Waddar

Waddar, sometimes called Vodra or Odde, is a traditional construction-oriented caste found in the Deccan Plateau. Their major concentration is in Maharashtra, but there are also populations in northern Karnataka and Telangana.

There is no certain knowledge of their origins. Colonial scholars, including Edgar Thurston, believed the name Vodra derives from Odra-desha, the old name for Odisha, and thus they must have come from there.[1] However the theory is only based on a speculation of the etymology of their name. In support of this, Thurston mentioned they had another language besides Telugu that could be related to Odia, but no other scholars have reported it. Based on linguistic evidence, the Waddars may actually come from the region now known as Andhra Pradesh or Telangana.[2]

The Waddars have traditionally been migratory. They were placed under the Criminal Tribes Act by the British. Their first caste association was formed in Chitradurga, Karnataka in 1940. They were later classified as a Denotified Tribe in Maharashtra. They traditionally do most construction, especially stone-crushing, earth-diigging and other similar jobs. Nowadays they are classified as a Backward Class in Telangana and as a Scheduled Caste in Karnataka.[2]

They speak the Waddar language, related to Telugu. The Marathi director Nagaraj Manjule is from this community.[3]