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Mahar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeMahar (disambiguation).
Not to be confused withMahar (tribe)orMahar (Uttarakhand).

Mahar
"A Mahar woman", a watercolour byM. V. Dhurandhar,1928
Total population
10 million[citation needed]
Regions with significant populations
Maharashtra8,006,060
Madhyapradesh819,416
Chhattisgarh245,220
Karnataka66,068
West Bengal34,793[note 1]
Gujarat28,417
Odisha21,304
Andhrapradesh(includingTelangana)12,872
Goa8,536
Rajasthan1,980
Assam1,822
Dadra and Nagar Haveli224
Daman and Diu110
Languages
Marathi,Konkani,Varhadi dialect,Ahirani,Hindi,Chhattisgarhi,English
Religion
Majority:
Buddhism
Minority:
Hinduism&Christianity

Mahar(महार)is a caste found largely in the state ofMaharashtraand neighbouring areas.[10][11].The injustice of the caste practices withinHinduismwas the primary reason for most of the Mahar community to follow Dr.B. R. Ambedkarin embracingBuddhismin the middle of the 20th century.[12][13]The Mahars have a rich cultural heritage and have made substantial contributions to Indian society.

History[edit]

The Mahars are considered original inhabitants of Maharashtra.The community is also known as "Kathiwale" (Men with sticks), Bumiputera (Sons of the Soil), and Mirasi (Landlords).[14] From the time of early Islamic rule, villages inMaharashtrawere part of theBalutasystem. In that system, different castes were assigned different roles, each with its own tasks and rights. The duties assigned to the Mahar in the Baluta system included being village watchmen, trackers of thieves, messengers, wall menders, adjudicators of boundary disputes, and suppliers of coarse cloth to the village. In return for these services, the village granted them awatan,or rights to small piece of land to do their own cultivation. The watan also included a share of village produce.[15]They also worked at times as agricultural labourers.[16][17]However, the Mahar were socio-economically above most other untouchable groups because their traditional role had been important in the village administrative system. This had necessitated that they had at least a rudimentary education, and frequently brought them into contact with upper-caste Hindus.[18]In the Baluta system, apart from many traditional duties mentioned above, the Mahar were assigned work of removing dead cattle from the village, they also started eating the meat from the cattle that had died naturally.[19]This formed the basis for the caste being treated asuntouchables.[20]The Mahar community defends consumption of beef by saying thefamineswere the reason they started eating the beef.[21]

Islamic Era[edit]

Under Islamic rule, Mahar served as soldiers in various armies of theDeccan Sultanates,Bahmani Sultanate,and theMughals.[16]In 14th century, MaharBhaktisaintChokhamela,and many of his family members such asKarmamela,Banka,Nirmala,andSoyarabaibecame popular for their religious poetry calledabhang.[22][23][24][25]

Maratha era[edit]

Mahar served in various armies over several centuries. TheMarathakingShivaji Maharajrecruited a number of them into his army in the 17th century due to their loyalty and bravery.[26]They served as guards in hill forts and as soldiers.[27]The Mahar along with the Koli and Marathas defended the fort of Purandar from Dilerkhan's Mughal army in 1665.[28]

British India[edit]

A Mahar Man winding thread fromThe Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India(1916)

Under British rule, the Mahars became aware of the scope for social and political advancement. Their traditional role had been low-status but important in the village system.[18]


Military role under the British[edit]

Bhima Koregaon Victory Pillar

During the colonial period, large numbers of Mahars and dhors were recruited for military duties by theEast India Companyand theBritish Raj.TheBattle of Koregaon(1 January 1818) is commemorated by an obelisk known as the Koregaon pillar—which was erected at the site of the battle—and by a medal issued in 1851. The pillar featured on the Mahar Regiment crest until theIndependence of India;it is inscribed with the names of 22 Mahars killed at the battle. The victory pillar serves as focal point of Mahar heroism.[29]

The Mahar began their service to the East India company around 1750. 20-25% of the British Bombay Army was Mahar. Their conduct as soldiers was praised by manyBritishofficers. Mahars were a vital component of theBritishMarine Battalion. In the East India Company Army they participated in various wars includingSecond Anglo-Maratha War,Third Anglo-Maratha War,Second Anglo-Sikh WarandSecond Afghan War.[26]

After the 1857 mutiny, the British decided to change their military recruitment policy One report "emphasized that we cannot practically ignore it (the caste system), so long as the natives socially maintain it". This led to the discrimination against the Mahars, other low-caste and some unreliableBrahmincastes.[26]

Mahar recruitment reached its nadir in the early 1890s (sources differ as to exact year) whenBritishin favour of "martial races,"specially north-western communities halted recruitment of Mahars.[13][30]The Mahar community attempted to confront this block with a petition circulated among the Mahar,Chamar,andMangformer soldiers—all Marathi-speaking lower castes—but the movement was unable to organise and submit their petition.[13]The attempt at a challenge had been spearheaded byGopal Baba Walangkar,himself a Mahar, dhor and former soldier, but he found that Mahar military pensioners were unwilling to sign because they feared that they might lose their pensions. Thus, by the beginning of World War I, there were few Mahars left in the Army.[31]

A Mahar regiment was created during World War I but only for a few years and because of British desperation for additional troops. In 1941, theMahar Regimentproper was created.[32][33]

Jyotirao Phule[edit]

In 1873,Jyotirao Phule,the founder ofSatyashodhak Samaj—which aimed to abolish religious slavery—organised Mahars.[citation needed]At that time, Mahars were not allowed to enter Hindu temples and were consideredunclean.Even their entry into the shrines of Hindu gods was restricted.[34]Their first conference was held in Mumbai in 1903.[35][36]

Shahu of Kolhapur[edit]

Shahu,the ruler of the princely state ofKolhapur,abolished Mahar watan in 1918 and freed the Mahars in his territory from the slavery imposed by the society of the day. He also gave them all the human rights and equality that others enjoy.[37][38]

B. R. Ambedkar[edit]

In the 20th century, top leaderBhimrao Ramji Ambedkarorganized the Mahars and created radical political awakening among them and inspired them to pay attention towardseducation.Before his death in 1956, Ambedkar, along with millions of his Mahar followers, converted toBuddhismas a protest against the caste discrimination of Hindus.[39]

Demographics[edit]

In 1969, the Mahars constituted about 70% of the totalScheduled Castepopulation and also represented about 9% of population of the state of Maharashtra.[40] Mahar is numerically the largest Scheduled Caste in Maharashtra, according to the2001 Census of India.[41] As of 2017,the Mahar community was designated as a Scheduled Caste (SC) in 16 Indian states, being:Andhra Pradesh,Arunachal PradeshAssam,Chhattisgarh,Dadra and Nagar Haveli,Daman and Diu,Goa,Gujarat,Karnataka,Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra,Rajasthan,Telangana,West BengalandHaryana.[10]

According to the 2011 census, the Mahar population in Maharashtra is 80,06,060, which is 60.31% among Scheduled Castes, and 7.12% in the state.[42]

Culture and Social stratification[edit]

Historically Mahar had "12 and half" endogamous subcastes, major subcastes include Ladvanshi (derived from "LataPradesh "currentGujarat), Somvanshi, Andhavanshi, Tilvanshi, Bawane (BhavaniMahar),Gondvanshi, Kadvanshi and Kosare etc. These subcaste names are not totemistic. Some of the subcaste names represent the territory they controlled or occupied and other subcaste names represent the acts their founders did. The Somavanshi Mahar trace their descent (bloodline) from Mahabharata's Pandava. The Somavanshi Mahar claim to have taken part in Mahabharata war and subsequently settled in Maharashtra.Before converting to Buddhism these subcastes would not marry and eat with one another.[43]

The Mahars of theDeccanspeak a non-standard version ofMarathi.When a Mahar meets a man of his own caste a he saysNamastu,and when he meets anyone other than a Mahar he saysJohar,said to be from the SanskritYoddhar(Warrior). The Mahars belonging to different regions can't intermarry unless there is some family connection can be traced between them. The Mahars are divided into number of exogamousgroupsorclansorkuls.There are enough evidences found to conclude that each of the exogamous group historically owned and worshippedDevakorTotemand it is brought into prominence at the time of marriage ceremony. Members of families with a commonDevakcannot intermarry.

Clan System of Mahar
Clan Totem
Bagad Umbar (Ficus glomerata)
Bhagat Cobra
Gaekwad Crab, sunflower, Kohala (Cucurbita Pivi)
Jadhav Palm (Borassus Flabellzjerz, Pankanis (Typha Angustata), Tortoise(Kasav)
Kadam Kadamba (Anthocephalus Cadumba).
Mohite Umbar (Ficus Glomerata)
More Peacock
Satpal Cobra
Shevale Nagvel (Pieper Betle)
Sonkamble Champa (Mesua Ferrea).
Suryavanshi Sunflower
Talvatke Copper
Tambe Umbar (Ficus Glomerata).
Zankare Mango, Umbar, Zambul.

In most of the cases Devak became obsolete and it is replaced with composite Devak called Panchpalvi composed of the leaves, of five trees.[44]
Few examples of Panchpalvi are,

  • Khandesh
    • Arkathi
    • Borkathi
    • Jambul
    • Mango
    • Ruchkin
  • Poona
    • Mango
    • Pipal
    • Rui
    • Shami
    • Umbar

After Independence Era[edit]

Today mahar community has little to no political representation in the top brass due to low population.[citation needed] Even Dr. B.r. Ambedkar lost 2 elections fought by him on his party ticket on the loksabha.[citation needed] Finally he had to goRajya Sabhawith the help of some political parties at the time.[citation needed]

Dalit literature[edit]

According toEleanor Zelliot,Dalit literatureoriginated in Marathi-speaking areas of Maharashtra. She credits Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a Mahar himself, for inspiring many Dalit writers.Baburao Bagul(1930–2008), Shankarrao Kharat, and Bandhu Madhav were early Marathi writers from the Mahar community.[45]The Mahar writerNamdeo Dhasal(who foundedDalit Panther) was significant in the Dalit movement.[46]Other notable Mahar authors writing in Marathi includeShantabai Kamble,Urmila Pawar,Raja Dhale,Daya Pawar,andNarendra Jadhav.[47]

Religion[edit]

Religion-wise population of the Mahars, as per 2011 census.[42][48]

  • Buddhist Mahars – 49,43,821 (61.75%)
  • Hindu Mahars – 30,54,158 (38.15%)
  • Sikh Mahars – 8,081 (0.10%)
  • Total Mahars – 80,06,060 (100%)

Among the Scheduled Caste Hindus (Dalit Hindus) in Maharashtra, the proportion of Mahars is the highest at 38%. And 95% of Scheduled Caste Buddhists (Neo-Buddhists) and 70% of Scheduled Caste Sikhs (Dalit Sikhs) belong to the Mahar caste.[42][48]

Buddhism[edit]

Main article:Marathi Buddhists

Buddhismstarted to take roots with the emergence ofB. R. Ambedkar.[49]When he converted to Buddhism atNagpurin 1956, many Mahars were among those of his followers who chose to do the same.[50]As Buddhists, they gave up their traditional Hindu occupations and sought to redefine their social status.[citation needed]Ambedkar died about two months after this mass conversion.[51]At the same spot, after his cremation, more Mahars were converted to Buddhism.[52]Now, this community is the third most populous inMumbai.[11]

Some Buddhist leaders among the population prefer that the termMaharno longer be applied to these converts.[53]Buddhism appealed to the sense of equality for the Mahars;[54]an intellectual of Mahar origin said, "I have accepted Buddhist doctrine. I am Buddhist now. I am not Mahar now, not untouchable nor even Hindu. I have become a human being".[55]

In a 1996 book, authors De and Shastree claimed that it has been difficult for the Neo-buddhists to totally abandon the rituals, practices, and festivals of their old Hindu religion. Although one of the early buddhist convert, V R Ranpise had written a book in Marathi called Boudha Samskar Path in 1962 as a guide to his fellow converts, very few had read the book.[56]

Hinduism[edit]

Before their conversion to Buddhism, the important deities of Mahar wereShiva,Khandoba,Vithobaand the varkari saints,Chokhamela,andDnyaneshwar.Family deities of Mahars are typicallyShiva,Maridevi,Bhumidevi,Navanathas andBhavani.The Nag or king cobra was particularly revered by the community.[57]

Sikhism[edit]

Some Mahars in Maharashtra practiceSikhism.According to the 2011 census, there were 11,485 Scheduled Caste (SC) Sikhs in Maharashtra, of which 8,081 were Mahars.[42][48]

Christianity[edit]

Main article:Christianity in Maharashtra

In the late 19th century, Otto Weishaupt's attempts to evangelise in theSangamnerarea of Ahmadnagar district met with resistance, but his efforts to promote Christianity did appeal to few Mahars.[58][59]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^The Mahar population in West Bengal, specifically inJhargram,West MedinipurandBankura districtmight be erroneous entry in 2011 and its four previous decadal census by a section ofPastoral society,As their Historical population was 573, 590, N/A, 1666, 6017, 4206, 6760, 12221, 17706, 23630, 28419 and 34,793 in 1901,[1]1911,[2]1921, 1931,[2]1941,[3]1951,[2][4]1961,[4]1971,[5]1981,[6]1991,[7]2001[8]and in 2011,[9]subsequently. However the actual Mahar population were came to West Bengal from various part of Maharashtra during early 20th century to work in railway workshop and colonies. Nowadays their population thinly scattered all over the state, but mostly in municipal areas. They possess Buddhism except a section of Mahar in Malda district, who are Hindu by religion. By social structure they are divided into exogamous division by their surname, such asHogragorhe, Meshram, MadaomandShendey.The marriage rituals are performed with the help ofBuddhist priest(vikkhuk), the birth pollution is observed till six days but don't conduct naming ceremony and ten day mourning are observed after cremation.[6]

References[edit]

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Further reading[edit]

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