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'{{Multiple issues | unreferenced=July 2008 | cleanup=July 2008 | long=July 2008 }} {{for|the village in [[Nepal]]|Gardi, Nepal}} {{for|the general|Ibrahim Khan Gardi}} '''Gardis''' are a [[Jāti|sub-caste]] of the [[Bhil]] community of the [[Deccan Plateau]] in [[India]]. ==About the Gardi== The Gardi (or Bhil) essentially were a [[hunting]] [[tribe]]. Gardis originally were members of the [[Bhil]] community who worked for the local [[tribal chief]]s as personal guards in their private [[army]] or as men that were employed to carry out activities (e.g. raid on an enemy's territory or possessions like grain or wealth for looting purpose). Due to abundance of [[wildlife]] present in the hilly tract of [[Indian subcontinent]] as well uncertain [[Climate|climatic]] conditions and availability of little [[arable land]] for ever increasing population it became difficult for gardi to [[farm]]. [[Hunting]], [[looting]] a farmer's standing [[crop]], or performing a [[highway]] [[dacoity]]-[[robbery]] on a passing trading [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan]] which was an easier option than to live a settled [[Agriculture|agrarian life]]. The [[hatred|enmity]] between local [[tribal chief|chieftains]] also helped the Gardi community to live such [[nomad]]ic life in the wild [[Indian subcontinent]]. The hunting prowess as well as the ability to perform swift raids on well defended small towns made them experts in [[horse]]/[[camel]] riding, manufacturing and handling [[weapon]]ry, and collecting information for future motives. The Gardi were always one step ahead of the contemporary armies of India otherwise they had to face certain death because of the existing conditions. Gardis who had become expert [[Archery|archers]] were the first to get trained to become [[musketeer]]s, as they were first to get exposed to [[gun]]s or [[musket]]s which were brought to [[India]] by [[Europe]]an traders like the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]], [[Dutch (ethnic group)|Dutch]], [[English people|English]], and [[French people|French]]. ==History== During the period around 1600 AD concept of using [[musket]]s or [[gun]]s by local powers was acknowledged to keep the numerically powerful enemy at bay such as [[Adilshahi]] of [[Bijapur, Karnataka|Bijapur]], [[Kutubshahi]] of [[Golconda]], and [[Nizamshahi]] of [[Ahmednagar]] who with their trading activities with the Portuguese, Dutch, and English secured a few guns and muskets. Using guns or muskets was considered below [[dignity]] by most of so called warrior communities like [[Rajput]]s and [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]]s from [[north India]] whereas the [[Jat]]s, [[Rohilla]]s, [[Bundela]]s, [[Sikh]]s, [[Durrani]]s, [[Turrani]]s, and [[Irani (India)|Iranis]] settled in northern [[plain]]s of the [[Indian subcontinent]] were not exposed to such technology. For [[Rajput]]s and [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]]s, the concept of [[courage|valour]] or bravery was linked together. To become an expert [[Swordsmanship|swordsmen]], which require considerable [[physical strength]] than to become [[archery|archer]] or [[spear]]smen, one must have a sharp mind and agile body movements. [[Rajput]]s and [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]]s, due to their food habits, climatic conditions, and [[genetics|genetic]] factors, were heavily built and those above 20–25 years old tended to be bulky. [[Rajput]]s and [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]]s considered [[musketeer]]s and [[archery|archers]] job as [[Caste system in India|low caste]] job reserved for Bhils or Gardis. Circumstance forced the Gardi people to become good [[musketeer]]s or [[marksman|marksmen]] for various [[Shahi]] rulers in the [[Deccan plateau]] region leaving their [[nomad]]ic lifestyle of the past. After 1600, the use of guns and muskets had started but its use was isolated since ammunition was not easily available and had to be imported from [[Europe]]. [[Adilshahi]] and [[Kutubshahi]] were the only rulers having guns, although they had less than 100 guns.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} [[Santaji Ghorpade]] commanded a force of 25,000 [[cavalry]] men in which Gardi community members took active part. Gardis also helped during [[Aurangzeb]]'s [[Deccan]] campaign when he came as [[Prince]]-Subhedar ([[governor]]) of the [[Deccan plateau]] in 1656 and again in 1681 as [[Emperor]] to capture the Deccan [[Shahi]]s' when fighting the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army. [[Aurangzeb]] took over [[Adilshahi]], [[Kutubshahi]], and captured [[fort]]s in the [[Maratha Empire]], Gardis joined with the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army in small numbers only to desert it at the first instances of fighting. The Gardis lifestyle was not making them compatible to the rigid Manasabdari military structure of the Mughal army where most of the officer ranks were held by [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]]s and [[Rajput]]s. The Mughal army's [[war]] [[philosophy]] was to lay siege on the enemy town or fort then starve the occupants to force them to [[Surrender (military)|surrender]] or [[bribe]] the officer in charge to surrender. Gardis could not fit into this war mechanism and found that they were becoming obsolete or redundant in the Mughal army. Gardis who had earlier developed good rapport with fellow [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] [[General officer|generals]] found Maratha war strategy of daring [[commando]] raids and then [[looting]] and [[plunder]]ing Mughal-held territories to be much more compatible to their abilities. Moreover, centuries of coexistence and intermarriages had created a special bondage between Marathas and Gardis. During Aurangzeb's long Deccan campaign, stretching about 30 years, the Mughal army came directly in conflict with Marathas. Gardis, by this time, had become [[Mercenary|soldiers of fortune]] and experts in [[Equestrianism|horseriding]], [[archery]], [[Pike (weapon)|pikemen]], and [[musketeer]]s. They used this [[expert]]ise to harass and loot Mughal-held cities and military camps. Marathas gave Gardis a bigger opportunity for looting & plundering not only peninsular [[India]] but also rich Mughal-held territories like [[Malwa]], [[Gujrat]], [[Machalipatanam]] (in [[coastal Andhra]]), and the trading post in the [[Krishna River|Krishna]] and Cavery river basins. With Mughals surrendering the [[Deccan plateau]] to the [[Maratha]]s, this all had to stop. Between 1720 and 1760, trading activity increased a lot especially with the French & English. Procuring [[gun]]s and [[musket]]s from [[Europe]] became top priority. Gardis who until now had been loosely associated with multiple [[Maratha]] communities got themselves trained in using guns and muskets. Continuous exposure to wars helped some Gardis to acquire expertise to become [[musketeer]]s whereas others took up various activities such as [[Public administration|administration]], [[accountancy]], [[Trade|trading]], and [[agriculture|farming]], but those who continued became musketeers. Exposure to [[Islam]]ic traditions as well firm belief in age hold [[Hindu]] rituals converted them into unique community. Gardi community members serving as officers in [[Maratha]] or [[Nizam]] armies took the titles as [[Khan (title)|Khan]] or [[Singh]]. The khan or singh affiliated to name soon became permanent feature in family names. One should not make the mistake of tracing a Gardi lineage to [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] or [[Rajput]] origin. Gardis became acceptable in the [[Hindu]] complex [[Castes of India|caste]] structure. Gardis who embraced [[Islam]] also performed sacrifices in front of local goddesses. Sumersingh Gardi and Ibrahim Khan Gardi were well known members from the Gardi community having Hindu as well as Muslim names. Around 1750 it became obvious for Gardi children to take their fathers' occupation of becoming [[musketeer]]s, the reason being that guns and muskets were easily available in Gardi households, so Gardi children mastered the art of using guns and muskets at an early age. Gardis between 1715 to 1725 became personal guards of [[Peshwa]]s who were appointed as [[Prime Minister]] of the [[Maratha Empire]] by the fourth [[Chhatrapati]] [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]. [[Peshwa]]s employed them in big number in their private army to threaten or settle internal scores with other Maratha generals or ministers. Gardi loyalty to the [[Maratha]]s, especially [[Peshwa]]s, and courage, made them a dependable force in the [[Maratha]] army. ==Later History== Some of the Gardi sub-caste who could not adjust to settled agrarian life returned back to their [[nomad]]ic way of life to carryout daring raid on trading caravans like [[Pindari]]s, [[Pardhi]]s, [[Ramoshi]]s until they were individually caught and hunted down. The [[East India Company]], having selfish motives of increasing its trading activity in [[India]], branded the Gardi as criminal tribes but many settled down around [[Pune]], [[Satara]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Solapur]], [[Bijapur, Karnataka|Bijapur]], [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]], [[Bidar]], and [[Belgaon]]. Some Gardis who went along with the deposed [[Peshwa]] to settle in [[Kanpur]] and [[Bithoor]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] in [[North India]]. Gardis along with other [[Maratha]] sub-caste members had also served in personal army of [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] later on [[Duke of Wellington]] during his wars with [[Tipu Sultan]], [[Battle of Akkey]] against armies of [[Scindia]] and [[Bhosale]], [[First Anglo-Afghan War]], and [[Anglo-Sikh wars]]. ==Present circumstances== Over time, the Gardis were assimilated into [[Marathi people|Marathi]] culture. Now most have accepted the Marathi way of life, and have accepted their name of village as their surname with [[Patil]] as prefix, or the name of the [[trade]] they are practicing. One Sumersingh Gardi and other fellow Gardi men were employed by [[Raghunathrao]] to murder [[Narayanrao]], his [[nephew]], in 1773, to usurp the title of [[Peshwa]]. ==See also== * [[Bhil]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] [[Category:Social groups of Maharashtra]] [[Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh]] [[Category:Muslim communities of India]] [[mr:मराठे गारदी]] [[new:गर्दी]]'