Gaderia

Gadar is cattle-owning caste found in North India. Gadar, Charwaha, and Gwala are synonyms of a herdsman. Some scholars believe that, the name is derived from the Hindi word Gádar (Sheep), though it is debatable because the word Gádar which means sheep, is not a Hindi word it is from Bundeli (language spoken in Bundelkhand region).

In fact Gadar was no particular community but an occupation which the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and other castes have taken to. Those who fled to jungles and hills to escape conversion during the Mughal period, made cattle grazing their profession. Initially, they were economically sound but their condition deteriorated in jungle surroundings. Thus an honorable community came to be looked upon as nomads. Malhar Rao Holkar (16 March 1693 – 20 May 1766) a noble of the Maratha Empire, Malhar Rao Holkar was from the Dhangar community, a pastoral group that is not technically a part of the Maratha caste. Holkar, the family name of the Maratha rulers of Indore, was adopted as a dynastic title. The family was of peasant origin and of shepherd caste. Marathi Dhangar are distinct shephard community not connected to the northen Sheep rearer. Dhangar/Kuruba are spread in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra pradesh. They have common god/godess such as Biroba, Khandoba, Mayakka, Yallama. The Dhangars/Kuruba were the rulers in southern India such as Vijaynagar, Hoysala and Harihar Bukka Raya. Most of Maratha chieftons were Shephards before and after Shivaji's rule. Today Dhangar are next to Maratha community in Maharashtra, next to Gauda (lingayat) in Karnataka. North Indian Shephards (Pal, Gaderia) and Dhanagar / Kuruba do not indulge into roti beti exchange. In the Ancient References - The Northern India's Shepherd Community are the direct descendants of Chandra Gupta Maurya, the bust is seen right opposite to the Parliament of India in New Delhi, The shepherd chandragupta maurya has nothing to do with any Gupta, since Chandragupta Maurya was the complete name and not related to any Gupta or Maurya. Basically in Childhood Chandragupta was a shepherd but he defeated several kings in his journey of spreading Hinduism and later Buddhism. In fact Chandragupta was the only King who defeated "Alexander the Great", hence on the basis of his descendancy Pal "Shepherd" of North India can be considered as Warrior Class or "Kshatriya", based on India's caste classification, which classify Pal under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Classification after the formulation of Mandal Commission in India. These facts are also supported by facts from the spiritual Jainism Texts.

In the courtyard opposite Gate No. 5 of Parliament House, on a red sandstone pedestal, is installed a symbolic bronze statue of Chandragupta Maurya, one of the greatest figures in Indian history and founder of the Mauryan dynasty, who reigned from 321 B.C. to 296 B.C. The 0.74 metre high bust bears at its base the inscription: "Shepherd boy-Chandragupta Maurya dreaming of India he was to create". This bust was made by Hilda Selegman who also donated it for installation in Parliament Complex. See external links, below.

History and origin

The PAL are THAKUR of each region ( land owning group ) have different accounts to explain the origin of their community.

In Haryana, they says that during the reign of King Rama (7th incarnation of Vishnu, the Preserver in the Hindu Trinity) they were sent into the jungles, where they gradually took to rearing goats and sheep. They have four sub-groups, the Pal,Dhangar, Nabbhar, Kanchane and Saila. The community speak Haryanvi.

In Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand where a majority (4.5 million) lives and in Madhya Pradesh where they number around 7,40,000, the Baghela sect of the gadar derive their name from a river and trace their origin from a Baghela King. According to their traditional stories, during the Middle Ages a Baghela King ruled and they are descendant of the King.

In Maharashtra they are also known as Kurumwar and Dhangar, The gadar of Maharashtra claim that their first ancestor was created by Mahadeo (synonym of Shiva, the Destroyer in the Hindu trinity) to tend his rams.

In Rajasthan (290,000) the Gadar are commonly known as Gairi (from gaira, meaning sheep in the local dialect), and claim to be co-wanderers of Krishna, one of the most popularly worshiped gods who was a cowherd. Their oral tradition recalls their migration from Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, where Krishna lived.

The Gadar people consider themselves as middle social ranking. They claim Kshatriya status, though this is disputed by the Baghela.

Present circumstances

The gadar are divided into some sub castes i.e.-pal, paul, bhagel, bhagela,dhangar, hatker, holkar, gayri, rutela, sindhe, sindhiya, kariyppa, ariyppa, bhadwar, or other

The Gadar are divided into Eighty Four sub castes (GOTRAS) i.e.Padhriya, Kokande, Bamhaniya, Kharsela Hindwar, Raraya, Chandel, Dhingar, tanaHaranwal, Tanwar, Sisodia, Nikhar, Phulscingh [Phul singhey], Rathore, Sagar, Saraswar and Thambar, Foolsange, tejwal, Bania, Mohaniya, Kumiya, Hans, Rautela, safa, Rai, Chandel, Tomer etc.

They are Hindu and worshippers of the Shakti cult. In addition, they also worship a number of village deities.

Their main occupation has remained the rearing of cows and buffaloes, as well as sheep and goats. Generally, landholdings are small, and many members of the community are involved in private and government service. A significant number of Gadar are now small and medium-sized farmers.

They have a caste council, which deals with issues of disputes within the community, elopements, divorce and petty theft.

The four divisions of the Haryana do not intermarry. Each of the four sub-divisions are further divided into clans, the main ones being the Raraya, Hirenwal, Bania, Saraswat, Katharia, Kastur, Jhindwaar, Panwar, Chandel, Kalandhar, Phulsange, Pakhia, Kokande,Chandal,Hindwar Tikia-Chandan and Pipalhere. The Gadar practice endogamy and maintain village and clan exogamy.

External links

• Picture gallery including Chandragupta Maurya