pass a family life with this little income. Most of this community people lived in Semi Paka houses. In Khulna they lived in rental houses. Some of them buy lands in their own villages but that are very little in size. Before long time in Bengali society it was happened that the upper caste Hindu people counted lower caste people as untouchable. But now the condition is totally changed. Now there is a good contact between all these communities. Even now they made family relations between several communities. The main recreational activities of original Kansari community people were playing pasha games. But now this culture is totally diminished. After living in cities for a long time they also adopt the city recreational activities. The Socio economic conditions of the Kansari community are not so much good. Everyone lives in poor condition. The conditions are described below: The people cannot afford a good life. They dont have their own lands.

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 As a member of minority community they faced so much problems & negligence. They cannot give good education to their children. In their society dowry is a big problem. In the past women also involve in this profession. They made design on the body of pitcher, water-pot, and utensils and so on. Now they are detached from it. But they dont waste their time idly rather than involve themselves in productive work like sewing. Because of poverty women are also involved in various works like: Tailoring Making handicrafts Working as maid servants. In Kansari community women are also involved in making goods which are used in the Hindu worships. But this type of goods they makes only the time of Durga and Kali puja. Because of illiteracy they have to choose this type of occupation but after that they cannot maintain their own family. Though now the female child goes to the schools but after a certain time they are dropped out. They have no property right. But their opinion gets importance in decision making.

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Conclusion
Day by day the demand of kasas utensils is reducing. So the incomes of Kansaris are also reducing. Though it is a part of our society but for technological change & high expenses this culture is day by day diminished. Govt. doesnt take any steps to keep this art. Now a lot of people leave this profession & involved in other profession. Many people have to migrate in India. In rural areas people of this community leave their profession & involving in agricultures. This is very much harmful for our culture. If our govt. does not take any steps to save this community then very soon one day will come when this community is also diminished. They sorrowfully express that many people come to them to hear their words. But their condition remains same. Kansari industry is part of our culture. To protect this industry we should come forward. To preserve our tradition and stand this industry we should use utensils made with Kasha besides modern utensils.

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Appendix 1

Figure 1.1. A Kasanri respondent in front of his shop

Figure 1.2. Some Kasha products

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Figure 1.3. Group F members with a Kansari respondent

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Appendix 2
A Checklist on Socio-Economic Condition of Kansari Community: A Study in Khulna City
Date-

Personal Profile
1. Name: 2. Age: 3. Gender: 4. Educational level:

Other Information
5. Origin: 6. Type of occupation: 7. Religion: 8. Cultural programs and festivals: 9. Religious ceremony: 10. Food habit: 11. Housing condition: 12. Interaction with other community: 13. Recreational activities: 14. Socio economic condition: 15. Funeral system: 16. Caste system: 17. Land right: 18. Political right: 19. Health facilities: 20. Status of women: 21. Prospect of the occupation: 22. Present condition:
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