>Nevertheless, until 1901 (census) all communities like nagarvasi, gramvasi and vanavasi were >listed as Hindus.
The magic word is "listed" if you note. Somebody else determining somebody's religion. They were "listed" as Hindus simply because according to the Western civilization, everybody is supposed to have a "religion". And those who are not Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or Sikhs are all basically "listed" as Hindus. Because we must assign a religion to each person. What a uncivilized and irreligious thing is to live without a "religion".
It may be that one day the Christian missionary visited and converted all of them to Christianity.
Now did the Missionary converted the Hindus to Christianity???
Or it may be that one day the village invited a Brahmin to perform the death ceremony of the rich villager's father. From the Brahmin they came to know that he belongs to "Kashyapa" Gwtro. etc etc. And thus the village became Hindus.
You see, stopping the Christian missionaries to convert pays for the Hindus. Because if the village is not converted to Christianity, Islam or any other religion, one day the village is bound to become Hindu. All it need a rich villager with a cow and death of his father.
My personal theory!!!
Rajen Barua
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