The Paswan, also known as Dusadh, are a Dalit community from eastern India. They are found mainly in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The Urdu word Paswan means bodyguard or "one who defends". The origin of the word, per the belief of the community, lies in their participation in the battle against Siraj-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Bengal at the behest of British East India Company, after which they were rewarded with the post of Chowkidars and lathi-(baton) wielding tax collector for the Zamindars. They follow certain rituals such as walking on fire to assert their valour.

The Paswans claim their origin from a number of folk and epic characters in order to seek upliftment in their social status. Some Paswan believe that they have originated from Rahu, a superhuman and one of the planets in Hindu mythology, while others claim their origin from Dushasana, one of the Kaurava princes. Claims regarding origin from "Gahlot Kshatriya" are also persistent among some members of the community, but others view such claims with disdain, as they do not like to be associated with Rajputs.

It has also been argued by some Bhumihars, that the Paswan are hybrid scions of cross marriages between two different castes. The Paswan community rejects these theories, and argues the origin of the name 'Dusadh' lies in Dusadhya, meaning "who is difficult to be defeated".

They have been considered to be an untouchable community. In Bihar, they are primarily landless, agricultural labourers and have historically been village watchmen and messengers. They are one of the most discriminated caste group in the feudal society of rural Bihar. Reports indicates that the Dusadh landless women were often subjected to undignified teasings like "pinching on breast" by their landlords who were primarily Rajputs. The landlords also raped these women frequently in order to keep their men in submissive position.

Prior to 1900, they also used to rear pigs particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Paswans defend the occupation of rearing of pigs by stating it as a strategy to counter the Muslims. They assert that, in order to protect themselves from Muslims, Paswan girls used to wear amulets made from bones of pigs and kept pigs at their doors, given the animosity of Muslims with pigs. Since Rajputs of Rajasthan also reared as well as hunted wild pigs, this fact is used by them to defend this occupation which is corroborated by the fact that after the end of Zamindari system, the traditional occupation of serving as guards couldn't provide subsistence to them.

The Paswans have also been historically associated with martial pursuits and many fought on behalf of the East India Company during the 18th century in the Bengal Army. The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Paswan population, which is classified as a Scheduled Caste, as being 230,593. The same census showed a population of 4,945,165 in Bihar.

The folk hero of the Paswans is Chauharmal. Within Paswan folklore, the tale of Chauharmal and Reshma is well known. Reshma, the daughter of a powerful Bhumihar landlord, persuades Chauharmal to marry her against her father's wishes. Eventually Chauharmal confronts his beloved's father and defeats him, symbolizing the victory of the community over their Bhumihar oppressors. Other versions of the tale reject this empowering message by claiming Chauharmal was born in a Brahmin family in previous birth while Reshma was born as his wife.

Apart from Chauharmal Baba, some Dusadh also worship Gauriya Baba.This folk hero as per their oral traditions is contemporary of Mughal rule in India. According to the folklores he used to ride a horse and protected not only his own castemen but also the other Hindus including the Rajputs from the onslaught of Mughal soldiers and forcible conversions to Islam. Baba used to bury the head of pig in front of his house which was located at the fringe of village. Since pigs were anathema for Muslims, it protected the village from the incursions of Mughal soldiers who were predominantly Muslim.