Ahir (Sanskrit: Abhira)[1] is a caste found in the Indian subcontinent, mainly modern-day India, Nepal and Pakistan.[2][3][4][5] The Ahir clans are spread almost all over country.[6] Ahirs are also known as Yadav, a surname they adopted following Sanskritisation in the 20th century.[7][8][9] The Ahir clans are spread almost all over country.[10]
Etymology
The word "ahir" is derived from the Sanskrit word "abhira."[11][1]
Clans
Nandvanshi Ahirs
The Nandvanshi Ahirs are a section of Ahirs.[12] Kamarias [13] are also a sub-clan of Nandvanshi Ahirs[14][15][16] in Uttar Pradesh.
Gwalvanshi Ahirs
Gwalvanshi Ahirs have migrated to other parts of Uttar Pradesh from Mathura and they claim descent from gopis and gopas of Krishna's time.[17]
Ghosi
The Ghosi are a division of Ahir community found mainly in North India. The Ghosis are found in both Hindu and Muslim religion.[18][19] They were the zamidars and small rulers of various parts of country.[20]
Phatak
The Phatak Ahirs claim to be descended from Digpal, the Ahirs of Mahaban.[20]
Dauwa
The Dauwas claim to be the descendants of Shree Balaram.[citation needed] According to Harihar Nivas Dvivedi, all Ahirs and their sub-castes are Shudras, but Dauwa Ahir is considered as comparatively lower as a caste than pure Ahirs.[21] In Bundelkhand, Dauwa Ahirs were allied with Bundela Rajputs and Dauwa women served as wetnurses for Bundela princes as part of a symbolic ritual.[22]
Dhadhor
Dhadhor is a subcaste of Ahirs.[23]
Krishnaut
Krishnaut or Kishnaut are Ahirs that inhabits the state of Bihar.[24][25]
Majhraut
They inhabit the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand.[26][27][28][29]
Sorathia
Sorathia is an Ahir clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. According to B.S Suryavanshi, they are the descendents of chief Rao Navaghana of Junagadh.[30]
References
- ^ a b Shashi, Shyam Singh (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: The tribal world in transition. Anmol Publications. ISBN 978-81-7041-836-8.
- ^ Shashi, Shyam Singh (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: The tribal world in transition. Anmol Publications. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-7041-836-8.
- ^ Heath, Anthony F.; Jeffery, Roger (2010). Diversity and Change in Modern India: Economic, Social and Political Approaches. OUP/British Academy. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-19-726451-5.
- ^ Gurung, Harka B. (1996). Faces of Nepal. Himal Books. p. 80. ISBN 978-99933-43-50-9.
- ^ Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan: Millennium 2000. Research Institute of Historiography, Biography and Philosophy. 2001.
- ^ Fox, Richard Gabriel (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-01807-5.
- ^ Mandelbaum, David Goodman (1970). Society in India. Vol. 2. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 443. ISBN 978-0-520-01623-1.
- ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe (2003). India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India. Columbia University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-0-231-12786-8. Quote: "In his typology of low caste movements, (M. S. A.) Rao distinguishes five categories. The first is characterised by 'withdrawal and self-organisation'. ... The second one, illustrated by the Yadavs, is based on the claim of 'higher varna status' and fits with Sanskritisation pattern. ..."
- ^ Fox, Mr. (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. p. 19. ISBN 9780520018075.
- ^ "People of Maharashtra" (PDF).
- ^ Gupta, Dipankar (2021). Caste in Question. SAGE Publication. p. 58. ISBN 9788132103455.
Their original caste title was Ahir. The idea of a unique Krishnavanshi kinship category which fuses traditional subdivisions Yaduvanshi, Nandavanshi and Goallavanshi into a single endogamous unit
- ^ Mutatkar, Ramchandra Keshav (1978). Caste Dimensions in a Village. Shubhada-Saraswat.
- ^ Dass, Arvind (2002). Caste System: Caste commentaries and documentation. Dominant Publishers and Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7888-029-7.
- ^ Mutatkar, Ramchandra Keshav (1978). Caste Dimensions in a Village. Shubhada-Saraswat.
- ^ Gupta, Dipankar (8 December 2004). Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-0-7619-3324-3.
- ^ Michelutti, Lucia (29 November 2020). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-000-08400-9.
- ^ Russell, Robert Vane “ Sir D. Ibbetson says that in the Punjab the name Ghosi is used only for Muhammadans, and is often applied to any cowherd or milkman of that religion, whether Gujar, Ahir or of any other caste, just as Goala is used for a Hindu cowherd. It is said that Hindus will buy pure milk from the Musalmān Ghosi, but will reject it if there is any suspicion of its having been watered by the latter, as they must not drink water at his hands.“ (28 September 2020). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (Complete). Library of Alexandria. ISBN 978-1-4655-8294-2.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Hasnain, Nadeem “ Ghosi is a Muslim caste of herdsmen. The name of this community is derived from the word 'ghosh' meaning 'to shout' while herding the cattle. Crooke (ibid) mentions that they are converts like the Gaddi from the Ahir community. They belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. They use Urdu as mother tongue and also speak Hindi.” (2016). The Other Lucknow. Vani Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-5229-420-6.
- ^ a b Lucia Michelutti, 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, p.90-98
- ^ Dvivedi, Harihar Nivas (1963). The Madhya Pradesh Leading Cases, 1882-1956. Law Journal Publications. p. 198.
- ^ Jain, R.K. (2002). Between History and Legend: Status and Power in Bundelkhand. Orient Blackswan Private Limited. p. 32. ISBN 978-81-250-2194-0. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ India Today. Aroon Purie for Living Media India Limited. 1994.
- ^ Bihar (India); Choudhury, Pranab Chandra Roy (1957). Bihar District Gazetteers: Bhagalpur. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar.
- ^ The National Geographical Journal of India. National Geographical Society of India. 1975.
- ^ Bihar (India); Choudhury, Pranab Chandra Roy (1957). Bihar District Gazetteers: Bhagalpur. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar.
- ^ Singh, Rana P. B. (1977). Clan Settlements in the Saran Plain (Middle Ganga Valley): A Study in Cultural Geography. National Geographical Society of India, Banaras Hindu University.
- ^ Bihar (India); Choudhury, Pranab Chandra Roy (1962). Bihar District Gazetteers: Hazaribagh. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar.
- ^ Siddiqui, M. K. A. (1993). Inter-caste and Inter-community Relationship: Developing Patterns. Commonwealth Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7169-260-6.
- ^ SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture. p. 84.