Gadhavi is an honorific title of the Charans of Gujarat.[1] In earlier times, as some Charans were owners or governors of forts, i.e. Gadh, they came to be known as Gadhavi.[2][3] It is synonymous with Charan and is used as a surname.[4] It is also spelled as Gadhvi or Gadvi.[5]

Etymology

The word Gadhavi has been derived from semi-Prakrit and semi-Sanskrit words Gadha (fort) and Pati (master), i.e. keeper of a fort. Masters of fort were called Gadhapati which changed to Gadhavi through the Prakrit Gadha-vai.[6]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Avikunthak, Ashish (2022-02-03). Bureaucratic Archaeology: State, Science and Past in Postcolonial India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-51239-5. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-03-26. Gadhvi is an honorific title for a bardic caste of Gujarat called the Charans—a non-mendicant upper caste (not, however, Brahmins or Kshatriya) who have exerted considerable influence on the local polity since medieval times.
  2. ^ Lal, R. B. (2003). Gujarat. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7991-104-4. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02. Retrieved 2022-03-26. The Charan are also called Gadhvi. As they were owners of Ghadh's (forts) in olden days, they are also known as Gadhvi.
  3. ^ Meghani, Zaverchand Kalidas (2003). A Ruby Shattered: A Collection of Love-legends in Folk-balladry Form of Saurashtra. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-03-26. GADHAVI: The governor of a fort (litt.). Charans were earlier known as Gadhavis.
  4. ^ Tambs-Lyche, Harald (1996-12-31). Power, Profit, and Poetry: Traditional Society in Kathiawar, Western India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-176-1. Archived from the original on 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2022-03-26. Gadhavi is synonymous with Charan; it is also Mamodiya's surname, and a common one within the caste.
  5. ^ Krishan, Dr Gopal; India.), M. Haque (Senior Technical Assistant, Anthropological Survey of; Mukherjee, A. (1994). Morphogenetic Variation: A Comparative Profile of Three Tribes of Gujarat. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-85579-13-9. Archived from the original on 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26. It is also said that the title 'Gadvi' is applied to Charans because they were often the owner of 'Gadhas' (forts).((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Prāci-jyotī; Digest of Indological Studies. 1990. p. 70. Archived from the original on 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
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