Hindu Ghosi Explained

Caste Name:Hindu Ghosi
Subdivisions:Rawat, Mukhia, Ghurcharhe, Charia, Kasab, Mukhia, Rautele, Saundele, Mattha, Dahiya & Phatak etc.

The Hindu Ghosi are a community of Ahirs in India.[1] They are divided into various sections and lineages.[2] The Ghosis have a system of panches and hereditary chaudhris. If one of the latter's line fail, his widow may adopt a son to succeed him, or, failing such adoption, the panch elects a fit person.

Origin

The Hindu Ghosi claim descent from Nanda the foster father of Krishna.

They also claim their importance saying that the sacred texts have mentioned them under the name of Ghosas.[3] The term Ghosa refers to a settlement of the Abhira people[4] or a temporary encampment of cowherds, which was the occupation of those people.[5]

Colonial description

The largest subdivisions of Ahir in Braj region are the Ghosis, Kamarias, Phataks and Nandvanshis. However today they all recognise themselves to be Nandvanshi Ahirs.[6] [7] [8]

In the Braj region, the Ghosi and other subdivisions of Ahirs were gradually absorbed into the Nandvanshi category of landlords and into the Gwalawanshi subdivision as a consequence of British so-called "official" ethnographies and racial theories.[9] The landlords liked the Gwalavanshi title because they considered it to be prestigious.[10] [11]

Distribution

In the Braj area, the Ghosis are among the largest subdivisions of Ahirs along with the Kamariyas, Phataks, Gwalvanshis and Nandvanshis.[12]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh . Abhiras their history and culture . 1962.
  2. Book: Ibbetson . Sir Denzil . Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province . Maclagan . 1990 . Asian Educational Services . 978-81-206-0505-3 . en.
  3. Book: Michelutti. Lucia. Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town. 2002. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. 94, 95. 15 March 2016.
  4. Book: Roy, Janmajit . Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya . Atlantic Publishers & Dist . 2002 . 157 . 978-8-12690-169-2.
  5. Book: Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar . Krishna-cult in Indian Art . M.D. Publications . 1996 . 126 . 978-8-17533-001-6.
  6. Book: Lucia. Michelutti. Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav. 2002. London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. 96. 12 October 2016.
  7. Book: Michelutti, Lucia . The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India . 2020-11-29 . Taylor & Francis . 978-1-000-08400-9 . en.
  8. Book: Singh, K. S. . People of India: Rajasthan . 1998 . Popular Prakashan . 978-81-7154-766-1 . en.
  9. Book: Rose . Horace Arthur . A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province: Based on the Census Report for the Punjab, 1883 . Ibbetson . Sir Denzil . 1911 . superintendent, Government printing, Punjab . en.
  10. Web site: Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town . London School of Economics and Political Science University of London . PhD Thesis Social Anthropology . 2002 . 2015-05-27 . Lucia . Michelutti . 90–91, 95.
  11. Book: Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Aurangabad . 1977 . Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State . en.
  12. Web site: Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town . London School of Economics and Political Science University of London . PhD Thesis Social Anthropology . 2002 . 2015-05-27 . Lucia . Michelutti . 93.

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