Caste Identity and Demand for Recognition: The Present Scenario of the Kurmi Community in West Bengal

This study looks at the current caste identity dynamics and the Kurmi community's demand for recognition in West Bengal. The Kurmis, who have historically been linked to agricultural activities, have seen substantial socioeconomic diversification in recent decades. Even with advancements in political engagement, work prospects and education, concerns about official recognition and social standing still influence public opinion and community mobilisation. The study investigates the ways in which political participation, community organisations, shared cultural practices and collective memory are used to create and express caste identity. The paper examines the community's need for acknowledgement in light of governmental policies about social justice and reservations, with a particular focus on the current situation. Claims for admission under particular tribal categories are analysed in light of regional politics, intercaste rivalry and constitutional provisions. The study also emphasises how local groups, youth involvement and grassroots leadership may organise movements around identity-based problems and strengthen collective consciousness. The study makes the case that caste identity among Kurmis serves as a strategic weapon for socio-political negotiation as well as a marker of cultural belonging, using both qualitative and secondary data sources. The need for recognition reflects ongoing concerns about representation, access to welfare programs and equitable development, even while economic mobility has varied livelihood patterns. The study comes to the conclusion that the current position of the Kurmi community in West Bengal serves as an example of the intricate relationship that exists in modern caste politics between tradition, political assertion and official acknowledgement.