Kurmi कुर्मी | |
---|---|
Classification | Shudra |
Religions | Hinduism |
Languages | Kurmali, Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Marathi, konkani, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, South Indian languages and dialects |
Populated states | Northern India, Western India, Central India, South India |
Subdivisions | Kurmi, Singraur, Umrao, Awadhiya, Kochyasa, Gangwar, Kanbi, Kapu, Katiyar, Kulambi, Jaiswar, Kulwadi, Kutumbi, Patel, Singhror, Choduary, Sachan, Verma, artarvavanshi,(Niranjan) |
The Kurmi (Hindi: कुर्मी) are a Shudra farming caste of Hindus in India.[1] The group is often associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous.[2][3]
Etymology
The term Kurmi has origin from the word Kurmanchal or Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The term Kurmi may be derived from an Indian tribal language, or may be a Sanskrit compound term krishi karmi, "agriculturalist." [3] Other theories include its being a derivative of kṛṣmi, "ploughman".[4]
History
Colonial descriptions
According to the Reverend Matthew Atmore Sherring: "The Kurmi has a strong, bony hand, natural to a man of his employment. He is frequently a tall and powerful man, outspoken and independent in manner, and is altogether free from cringing obsequiousness."[5]
Colonel Edward Tuite Dalton regards them as the descendants of some of the earliest Aryan colonists:
a brown, tawny-coloured people, of average height, well-proportioned, rather lightly framed, and with a fair amount of good looks. They show well-shaped heads and high features, less refined than Brahmans, less martial than Rajputs, of humbler mien even than the Goalas; but, except when they have obviously intermixed with aborigines, they are unquestionably Aryan in looks. Grey eyes and brownish hair are sometimes met with amongst them. The women have usually small and well-formed hands and feet [6]
Varna status debate
Though designated as Shudra in historical sources, the late-20th century historian William Pinch noted that the Kurmi "thought of themselves not as cosmically created servants (shudra) devoid of any history, but as the descendants of divine warrior clans (kshatriya) firmly rooted in the Indian past."[7]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Kurmis, along with other castes such as the Yadav, began to assert the claim that they had previously been Kshatriya and had been "reduced" to peasant status by circumstance.[8] The Kurmi embarked on a program of publications, public mobilisation, and temple-building to establish their Vaishnava credential and buttress their claims to Kshatriya status.[9] There claims have not been proven, though some scholars allow that such an argument can be made.[10] The Kurmis obtained some support from their claims from Brahmin scholars, who were eager to accommodate a caste group which had become politically powerful.[11] Satadal Dasgupta has noted that it is common for Indian lower castes to claim a higher varna, citing the Kurmi Kshatriya as an example.[12]
Politics
The Sardar Kurmi Kshatryia Sabha was organised in 1894 in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh (some sources say 1884[13]) to protest a government decision barring Kurmi recruitment into the police force. However, the influence of this organisation diminished at the end of the 19th century.[14] A similar Sabha was formed in Awadh, which sought to unite as "Kurmi" other castes such at the Patidar, Kapu, Vokkaliga, Reddy, Naidu, and Maratha.[7]
In its 5th conference in 1909, the Sabha[which?] changed its name to All India Kurmi Kshatriya Association,[citation needed] and the All India Kurmi Kshatriya Mahasabha (Association) was first registered at Patna in 1910. [14] This organisation promoted both secular and religious interests, supporting Sanskritisation and canvassing for the right to wear the sacred thread, but also pushing for preferential quotas as a backward class.[7]
In the early 1930s, the Kurmis joined with the Yadav and Koeri agriculturalists to enter elections, and in 1934 formed the Triveni Sangh political party, which had a million dues-paying members by 1936. However, the organisation was hobbled by competition from the Congress-backed Backward Class Federation and cooption of its leaders by the Congress party. The organisation also suffered due to the Yadav's "superiority complex" which limited their cooperation with the Kurmi. Similarly, a planned caste union with the Koeris, to be called Raghav Samaj, failed due to caste rivalries.[7]
Language
The Kurmi of Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam use to speak Kurmali language. Kurmi of other state speak their native and regional languages. In Bihar, Kurmi people speak the Magahi and Angika, while in Uttar Pradesh the Kurmi speak Hindi.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Aditya Pandey (2005). South Asia: Politics of South Asia. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 150–. ISBN 9788182053038. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ Various census of India. 1867. pp. 36–. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ a b Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya (1896). Hindu castes and sects: an exposition of the origin of the Hindu caste system and the bearing of the sects towards each other and towards other religious systems / Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya. Thacker, Spink. pp. 270–. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Gustav Salomon Oppert (February 1978). On the original inhabitants of Bharatavarṣa or India. Arno Press. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Matthew Atmore Sherring (1974). Hindu tribes and castes as represented in Benares. Cosmo Publications. p. 258. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ Dalton's Ethnology of Bengal - pg 320, cited in: Sir Herbert Hope Risley (1892). The tribes and castes of Bengal: Ethnographic glossary. Printed at the Bengal secretariat press. pp. 529–. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ a b c d Christophe Jaffrelot (2003). India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India. Columbia University Press. pp. 196–. ISBN 9780231127868. Retrieved 13 April 2011. Cite error: The named reference "Jaffrelot2003" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Journal of social and economic studies, Volume 11. A.N.S. Institute of Social Studies. 1994. p. 146. ISBN 9788124100677. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ William R. Pinch (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 98–. ISBN 9780520200616. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ The Caste System of Northern India. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 211–. ISBN 9788182054950. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ A. K. Lal; Bindeshwar Pathak (2003). Social exclusion: essays in honour of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 157–. ISBN 9788180690532. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Satadal Dasgupta (12 July 1993). Caste, Kinship and Community: Social System of a Bengal Caste. Orient Blackswan. pp. 32–. ISBN 9780863112799. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Ghanshyam Shah (2004). Caste and democratic politics in India. Anthem Press. pp. 15–. ISBN 9781843310853. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ a b Krishna Kumar Verma (1979). Changing role of caste associations. National. p. 13-16. Retrieved 10 May 2011. Cite error: The named reference "Verma1979" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
Further reading
- William R. Pinch (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520200616. Retrieved 13 April 2011.