Rajbanshi Indigenous Medical Practices: A Historical Perspective

The system of medicine and response to illness within the cultural setting of any community, otherwise known as ‘Health Culture’ or Traditional medical systems are integral part of many indigenous communities of the world. To date, in some parts of the world particularly in the underdeveloped or developing countries, a large number of population still rely on their own system of traditional medical practices. Siegerist (1951) opines “every culture had developed a system of medicine and medical history is but one aspect of the history of culture.” Thus to understand cultural evolution of any community, a brief knowledge of traditional medical practices seems inevitable. Researchers and academicians are of the opinion of immediate documentation of the rich reserve of traditional medical knowledge, which, they fear, could face extinction with the change in surrounding environ due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and commercialization. In this background, this article attempts to explore the traditional health culture of Rajbanshis- the one indigenous community of Koch Bihar district. In-depth interviews with knowledgeable community members and traditional practitioners belonging to Rajbanshi community having fame and reputation for healing reveal the evolution of Rajbanshi medical system and gives an insight into an understanding of indigenous belief system and concept of diseases. It also throws light on the methods of healing and modus operandi of Rajbanshi medical practitioners.