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Hindu Ghosi

For Muslim Ghosi Ahirs, see Muslim Ghosi.

Hindu Ghosi
Indischer_Maler_um_1755_002
ReligionsHinduism
Feudal titleThakur or Chaudhary
LineageYaduvansh
SubdivisionsMukhia, Ghurcharhe, Charia, Kasab, Mukhia, Rautele, Saundele, Mattha & Phatak etc.
Kingdom (original)Pradhyota Dynasty ( Haihaya Kingdom)
Kingdom (other)Abhira Kingdom, Yadavas of Devgiri etc.

The Hindu Ghosi or Ghosi Thakur[1] are Zamindars [1]or Landlord community of Mainly of Braj region and a part of Ahir community in India.[2] They are divided into various sections and lineages.[3] The Ghosis have a system of panches and hereditary Chaudharis. 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.[3]

Origin

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The Hindu Ghosi claim descent from Nanda the foster father of Krishna.[3]

They also claim their importance saying that the sacred texts have mentioned them under the name of Ghosas.[4] The term Ghosa refers to a settlement of the Abhira people[5] or a temporary encampment of cowherds, which was the occupation of those people.[6]

Colonial description

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The largest subdivisions of Ahir in Braj region are the Ghosis, Kamarias, Phataks and Yaduvanshi. However today they all recognise themselves to be Yaduvanshi Ahirs.[7][8][9]

In the Braj region, the Ghosi and other subdivisions of Ahirs were gradually absorbed into the Yaduvanshi category of landlords and into the Gwalvanshi subdivision as a consequence of British so-called "official" ethnographies and racial theories.[10] The landlords liked the Gwalvanshi title because they considered it to be prestigious.[11][8][12]

Distribution

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In the Braj area, the Ghosis are among the largest subdivisions of Ahirs along with the Kamarias, Phataks, Gwalvanshis , Nandavanshi and Yaduvanshi .[13][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Central India Agency. 1893. p. 293.
  2. ^ SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture.
  3. ^ a b c Ibbetson, Sir Denzil; Maclagan (1990). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0505-3.
  4. ^ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. pp. 94, 95. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. ^ Roy, Janmajit (2002). Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 157. ISBN 978-8-12690-169-2.
  6. ^ Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar (1996). Krishna-cult in Indian Art. M.D. Publications. p. 126. ISBN 978-8-17533-001-6.
  7. ^ Lucia, Michelutti (2002). Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. p. 96. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Michelutti, Lucia (29 November 2020). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-08400-9.
  9. ^ Singh, K. S. (1998). People of India: Rajasthan. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-766-1.
  10. ^ Rose, Horace Arthur; Ibbetson, Sir Denzil (1911). A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province: Based on the Census Report for the Punjab, 1883. superintendent, Government printing, Punjab.
  11. ^ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. pp. 90–91, 95. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. ^ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Aurangabad. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1977.
  13. ^ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 93. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

Further reading

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  • Michelutti, Lucia (2008). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste, and Religion in India. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41546-732-2.