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== History ==
== History ==
According to [[Gopal Chandra Praharaj|G.Praharaj]], in old days those who came forward to save the native kingdom with their swords when it was in trouble, were granted the title of Khandayat. People of all castes could enjoy this title.<ref name="Pani1988">{{cite book|author=Subas Pani|title=Glimpses of History and Culture of Balasore|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=im1DAAAAYAAJ&dq=khandayat+shudra&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=khandayat+title|year=1988|publisher=Orissa State Museum}}</ref> The Cowherd, Oda (cultivater) and some Mali enjoyed the jagir, since this title was granted to Gauda, Oda and Mali. But later the Khandayat title changed to a community, it can be says Khandayat is only a title.<ref name="Das1979">{{cite book|author=H. C. Das|title=Resources and Responses in Two Orissan Villages: The Influence of the New State Capital, 1950-1970|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=cPgEAAAAMAAJ&dq=khandayat+title+gauda&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Oda|year=1979|publisher=Punthi Pustak}}</ref>
Traditionally they are quasi-martial caste, who claim to be of [[Kshatriya]] status. Castes such as [[Adivasi]]<nowiki/>s, [[Bhuyan|Bhuyans]], [[Chasa (caste)|Chasas]], and [[Agharia|Agharias]] started identifying as Khandayats in order to gain status, distance themselves from their original castes/communities, and exploit [[Zamindar]] land rights.<ref name=":7"/> While Khandayats were of high status, they were considered to be [[Shudra|Shudras]] by [[Brahmin|Brahmins]] due to the majority of Khandayats being peasants. Pradhan also attributes this to Brahmin patronage of [[Rajput|Rajputs]], who also claimed to be of Kshatriya status.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pradhan|first=Prasanta Kumar|date=1996|title=Story of the Peasant Militias or the Khandayats or Orissa: A Socio-Historical Approach|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44133394|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=57|pages=752-745|via=JSTOR}}</ref>

Traditionally they are quasi-martial caste, who claim themselves to be of [[Kshatriya]] status, but they are placed in the [[Shudra]] varna category.<ref name="Congress1997">{{cite book|author=Indian History Congress|title=Proceedings|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZfltAAAAMAAJ&dq=khandayat+sudra&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=sudra|year=1997|publisher=Indian History Congress}}</ref> Castes such as [[Adivasi]]<nowiki/>s, [[Bhuyan|Bhuyans]], [[Chasa (caste)|Chasas]], and [[Agharia|Agharias]] started identifying as Khandayats in order to gain status, distance themselves from their original castes/communities, and exploit [[Zamindar]] land rights.<ref name=":7"/> While Khandayats were of high status, they were considered to be [[Shudra|Shudras]] by [[Brahmin|Brahmins]] due to the majority of Khandayats being peasants. Pradhan also attributes this to Brahmin patronage of [[Rajput|Rajputs]], who also claimed to be of Kshatriya status.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pradhan|first=Prasanta Kumar|date=1996|title=Story of the Peasant Militias or the Khandayats or Orissa: A Socio-Historical Approach|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44133394|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=57|pages=752-745|via=JSTOR}}</ref>


Khandayats who had fought were given lands or "[[jagir]]s" according to their rank and success in the battlefield. Because of this, by the end of 19th century, most landholdings became part and parcel of people from the Khandayat community. However, with all of Odisha and India coming under East India Company rule, land was minutely distributed among people of other castes such as [[Utkala Brahmin|Brahmin]] and [[Karanam|Karana]], so as to not make Khandayat the only dominant force, politically, in Odisha.<ref name=":7"/>{{page number needed|date=May 2021}}
Khandayats who had fought were given lands or "[[jagir]]s" according to their rank and success in the battlefield. Because of this, by the end of 19th century, most landholdings became part and parcel of people from the Khandayat community. However, with all of Odisha and India coming under East India Company rule, land was minutely distributed among people of other castes such as [[Utkala Brahmin|Brahmin]] and [[Karanam|Karana]], so as to not make Khandayat the only dominant force, politically, in Odisha.<ref name=":7"/>{{page number needed|date=May 2021}}

Revision as of 07:02, 11 May 2021

Khandayat is a peasant-militia caste of Odisha,[1] similar to Jats of north India.[2] Numerically they are the largest caste of the state [3]

Khandayat
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesOdia
Populated statesOdisha
SubdivisionsDala khandayat, Kalingi khandayat, Paikali khandayat

Etymology

The name Khandayat is originated from the term "Khanda" with its origin in Sanskrit which means the sword and "ayata", which means control in specific area. [4][5][6]

History

According to G.Praharaj, in old days those who came forward to save the native kingdom with their swords when it was in trouble, were granted the title of Khandayat. People of all castes could enjoy this title.[7] The Cowherd, Oda (cultivater) and some Mali enjoyed the jagir, since this title was granted to Gauda, Oda and Mali. But later the Khandayat title changed to a community, it can be says Khandayat is only a title.[8]

Traditionally they are quasi-martial caste, who claim themselves to be of Kshatriya status, but they are placed in the Shudra varna category.[9] Castes such as Adivasis, Bhuyans, Chasas, and Agharias started identifying as Khandayats in order to gain status, distance themselves from their original castes/communities, and exploit Zamindar land rights.[4] While Khandayats were of high status, they were considered to be Shudras by Brahmins due to the majority of Khandayats being peasants. Pradhan also attributes this to Brahmin patronage of Rajputs, who also claimed to be of Kshatriya status.[10]

Khandayats who had fought were given lands or "jagirs" according to their rank and success in the battlefield. Because of this, by the end of 19th century, most landholdings became part and parcel of people from the Khandayat community. However, with all of Odisha and India coming under East India Company rule, land was minutely distributed among people of other castes such as Brahmin and Karana, so as to not make Khandayat the only dominant force, politically, in Odisha.[4][page needed]

References

  1. ^ Bailey, Frederick George (1970). Politics and Social Change. University of California Press. p. 132.
  2. ^ Rob Jenkins (2004). Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-566808-7.
  3. ^ Punjab Journal of Politics. Department of Political Science, Guru Nanak Dev University. 1986.
  4. ^ a b c Ernst, Waltraun; Pati, Biswamoy (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. ISBN 9781134119882. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. ^ Mohapatra, Dr. Hemanta Kumar (December 2014). "Martial Art Tradition of Odisha" (PDF). OdishaReview - Govt. of Odisha. OdishaReview - Govt. of Odisha. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  6. ^ Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations, 9 February 2013. "Paika Akhada".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Subas Pani (1988). Glimpses of History and Culture of Balasore. Orissa State Museum.
  8. ^ H. C. Das (1979). Resources and Responses in Two Orissan Villages: The Influence of the New State Capital, 1950-1970. Punthi Pustak.
  9. ^ Indian History Congress (1997). Proceedings. Indian History Congress.
  10. ^ Pradhan, Prasanta Kumar (1996). "Story of the Peasant Militias or the Khandayats or Orissa: A Socio-Historical Approach". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 57: 752–745 – via JSTOR.

Further reading