Kunbi

Kunbi
Classification	Hindu Kshatriya
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Marathi, konkani,Gujrati, 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,singh

People from the Kunbi (also called Kurmi) community in India belong to a sub-caste of the Kshatriya varna. The word kunabi is a generic term equivalent to farmer in English.According to the great indian mythology God Rama had two sons one Luv and other Kush. Luv's successors came to known as lavyas who settled in Kashmir and later moved towardsTother parts of the country mentioned below . Successors of kush came to be known as Kushwahas . who basically setteled in northern plains of India. Kurmis (then known as patildars) used to be governing bodies patildars in gujrat,maharastra ,south india , sindh, kashmir,eastern afganistan plains, indus valley and parts of pakistan before invasion of aaryans.Then were owners of land and gave that for farming in pattas. Owners of pattas were called patidars>>patildars>>patil&patel lateron and they furthur got subdivided into many other subcasts atharvavanshi or atharvansi, jaisawars ,katiyars , kannaujia etc History indicates that kunbi also called kurmi and are original native of india they originated here and lived here before aaryans . Invasion of aaryans forced them to settle them in southern parts of the country.

In India, societies like Kshatriyas Maratha, Rajput, Yadav, Gujjar, Raju, and others possess ruling powers but later due to population expansion and other causes they also worked or lived as farmers and formed corresponding societies.

Kshatriyas and agriculture

"A Kshatriya who has fallen into distress, may subsist by all these means..."

— Laws of Manu, X:95

As per ancient Hindu texts, agriculture is permissible to Kshatriyas under special circumstances in the absence of opportunities in the military and feudal apparatus of a righteous Aryan king. Indeed, the service in the army of an unrighteous, or a 'Yavana', or a 'Maleccha', king was the biggest imaginable anathema for a concentious and observant vedic kshatriya in ancient India. A vedic kshatriya was not a mercenary soldier but a defender of faith and righteous order (dharma).

Culture

Some Hindu-Kunbis perform the Upanayana Samskara as per their family traditions which is as per the original clan they follow,though it is not a compulsion & at places not considered right amongst themselves. In the past Kunbis have larger houses - some were called WADA, some were GADHI (fortressed complex) and some also had KEELLA (a fort). Most of the historical evidences are managed and maintained by National (India) and State (Maharashtra) level government departments, although there are many families who maintain their own set of documents or evidences as a mark of family assets. Large scale Kunbi farmers generally maintain large herds of dairy cattle and a number of horses.

List of famous Saints

• Saint Tukaram A 17th Century popular poet.

• Siddharameshwar Maharaj A guru of Nondualism, a saint of Solapur and guru of Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjith Maharaj.

• Nisargadatta Maharaj One of the world famous disciples of Siddharameshwar Maharaj and author of book I Am That.He has many international disciples who are famous and preach in USA, Europe & Australia. Some of his disciples are John Wheeler & Bob Adamson.

• Rashtra Saint Tukdoji Maharaj A national saint, musician and social reformer. He wrote Gramgeeta for rural development.

Maratha Kunabi Society

Kunabi Maratha is Cluster of Royal 96 clans and Peasantry Class of Maharashtra and also Maratha Royalties Proclaimed themeselves farmer as they were landlords.Royal 96 clans marry among only Maratha Farmers i.e.Maratha Kunabi ,not other Kunabi's from non-maratha cast.

Kunbis, also known as Kunbi Marathas, are a Maratha sub-caste residing primarily in provinces of India such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka etc.

Betul District (Madhya Pradesh) is one of the higher kunbi population place.

List of other Saints

• Shree Saint Gulabrao Maharaj was blind from birth. He preached Vedas to the Brahmins.

• Shree Sant Gadaji Maharaj A saint, visionary leader and social reformer in 1700. He saved his own village from the mughal occupation and became famous for his extraordinary leadership and visionary speeches. Nearly 20 thousand people gather on holy occasions to remember him.

List of famous Kunbi women

• Lalita Pawar was a Bollywood actor known as the The Mother of all mothers-in-law in films. She was born into a rich Yevle family of Nashik and was married to Raj Prakash Gupta and lived in Pune. She started her career in silent films in 1928 and acted in more than 500 Hindi and Marathi films.

• Smita Patil was a Bollywood actor who was the first Asian cine-star to have the unique honor of Retrospectives in Paris and La Rochelle, (at the promptings of no less a film luminary than Director Costa Gavras), a two-time Best Actress award winner at the National Film Festival (Bhumika and Chakra) and a Padmashree. She was a keen photographer and died at the age of 31.

• Smt Prabha Rau is now the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and is the former president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committie. She is a sports person and has represented Maharashtra in the long jump, high jump, hurdles, discus throw and running. She is also a musician, and holds a Masters degree in Politics and Music.

• Smt Kumud Pawade was a renowned Sanskrit scholar, author and a professor. She was born in Nagpur in 1938 into a Mahar family considered to be untouchable before the 1950s. She married Motiram Pawade a social worker who was from a Maratha family. She was also the president of All India Progressive Woman's Organization.

• Mrs Ujjwala Raut-Sterry is India's most accomplished supermodel now settled in the US. She has won awards in both India and internationally for her performance as a model. Born and brought up in Mumbai, she is married to British film producer Craig Maxwell Sterry. She has also been on the cover of Time magazine.

• 'Miss India Sayali Bhagat', A famous bollywood actress is from Nasik

List of famous Kunbi men

• Yashaskara, King of Kashmir[1]. After the Utpala dynasty, a Yashaskara became king. (V 469). He was a great-grandson of a Viradeva, a Kutumbi (V 469). He was from the kutumbi group (also known as kurmis of UP and Kunbis of Gujarat/Maharashtra) and the son of a treasurer of Karkota Shamkaravarman.

• Shri Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil His father was a small scale farmer and Shivajirao as a child used to sell vegetables in Mumbai. At one time he even struggled to get daily bread. He got his first job as a peon in Zenith Computers a software company based in Mumbai. With his company owner's support, he started taking part time classes in English. This company was a turning point for him and later on he started his own company Dynalog Limited, that supplies electronics good to Defense, Education and Industries. Shivajirao's company has now grown into famous venture well known in India and Internationally. Shivajirao has won numerous awards for his achievement both at state and national level. Due to trouble faced him in getting education during his childhood, he started a school for kids. Besides being a Industrialist he is a Member of Parliament from Shiv Sena.

• Dr Shrikant Jichkar, MP, Member of Rajya Sabha, Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra holds 20 postgraduate degrees. He has obtained 28 Gold Medals. Between 1972 and 1990 he wrote 42 University Examinations. He was also IPS officer and IAS officer. At 25 years of age, he became the Youngest MLA in India. He was also leading Indian delegations on several forums including the UNO, UNESCO. He is founder of Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas (India's firstSanskrit University). He is Managing Editor of Nagpur Times and Nagpur Patrika and Founding Chairman of National Institute of Amateur Radio. (The Guinness World Records lists him as 'Politician with most qualifications'. He was the first Non-Brahmin to be awarded the Dixit Title)

• Sandeep Patil is a cricket player and former coach of the Kenya Cricket Team that reached World Cup Semi-Finals in 2003. He had a record for six fours in a cricket over.

• Barrister S. K. Wankhede is a former BCCI President and State Minister. He was married to the late Smt Kusumtai (from a Brahmin family) who greatly contributed to his career success. Due to his contribution to Indian cricket a stadium was named after him.

• Shri Anant Geete is a Member of Parliament and former Union Minister of Power. He is involved in power reforms that started during orthodox BJP Led-NDA central government. He belongs to Konkan Region.

• Shri Datta Meghe is Educationists, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. He runs several educational institutes in Mumbai and Central India.

• Dr Atul Gawande is a second generation Harvard professor and doctor, who is also a columnist in US. He was a student at Stanford and Oxford.[2]

• Late Dwarkanath Laxman Mhaskar known as Dadasaheb was the President of Tillori Kunbi Maratha Samaj (Mumbai). He has worked with his father Late Laxman Krishnaji Mhaskar in Govt central press, Mumbai when the freedom movement started, he later gave his resignation and got involved in to the movement. He was even attached with various school and colleges, as donor and committee member. He was vice president of Mumbai Sharirik Shikshan Mandal Headed by Late Appa Samant(Fanas wadi Koliwadi). Also he had formed Maharashtara Rajya Hu-tu-tu Maha Mandal. He has arranged many tournaments in Mumbai and Rest of the state. He had formed Shreerang Co-operative Housing Society Limited, with help of Late S K Wankhede,(Former State Finance Minister) and Sumati Devi Dhanavte (M.L.A.)frm Nagpur. This was the biggest Housing Society in India. He even participated in the separation of Mumbai region from Sanyukta Maharashtra. He even went to jail during this movement. Govt of Maharashtra awarded him as Justice of Peace for 35 years. He has traveled abroad for many social seminar in many countries. He died in May 88 in Thane. Facts by Anant Dwarkanath Mhaskar and Amar Anant Mhaskar.

• Rajnikanth also known as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad is an Indian Tamil and Bollywood actor, born in Bangalore. He was a former bus conductor before he entered the film industry. he is the second highest paid actor in Asia after Action star Jacki Chan, he is the most popular star in Indian filims .Rajnikanth is a follower of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

• Harish Raut (1925–2002) was born in Bordi. He was one of the best painters and his paintings appear in national galleries, government offices, museums in India and abroad and on greeting cards. He has won several state and national awards for his painting. His paintings mainly focus on rural life in India. His natural skill was identified and furthered by Government of Maharashtra.
• Anilmahajan Pandagre A Youngest person a famous Socialworkar & Administer kunbi community webparchayika ...[3] At present he is active kunbi,s Data colection in india.

• Dr. R B Thakare Former adviser to World Bank and Asian Development Bank. He obtained his PhD from University of California, Berkly. He is a widely recognized expert in the field of [Agriculture]. He has number of publications in international journals and is a Board of Member on various universities and institutes in India. At present he is active in India solving farmers problems.

• Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh was a famous social reformer, educationists and freedom fighter in Vidarbha. He was the founder of Shivaji Education Society at Amravati and was a Union Minister of Agriculture in Pandit Nehru's government. He completed his Ph.D at University of Cambridge. He returned to India was involved in reforms and was also associated with Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.

• Dr. Datta Samant was a medical doctor by profession but came to be known as a very powerful Trade Union leader and was elected as a Member of Parliament. He had seen the plight of his own poverty-stricken patients who were stone factory workers. He was assassinated probably because he got entangled in business rivalry of Dhirubhai Ambani, Khatau family, Nusli Wadia, other textile industrialists and Trade Unions. During this time Bombay was getting an influx of workers from all over India. Dr Samant was assassinated by underworld thugs and during his time the Communist Party was influential in Bombay.[4]. Bal Thackeray had a similar vision of Dr Samant which still remains incomplete.

• Sanjay Raut A famous Shiv Sena member and a journalist by profession. He is the Editor of Shiv Sena daily news paper Saamna. He is also a Member of Parliament.

• Aditya Raut Youngest person in the world to swim across five continental channels [5]

• Shaheed Major Manishi Pitambare recipient of Kranti Chakra, died in Kashmir valley while fighting with militants was from Murabad in Thane District

• Eknath Solkar A famous cricket fielder from Ratnagiri district.

List of common surnames

It is quite common in the state of Maharashtra that the following family names are used by other castes.

• AGONDE,Adlak,Adik, Aware, Akalkar, Amtekar, Ambekar, Ambdaskar, Agre, Atkare
• Bachale,BAGAVE,Bandbe, Burade, Bhalerao, Bhad, Brahmankar, Bele,Bhagavath, Bhende, Bhuwad,Bhogate, Bhonde,Bhopte, Bhoyar, Belkar,Betkar, Bhoir,Bole, Bodhale, Bante, Bhosale, Bhute, Bhujade, Baraskar, Bhurkunde, Bhedurkar Balgude,Bhusari,Bhagat, Bandabuche, Babhare, Bonde, Bargode
• Chaudhari, Chaudhary, Chadokar, Chavde
• Dandley,Dhone, Dhore, Dhuldhar, Dhorey, Dhote, Dinkar, Dange, Dongre, Dore, Desai, Dhawle, Dhanwate, Deshmukh, Deoskar, Deorkar, Dhamankar, Dhande, Dhongade, Dubey, Dhamakar, Dhadse, Dakhore,Dhumak, Dhavad,Dhavade ,Dhanke ,Dandkar ,Dalvi ,Dumbre,date, Fuke, fawade
• GONBARE,GAUTADE,Gaonkar, Geete, Gurve, Gaithonde, Gore, Gode, Gaikwad, Gedam, Gawhade, Gawande, Gurve, Gaidhane, Gharat, Gavankar, Govale ,Gholap,Gavale,Gopale
• Harad,Halmare,Hande, Hathonde, Hatankar
• Javanjal, Junarkar, Jichkar, Jharbade, Jagdale ,Jogale ,Jagtap,Jadhav,Jumde,Jumade, Junghari
• Kapale,Karade, Kadu, Kafre, Kare, Kavrase, Khandar, Khade, Khotele, Kadam, Kedar, Katole , Kor, Kahalkar, Khambe, Khade, Khapare, Khedekar, Kulat, Kalambe, Karbele, Kashte , Kore, Kadhav, Kindarle, Kuttarmare, Kubade, Kuche, Kumbhare, Kale
• Lunge, Lalke, Lambat, Lode, Lohe, Lande,Lade, Lakade, Lute,Ligam, Jumle, Lanjewar, Likhitkar
• Ingle, Ingole, Ishwarkar
• Mali,Mhaskar, Mohodkar, Mohod, Mohol, Misal, Mathankar, Mandavkar, More, Munde,Mahajan, Manik, Mate, Mane,Mahalle, Mankar,Mahalle ,Magar, Mate,Mugul,masaki.
• Naskar, Narkar, Nadkar,Nawange, Nagle, Nagale, Narale, Navalkar, Naik, Nayak, Nigam, Nikhade, Nikunj, Nakhate, Neman ,Nichite ,Nipurte,Nimbare, Nagapure
• Phadkale,Paste,Pabley, Parimal, Patil, Pawar, Pandey, Pashte, Pawade, Panse, Pongale, Podey, Pimple, Pimpale, Premkhede, Padave, Padole , Pandagre,puwar
• Rode, Raut, Rane, Rasal,Raul, Rewale, Raonag ,Raul , Raundal, Rasekar , Reddy
• Singh,Sonar, Sonare, Sagne, Shinde, Sable, Sawant, Satope, Salve, Shinde, Shelar, Solkar, Shigvan, Shelokar, Sarve,Shelke,Shirke
• Tatte, Tale, Talar,Taiwade, Thakur, Thakre,Thamke ,Taley, Tambe, Tayde, TEKADE,Thape, Tope, Thombare, Ture, Temkar, Tupte, Tichkule, Thengne, There
• Uparker, Tijare, Talware,Titarmare, Thaokar,Thawale, Thawakar
• Vaidya
• VEER,Virkhare,Vise, Vishe, Vikhe, Vekhande
• Wankhade, Walke, Wankhede, Watonde, Wagadre, Wagh, Waghe, Warhade,wadhai,Wadkar,Watane,waghmare, Wandhre, Wadaskar, Wasade
• Yeole,Yawale
• Zurmoore, Zooting, Zade, Zanjal

Demographics

Historical social Structure in Central India

Kunbis of Maharashtra are known as Marathas as they form the farming section of Marathas. Kunbis from Maharashtra have a 12 and 1/2 (also known as Saade Bara) clan system. The 12 clans predominantly consist of Indo-Aryan races and 1/2 part consists of other clans. Names of clans are listed below[6]

• Dhanoje - Located in Vidarbha region. Mainly farming. Few Dhanoje kunbi's are very rich in Chandrapur region. Many of them have started education institutes in vidarbha region. They are mainly into farming and but with time youth of this caste is now well educated and settled in other parts of country and in foreign countries. Strong presence in the politics of Vidarbha region especially Amarawati, Chandrapur, Yeotmal.

• Tirale, most prosperous caste in number of parts of Maharashtra and now dominant in politics in Vidarbha and Khandesh. (Tirole is the most ancient of all the sub castes and represents the Rajputs from Therol from Rajputana)[7][8]
• Lonari (Farming,business)

• Vandhekars (i.e Deshmukhs) and Jadhav (administration, business, farming and now politically dominant)
• Ahire,
• Bawne:located in Bhandara and Nagpur district. Mainly farmer community and well learned and works in govt. and private firms. Dominant as population wise in most of the villages in Bhandara and Kuhi tahsil, Ramtek and Umred tahsil villages.

Vanjari and Dhanoje (money lenders, business and farming)

• Lonare, Zade, Beldar, Ghatole, Killedar and Dhakane
• Mana, Kare, Karadi and Khedule
• Khaire and Jungli (tribals involved in farming)
• Jadhavs with surnames Sonar, sonare, khapare, dhuldhar, bhurkunde, Tatte, Bhad, Deshmukh reside mainly in Vidharbha specially in western regions like Amaravati.
• Valte:Located in Vijapur (Duparepada)in Wada Tehsil & Thane District...Have only one family byt now it is distributed into the 4-5 families at Duparepada,Kudus,Sarshi & supegaon...Mahesh Valte

See also

• Kunabi Sena
• Kherlanji Massacre
• see also kurmi
• see also Kapu
• see also Gurjar
• see also Kudumbi

External links

• Kshatriya lonari kunbi Samaj [9]
• Patidar Samaj Online[10]
• Marathi Leva Samaj[11]
• Global Kurmi Group[12]
• Patidar Samaj[13]
• OBC INFORMATION by SHAILENDRA WAGADRE APAAX AT www.obcguru.com [14]