DHANGAR: THE OLDEST COMMUNITY OF INDIA

Dhangar

Dhangar
Classification: Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय)
Clans: 108
Significant populations in: India
Language Marathi, Hindi,Kurukh, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Gojri, Dogri.
Religion Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism

THE DHANGAR IS THE OLDEST COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD. AND ONE OF THE OLDEST COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD, THE WORLD DHANGAR IS COMES FROM DEVNAGERI LANGUAGE WHICH MEANS IS THE OLDEST COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD. THE GUJAR , AHIR, BRAHAMIN, KURMI WRE DERIVED FROM DHANGAR



The Dhangar (Sanskrit / Devanāgarī: ‘‘‘धनगर’’’) caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The literal translation of the name Dhangar is "Wealthy". The Dhangars of the Northern or Southern India are reasonably considered to belong to the same race.[1] The word Dhangar is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Dhenu' or Cow. They are called by different synonyms like Dhangar, Dhangad and Dhanpal. Dhang also means a hill or a mountain. During the times of hardship some Kshatriyas went to the mountains and hills with their sheep and cows and stayed in the forests: these people are called Dhangars.[2]

The “Ain-i-Akbari” describes them as being a proud, refractory and domineering race of Rajputs, living in the Basim Sircar and, with numerous armed forces, occupying the forts and controlling the surrounding districts.[1][3][4] Their original home is said to be Gokul Vrindavan near Mathura. From Gokul they are said to be moved to Mewar and from Mewar to have spread into Gujarat and Maharashtra.[5][6]

Krishna was Dhangar.[7][8][9] Nand Meher, the foster father of Lord Krishna, also belonged to this caste.[5][6][10]

Initially there were twelve tribes of Dhangar and they had a division of labour amongst brothers of one family. This later formed three sub-divisions and one half division (3.5). These three being Hatkar (Shepherds), Ahir (Cowherds) or Mhaskar (Buffalo keepers), and Khutekar and Sangar (Wool and Blanket weavers). The half division is called Khateek or Khatik (Butchers). All sub-castes fall in either of these divisions. All sub-divisions emerge from one stock and all sub-divisions claim to be a single group of Dhangars. Studies have revealed that they are genetically the closest.[11][12] The number three and a half is not a random selection but has a religious and cosmological significance.[13][14]Contents [hide]


Sub castes

Ahirs, Pal-Pali, Patpatia, Baghel, Mhaskar / Bargujar / Gurjar, Hatkar (Assal/Assali)/ Bargi / Barahatti / Barhatta / Bargahi / Baragahi / Bande (Revolutionary) / Zende (Brave) / Bhillari / Khillari / Metkari /Sargar/ Dange / Bakarwal / Pohol / Bharwad / Shippi / Banne / Kuruba (meaning trustworthy) / Kanore / Kanade /Katmore/ Kurmar / Kurbar / Kurumbar / Idaiyan / Idaiyar / Idaiga / Konar / Gavali / Golla / Mohaniya, Neekhar/Nikher, Khutekar / Gire / Dewanga / Kshitri / Khatri, Kuktekar, Sagar, Sengar / Sangar / Shegar, Lad Mendhe / Ladse, Jhade / Jhadi / Zade, Hulwan, Konkani, Mahure / Mahurai, Telange, Tellari, Warhade / Varadi / Barade,[15] Khatik / Rangiya / Chikva / Kasai / Ghodchade / Solankar / Sunkhar / Birwal Jain / Badgujar / Vihari Vaishya / Meve Farosh / Halal / Kalal / Chakhana Kakal / Bakar Kasab / Purbiya / Kaseruval / Lad / Katik, Oraon, Talwar, Banjara / Vanjara ,[16] Kambar, Shirotya, Utekar, Gadge,[2][17] Yadav Gawli.[18] Dhangars are also called as Gauli/Govali/Gavali/ in Karnataka and Goa.

The Dhangars ignore the subcastes and project themselves only as Dhangars.
Origin and history

Captain Fitzgerald had observed that ‘the general idea is that originally there were Twelve Tribes of Bargi-Dhangars, who came from Hindustan, and the country about Hingoli was called Bara Hatti (Hatkar)’. The term Bara-Hatti could thus mean a country of the Dhangars of twelve hattis. The term Hatkar is derived from hatti. According to the Dravidian Etymological Dictionary, h(p)atti has the following meanings: pen (Kannada), hamlet (Malayalam), cowstall, sheepfold (Tamil). A hatti would therefore mean a sheep pen or a camp or a settlement of sheep-keepers. In the old Kannada lexicon hattikara occurs as a synonym of govali, or cowherds. These etymological linkages indicate a connection between the sheep and cattle keepers. The term means a camp of sheep-cattle keepers. Bara-hatti means a village consisting of twelve vadis. The vadi constitutes 20-23 Dhangar families.[19][20][21][22]

The word “hat” means obstinacy in Marathi and “hatti” means being obstinate. Therefore "Hatkar" means people who are obstinate. Captain Fitzgerald made the following observation:- “The Hatkars declare that they came prior to the Nizam becoming subhedar of Deccan[23] on behalf of the King of Delhi. The Hatkars are all Bargi Dhangars, or the Shepherds with the Spears. The Hatkars say that they formerly, when going on any expedition, took only a blanket seven hands long and a bear-spear (Barcha/Barchi in Marathi), and that on this account they were called Bargir, or Barga Dhangars. The temper of Hatkars is said to be obstinate and quarrelsome.[24][25] The great national weapon of Maratha country during Shivaji era was the Spear.[26][27]

Raghuji Karande ( Marathi : रघुजी कारंडे ) was the General of the Army of the Nagpur kingdom of Bhosale's i.e. of Raghoji I Bhonsle and Janoji Bhonsle. He had the entire army of Nagpur Bhosales under his command and was directly responsible only to them. He was considered to be one of the most capable and trustworthy persons of the Bhosales.[28][29] They are industrious, honest and sincere. “Truthful as a Dhangar” is a proverb.[30]

They are even now noted for their martial qualities and readily become soldiers. The armies of Shivaji were composed of recruits mainly drawn from this caste who were the most trusted by Shivaji. The bravest Maratha leaders, among whom the Holkars are the most distinguished, are of this tribe.[1][3] The Dhangars furnished a valuable contingent to Sivaji's guerilla soldiery. The battle cry of the Marathas, “Har Har Mahadeo”, was used by the Dhangars—showing that Mavalas or the soldiers of Shivaji were Dhangars.[31] These people of Maval or mountain valley above the Ghats were called Mavalas and below the Ghats towards the sea were called Hetkaris. Dhangars were thus the first people who became the soldiers of Shivaji.[32][33]

At the time of his Coronation, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj showed that he belonged to the Gahlot (i.e. Sisodiya / Ranas of Mewar) Clan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to this caste.[34][35]

The Shepherds of Maratha country are called Marathe (Marhatta (Singular) / Marhatte (Plural)/ Bar-hatta, i.e. Hatkar) (Hatkars of Western Maharashtra and Konkan are also called Maratha Dhangar).[31] The Prakrit word Marhatta is found in Jain Maharashtri literature.[36][37][38] Shahu Maharaj coined the word Maratha for the peasant section i.e. Kunbi. Historically "Maratha" was a common term used for people of Maharashtra region that speak Marathi.[39] Today, however, the term "Maratha" refers only to those Marathi-speaking people who also belong to certain specific Hindu castes: for one available listing, refer to Maratha clan system. Thus, the terms “Maratha people" and "Maratha-Dhangar" are not interchangeable and should not be confused for each other. All Dhangars of Western Maharashtra and Konkan / Marhatta country, like Holkars, can be termed Marathas, but all Marathas are not Dhangars.[40][41][42]

The Dhangar name is exclusively used for the Shepherd Caste of Maharashtra. The Dhangar community is one of the oldest existing communities of India, tracing its history back to Mahabharata times. They have originated several ruling dynasties, most recently the Holkars of Indore. Prominent Dhangars have been Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya, founders of the Vijayanagara Empire. Dhangars have founded the Hoysalas, Holkar, Rashtrakutas, Maurya, Pallav dynasties. In addition the poets Kalidasa and Kanakadasa were also Dhangars.[2] The famous Vithoba temple at Pandharpur was built by Vishnuvardhana, a Dhangar from the Hoysala Dynasty.[43] The famous Meenakshi temple was built by Pallavas who were Dhangars.[2] There is a tradition that Deoghur or Daulatabad was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquiring by some unusual good fortune vast wealth was named by his brother shepherds Rajah Ram and soon after assumed the rank of a Raja.[44] This warrior community, in the districts of Nanded, Parbhani and Berar, across the Painganga River, were in open rebellion from 1798 A. D. till 1820 A. D. under the brave leadership of Novsaji Naik and had taken possession of a number of strongholds.[45]

Traditionally being Warriors, Shepherds, Cowherds, Buffalo keepers, Blanket & Wool Weavers, Butchers and Farmers, Dhangars were late to take up modern day education. Though it has a notable population not only in Maharashtra but also in India, had a rich history, today it is still politically highly disorganized community and is socially, educationally, economically and politically backward. They lived a socially isolated life due to their occupation, wandering mainly in forests, hills and mountains.[46]

For the affirmative action or the Reservation in India they are distributed into Advanced Class, Other Backward Class, Nomadic Tribe, Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste throughout India.

In Maharashtra though they were classified as extremely backward since Independence they got reservation in 1990 after peaceful and non-violent agitation in 1989. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi told the State Government to immediately implement the Scheduled Tribe status but the Sharad Pawar led State government deprived the ST status and included them as Nomadic Tribe in 1990. The Creamy layer is excluded from reservations. In 2004, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a rally at Pandharpur declared that if BJP lead NDA comes to power they would immediately confer the ST status. The All India Dhangar Association is still fighting to get the ST status.
see main article Dhangar Scheduled tribe issue
Kuldaivat

Jejuri is a temple in Maharashtra. The God of Jejuri - Khandoba (Lord Shiva), the husband of Banai (from the Dhangar caste), is popular amongst the Dhangars as it is their Kuladaivat.[47] Khandoba, the god of shepherd community literally means "swordsmans father" and is the guardian deity of Deccan.[48] Dhangars worship various forms of god, including Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati and Mahalaxmi as their Kuldaivat, like Khandoba, Biroba, Mhasoba, Dhuloba (Dhuleshwar), Vithoba, Janai-Malai, Tulai, Yamai, Padubai, Ambabai. They generally worship the temple of these Gods that is nearest to their residence which becomes their kuladev and kuladevi.[49]

Other Kuldaivat in Amravati District of Maharashtra are situated at Sawanga near Yawali. These are locally known as Devi of Sawanga and Hud Mai (Kul Devi). These temples are visited by large number of devotees around the year. Rituals such as Jawale (offering first hairs of child), Kuldaivat Havan Puja and prayers (Puja) by newly wed are common here. Construction of Temple for Hud Mai will begin in October 2011 after the rainy season.
Dhangari Gaja

This is a dance form performed by Dhangars of Solapur district of Maharashtra. Their poetry is mainly inspired by the evergreen trees all around. The poetry is in a form called 'Ovi' which is made up of couplets. These poems also contain tales of the birth of their God "Biruba" or Birappa or Viroba, in simple and basic lines. The group of dancers surrounds the drum players and move at the drummers' rhythm.[50][51]
Clans in India

See also List of Dhangar clans in India.

Dhangars are Kshatriyas.[52][53] Dhangars employ Brahmins for religious and ceremonial purposes.[54]

Dhangars are believed to be Indo-Aryans as the Aryans were shepherds. Dhangar follow many rituals which were followed by Aryans.[55][56]

The word Gotra is derived from the word "Go" meaning Cow. In ancient times wealth used to be measured by the number of cows. The cows of one Kula used to be kept together which was termed Gotra this was later termed as Kula Gotra. Marriage in the Kula of one's own Pravaras is prohibited.[57] Ethoven has listed 108 such exogamous groups of Dhangars. However Gautama Sutra has given two remedies for such marriages i.e. "Sutrakali Chandrayan, Kruch Prayaschit". Widow Remarriage and Divorce is permitted and Divorced wives are at liberty to marry again.[58]

Allama Prabhu, President of Lingayat Temple at the time of allowing saint Rewad in the temple stated

"Kuruba Hutavamunna Kulavilla Gotra Villam, Kuruban fal kani Basawanna."

meaning

"Before the Dhangars there were no gotras, gotras came with Dhangars, Basawanna, we are the descendants of Dhangars".

This shows that many Lingayats were Dhangars previously.[2]

Enthoven in his observations has listed 22 Endogamous groups (Sub-Castes) and 108 Exogamous groups (Clans) of Dhangars (Enthoven 1920:311). It should be recorded that the list of the 22 Endogamous groups and 108 Exogamous groups of Dhangars, as provided by Enthoven, is not exhaustive.[59]
Kingdoms
Ajpal Chauhan.[60] Founder of Ajmer city, Chauhan Dynasty.
Prithvi Raj Chauhan
Bappa Rawal.[61] Founder of Gahlot/Sisodia/Mewar Dynasty. Descendant of Lord Rama.
Maharana Pratap
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.[34][35][35] Founder of Marhatta Empire
Holkars (Marhatta Empire)
Malhar Rao Holkar
Punyaslok Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar
Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar.
The Great Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar
Bhimabai Holkar.
Hoysalas
Kadamba[2][62][63][64]
Karande
Raghuji Karande. General of Army of Nagpur kingdom of Raghoji I Bhonsle.[29][65]
Krishnaji Karande. Subedar (Governor or Military and Administrative head) in Nagpur kingdom of Bhonsle.[66]
Maurya[67][68]
Chandragupta Maurya
Ashoka the Great
Novsaji Naik.[69]
Pallavas[70][71]
Rashtrakutas[2]
Amoghavarsha the Great.
Rao Sheoji of Rathod Clan
Rao Jodha founder of Jodhpur city.
Sangolli Rayanna
Vijaynagar Empire[72][73]
Baghel/Vaghela of Rewa (Madhya Pradesh)
Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri.[44]
Academic / Teachers
Dr. Babasaheb P. Bandgar. VC, Solapur University
Military
General Sri Nagesh
Members of Parliament
Bandaru Dattatreya - Former Union Minister.
Siddaramaiah - Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.
D.K.Naiker - Former KPCC president.
Dr Y.Nagappa - Former Minister
H.Vishwanath - Former Minister
K.S.Eshwarappa - BJP Leader and Irrigation Minister
Kollur Mallappa- Former MP of Raichur.
Social Workers / Reformists
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy Nayakar
Dr. Shyam Singh Shashi (awarded Padma Shri in 1990)
Kancha Ilaiah - Social Activist and Writer
Film/Television
B.V. Radha - Veteran Character Actor in Kannada Movies.
Sharad Yashwant Goekar. - National award: Best Child Artist : Tingya (Marathi Movie)



SANDEEP GHUGHERE DHANGAR MAHARASTRA
GADDERIA ANIL TIGER
GADDERIA SACHIN TIGER
AMIT KIUMAR PAL
SACHIN PANDEY