Chambhar

Chambhar, are artisan castes traditionally involved in leather work. They are also known as Chamar in North India.[1]

Chambhar
Regions with significant populations
• Maharashtra • Karnataka • Goa
Languages
• Marathi • Konkani • Varhadi dialect
Religion
Hinduism, Ravidasia, Lingayatism, Sikhism and Buddhism

History

Chambhars are one of the untouchable communities of Maharashtra. According to myth of their caste, they belong to the progeny of Hindu god, Shiva and have been Shaivites since ancient times. Chambhars are also Lingayat, since after reform movements of Basava.[2]

Chambhars are staunch follower of Guru Ravidass Sant Rohidas a prominent saint of Bhakti Movement. Sikh Community too follow Guru Ravidass as their holy saint Bhagat. His 41 Hymns are incorporated in Sikh Scripture Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji. There are around 100 Shrines outside India dedicated to Guru Ravidass.

Chambhars have many contributions in religious and reform movements, e.g - Haralayya (Karnataka region), Santbai, Dapa Muchi founder of Darpanarayani sect, etc.[3][4] Even prior to Bhakti movement Chambhars had consciousness of social upliftment and fought many times against oppression.

Chambhars were also part of Bara Balutedar system of Maharashtra and also worked as hereditary servicing castes of villages.[5] Historically, Chambhars are related to leather work but gradually they also moved towards midwifery, peasantry, poultry and industrial labour.[6]

Chambhars gave service to the rulers of their region by making leather products used in cavalry and later also worked as soldiers and guards for them. They played an important role in the armies of Maratha Empire and British Indian Army. A lot of Chambhars also served in Mahar Regiment but their recruitment got halted after the introduction of martial race theory.[7] In 1943, The Chamar Regiment was formed where a small no. of Marathi Chambhars also incorporated but still it was dominated by Chamars of North Indian.[8]

Social status

Chambhars enjoyed better position among untouchables unlike their counterparts of other states, e.g – Chamars of North India, Madigas of Andhra Pradesh, etc. Even they were part of mainstream business of local markets and economically welloff than other untouchables.[9]

Currently, Chambhars are in different fields and after the introduction of the reservation policy in India it helped a lot of them to improve their lifestyle.

They fall under Scheduled Caste category in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.[10]

Notables

See also

References
  1. Sharma, C. L. (1996). Social Mobility Among Scheduled Castes: An Empirical Study in an Indian State. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7533-015-3.
  2. Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
  3. Nadkarni, M. V. (18 June 2019). Socio-Economic Change and the Broad-Basing Process in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-08477-1.
  4. "Basavanna – A Man Who Rebelled Against Sanatana Tradition". NewsClick. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  5. Deshpande, Arvind M. (1987). John Briggs in Maharashtra: A Study of District Administration Under Early British Rule. Mittal Publications.
  6. Sinha, Surajit (1993). Anthropology of Weaker Sections. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-491-4.
  7. Religion and the legitimation of power in South Asia. Smith, Bardwell L., 1925–. Leiden: Brill. 1978. ISBN 90-04-05674-2. OCLC 4277681.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. M, Dilip; al (15 April 2019). "Brave Ahirs & honourable Chamars: Army 'regiments' with more than just caste on their side". ThePrint. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. Sadangi, Himansu Charan (2008). Emancipation of Dalits and Freedom Struggle. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8205-481-3.
  10. DH News Service (13 January 2018). "The rising Dalit anger". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. Schouten, Jan Peter (1995). Revolution of the Mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-81-208-1238-3.
  12. Srinivasalu Reddy, B. S. (21 November 2011). "Dalit Inc gets leg up from Milind Kamble". India Today. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. Guha, Ramachandra (2012), Mills, James (ed.), "'The Moral that can be Safely Drawn from the Hindus' Magnificent Victory': Cricket, Caste and the Palwankar Brothers", Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia, Anthem Press, pp. 83–106, doi:10.7135/upo9781843317609.005, ISBN 978-1-84331-760-9
  14. "India's first Dalit cricketer Palwankar Baloo fought against caste barriers on the field and off it". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  15. "The 'Untouchable' Cricketer Who Challenged the British & His Fellow Countrymen". The Better India. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  16. Bytes, Corporate (4 May 2017). "Ashok Khade, Son of a Cobbler Now Owns a Firm with Rs 500 Cr Turnover". Corporate Bytes. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  17. Ashraf, Ajaz. "The Una reminder: Why we need to heal historical wounds caused by notions of purity and pollution". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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