The Bhandari community is a caste that inhabits the western coast of India. Their traditional occupation was "toddy tapping". They form the largest caste group in the state of Goa, reportedly being over 30% of that state's Hindu population, and play a major role in deciding the future of any political party there.[1][2]
Although the word "Bhandari" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mandharale", which means "distiller", Bhandaris prefer derivation from Bhandar, which means treasury, because they used to be treasury guards in the past.[3]
Traditionally their occupation was drawing toddy from palm plants. Historical evidence suggests that they were foot soldiers in the Maratha Empire and British Indian Army. The famous "Hetkaris" in the army of Shivaji Maharaj were Bhandaris. Bhandaris are divided into various sub-castes such as Kitte, Hetkari, Thale and Gavad. During British Raj, Bhandaris lacked unity among various sub-castes and the differences within these sub-jatis hindered the community progress. The leaders of these sub-castes established their independent caste associations. A Bhandari author from the British era says that they were traditionally active in teaching and learning, and were involved in setting up schools for all castes either in temples or outside someone's house. He says that the community should not blame brahmins for lack of their education as they did not avail educational opportunities in the British era.[3]
In 1878, the British colonial government passed a law that would enable them to control liquor market in India and maximize profit. This resulted in low quality liquor flooding the market. In protest, the Bhandari community - whose traditional occupation was to ferment toddy - declined to supply Toddy to the government.[5]
Affirmative Action
Bhandaris are included in the list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Goa. This provides them with certain rights under India's scheme of affirmative action, such as reservation of positions in government employment and admission to professional colleges.[6] They are also classified as OBCs in Maharashtra.[7]
Varna status
During the British era, in the 19th century, Bhandaris faced discrimination in education as they did not belong to the twice-born varna.[8]
M.R.Bodas, a Brahmin pleader,[9] published an article in Chitramay jagat(1922) where he opined that Bhandari caste was of Shudra origin. This received strong response in another article where the author claimed that the community existed from the era of Mahabharata and that the Bhandaris were originally from Rajputana and were Kshatriya converts to Jainism whose occupation was trading. The author mentioned Sati and Jauhar as proof for their heritage. The article by Bodas piqued the Bhandari community and the community members met in 1922 to address the issue.[3] Tukaram Padaval, who belonged to Bhandari caste and a close associate of Jyotiba Phule, said that the claim to Kshatriya status was common among many upper and lower castes but there was no certainty at all as to who among them are the original Kshatriyas.[10]
^"Treasurers of yore, now key to political fortune". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
^Scott C. Martin (16 December 2014). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Alcohol: Social, Cultural, and Historical Perspectives. SAGE Publications. pp. 1384–. ISBN978-1-4833-3108-9.
^ abcSeshan, Radhika; Kumbhojkar, Shraddha (2018). Re-searching Transitions in Indian History. Taylor & Francis. pp. 154–157.
^B. R. Kamble, ed. (1982). Studies in Shivaji and His Times. Shivaji University. p. 211. but he selected one Maynaik Bhandari to be one of the Chief Admirals in the Navy . But this does not mean that Shivaji had elevated the Bhandari caste
^Mark Lawrence Schrad (2021). Smashing the Liquor Machine: A Global History of Prohibition. Oxford University Press. pp. 204–. ISBN978-0-19-084157-7.
^"Goa govt increases quota for OBCs in jobs to 27%". TNN. No. Jan 16, 2014, 03.23AM IST. TOI. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
^. Maharashtra State OBC Finance and Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^Paik, Shailaja (2014). Dalit Women's Education in Modern India: Double Discrimination. Taylor and Francis Group. p. 45. ISBN978-0415493000.
^John R. McLane (8 March 2015). Indian Nationalism and the Early Congress. Princeton University Press. pp. 266–. ISBN978-1-4008-7023-3.
^O'Hanlon, Rosalind (2002). Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth-Century Western India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN978-0-52152-308-0.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhandari caste.
bhandari, caste, other, uses, bhandari, disambiguation, bhandari, community, caste, that, inhabits, western, coast, india, their, traditional, occupation, toddy, tapping, they, form, largest, caste, group, state, reportedly, being, over, that, state, hindu, po. For other uses see Bhandari disambiguation The Bhandari community is a caste that inhabits the western coast of India Their traditional occupation was toddy tapping They form the largest caste group in the state of Goa reportedly being over 30 of that state s Hindu population and play a major role in deciding the future of any political party there 1 2 BhandariBhandari men in western India c 1855 1862 Regions with significant populationsPrimary populations in Goa Maharashtra KarnatakaLanguagesMarathi and various dialects of KonkaniReligionHinduismRelated ethnic groupsKonkani people Contents 1 History 2 Affirmative Action 3 Varna status 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingHistory EditAlthough the word Bhandari is derived from the Sanskrit word Mandharale which means distiller Bhandaris prefer derivation from Bhandar which means treasury because they used to be treasury guards in the past 3 During Shivaji Maharaj s time Maynak Bhandari was a chief Admiral 4 Traditionally their occupation was drawing toddy from palm plants Historical evidence suggests that they were foot soldiers in the Maratha Empire and British Indian Army The famous Hetkaris in the army of Shivaji Maharaj were Bhandaris Bhandaris are divided into various sub castes such as Kitte Hetkari Thale and Gavad During British Raj Bhandaris lacked unity among various sub castes and the differences within these sub jatis hindered the community progress The leaders of these sub castes established their independent caste associations A Bhandari author from the British era says that they were traditionally active in teaching and learning and were involved in setting up schools for all castes either in temples or outside someone s house He says that the community should not blame brahmins for lack of their education as they did not avail educational opportunities in the British era 3 In 1878 the British colonial government passed a law that would enable them to control liquor market in India and maximize profit This resulted in low quality liquor flooding the market In protest the Bhandari community whose traditional occupation was to ferment toddy declined to supply Toddy to the government 5 Affirmative Action EditBhandaris are included in the list of Other Backward Classes OBCs in Goa This provides them with certain rights under India s scheme of affirmative action such as reservation of positions in government employment and admission to professional colleges 6 They are also classified as OBCs in Maharashtra 7 Varna status EditDuring the British era in the 19th century Bhandaris faced discrimination in education as they did not belong to the twice born varna 8 M R Bodas a Brahmin pleader 9 published an article in Chitramay jagat 1922 where he opined that Bhandari caste was of Shudra origin This received strong response in another article where the author claimed that the community existed from the era of Mahabharata and that the Bhandaris were originally from Rajputana and were Kshatriya converts to Jainism whose occupation was trading The author mentioned Sati and Jauhar as proof for their heritage The article by Bodas piqued the Bhandari community and the community members met in 1922 to address the issue 3 Tukaram Padaval who belonged to Bhandari caste and a close associate of Jyotiba Phule said that the claim to Kshatriya status was common among many upper and lower castes but there was no certainty at all as to who among them are the original Kshatriyas 10 See also EditPeople of the Konkan Division Bhandari MilitiaReferences Edit Treasurers of yore now key to political fortune The Times of India Archived from the original on 11 April 2013 Retrieved 17 March 2013 Scott C Martin 16 December 2014 The SAGE Encyclopedia of Alcohol Social Cultural and Historical Perspectives SAGE Publications pp 1384 ISBN 978 1 4833 3108 9 a b c Seshan Radhika Kumbhojkar Shraddha 2018 Re searching Transitions in Indian History Taylor amp Francis pp 154 157 B R Kamble ed 1982 Studies in Shivaji and His Times Shivaji University p 211 but he selected one Maynaik Bhandari to be one of the Chief Admirals in the Navy But this does not mean that Shivaji had elevated the Bhandari caste Mark Lawrence Schrad 2021 Smashing the Liquor Machine A Global History of Prohibition Oxford University Press pp 204 ISBN 978 0 19 084157 7 Goa govt increases quota for OBCs in jobs to 27 TNN No Jan 16 2014 03 23AM IST TOI Retrieved 13 September 2014 List of Castes in Other Backward Class of Maharashtra Maharashtra State OBC Finance and Development Corporation Archived from the original on 22 September 2014 Retrieved 1 July 2014 Paik Shailaja 2014 Dalit Women s Education in Modern India Double Discrimination Taylor and Francis Group p 45 ISBN 978 0415493000 John R McLane 8 March 2015 Indian Nationalism and the Early Congress Princeton University Press pp 266 ISBN 978 1 4008 7023 3 O Hanlon Rosalind 2002 Caste Conflict and Ideology Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth Century Western India Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 43 ISBN 978 0 52152 308 0 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhandari caste Further reading EditRege Sharmila 2006 Writing Caste Writing Gender Reading Dalit Women s Testimonies Zubaan ISBN 978 8 18901 301 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhandari caste amp oldid 1150044349, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
