The Kudmi Mahato[note 1] are a tribal community in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha of India.
They are included in the list of Other Backward Classes in the States of Jharkhand,[12] West Bengal[13] and Odisha.
The Kudmi people once spoke a distinct language, neither Munda nor Dravidian but also not Indo-Aryan, and at some point switched to the regional Indo-Aryan lingua franca of that time, leaving a distinct substrate in their new language.
[23][24] Social organisations of this tribal community have agitated for scheduled tribe status and recognition of their traditional Sarna religion.
[30][31][32] They exhibit upper-caste status[33][34] and performed priestly functions in the temples situated in western Rarh region.
Kudmi are divided into 81 clans or gushti including Keshria, Hindowar, Bagh Banwar, Nagwar, Punoriar, Bangsoar, Sankhwar, Kanbindha, Katiar, Dumriar, Karwar etc.
[44] The Kudmi Mahato community played a role in various rebellions in India's freedom struggle.
From the Chuar Rebellion to the Quit India Movement, many Kudmi Mahatos were martyred.
Raghunath Mahato was a notable leader of the Chuar Rebellion in India's freedom struggle against the British.
Jagadish Mahato of (Dhanbad-Parabasnia) also took an active part in the Quit India movement.