The Koli is also known as Koliya in ancient India. Mahawar[1] also known as Mahor[2] and spelled as Mahaur,[3] Mahour and Mahavar[4] is a sub-caste of the Koli caste in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.[5] Mahawar kolis Inter-marry with Shakya kolis but not with any other subcaste of Kolis. The Mahawar kolis along with other Koli subcastes Shakyawar, Jaiswar, Kabirpanthi ( who followed the Kabir Panth) and Shankhwar kolis of Uttar Pradesh tried to uplift the social status in Hindu society by supporting the 'All India Kshatriya Koli Mahasabha' leaders of Ajmer.[6]

Mahawar Koli
महावर कोली
Subcaste of Koli caste
Maharaja Yashwantraoji Martandraoji Mukne of Jawhar kingdom at royal dine
EthnicityKoli people
Location
VarnaKshatriya
Parent tribeKolis of Rajasthan
DemonymKolis
Branches
  • Mahawar Koli
  • Mahavar Koli
  • Mahaur Koli
  • Mahour Koli
  • Mahore Koli
  • Mahor Koli
Language
ReligionHindu

All India Kshatriya Koli Mahasabha

All India Kshatriya Koli Mahasabha or Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Koli Mahasabha was a social organisation initiated in Ajmer by Mahawar Kolis of Rajasthan in 1927 and spread throughout the Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The organization was created to raise awareness about the social and economic problems faced by Kolis and improve the social status as a Kshatriya caste. Koli leaders of Mahasabha claimed Kshatriya status because of the Koli Princely states and Jagirs of Kolis in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. At that time, there were 52 princely states of Kolis in Gujarat but all of them were minor or petty states, several of Koli principalities were in Maharashtra and Kullu state in Himachal.[6]

After the Independence of India from British rule in 1947, the leaders of Mahasabha in 1952 invited the Koli Maharaja Yashwantrao Martandrao Mukne of Jawhar state, Maharaja Deshmukh Dhairyashilrao Pawar of Surgana state and the Koli Thakurs of Jagirs in Gujarat to take a meeting in Ajmer to discuss the upliftment of Koli society. Maharaja Mukne sent his Prime Minister to the meeting with grateful thanks.[6]

Origin

The origin of the Mahawar subgroup of Kolis is unclear, there are two myths about Mahawar Kolis, firstly is that Mahawars got their name from Marwad of Rajasthan and after the defeat of Marwad Kingdom against Muslim invaders, Kolis adopted the Mahawar name to retained the origin of soil. But here are another second myth that Mahawar Kolis got their name from their legendary king Maharaja Mawar Dev who ruled over some parts of Rajputana (now Rajasthan) and Madhya Pradesh.[7][8]

Clans

Mahawar Kolis have a number of clans in several states, some of them mentioned here;

Classification

Mahawar Kolis are classified as Scheduled Caste of State Government of Rajasthan.[9] Mahawar kolis were placed in SC category during the rule of Indian National Congress party in 1976, Before 1976, they were classified as Other Backward Class.

Organisations

See also

References

  1. ^ Singh, K. S. (1998). Rajasthan. New Delhi, India: Popular Prakashan. p. 552. ISBN 978-81-7154-769-2.((cite book)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ Chanchreek, K. L. (2007). Sant Kabir: life and philosophy. New Delhi, India: Shree. p. 196. ISBN 978-81-8329-161-3.((cite book)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ Cañcarīka, Kanhaiyā Lāla (1999). Bhagavāna Gāutama Buddha: jīvana aura darśana (in Hindi). New Delhi, India, Asia: Yūnivarsiṭī Pablikeśana. pp. 29: महावर कोली ( माहौर कोली ). ISBN 978-81-7555-046-9.
  4. ^ Media, Taj Poshi. "All you have to know about Koli's cast : History and Origin". Taj Poshi. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  5. ^ Cañcarīka, Kanhaiyā Lāla (1999). Bhagavāna Gāutama Buddha: jīvana aura darśana (in Hindi). New Delhi, India: Yūnivarsiṭī Pablikeśana. pp. 29–205. ISBN 978-81-7555-046-9.((cite book)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ a b c Molund, Stefan (1988). First We are People--: The Koris of Kanpur Between Caste and Class. Delhi, India: Department of Social Anthropology, University of Stockholm. pp. 220 –232 – 245. ISBN 978-91-7146-701-0.((cite book)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ Bhartiya, Ranjeet (23 July 2023). "महावर कोली जाति का इतिहास , महावर की उत्पत्ति कैसे हुई?". Jankari Today. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  8. ^ KOLI, DR SANTOSH RAGHUNATH (18 November 2022). KOLI SANSKRUTI AANI SAMAJIK AAKLAN (in Marathi). Dnyanmangal Prakashan Vitaran. ISBN 978-93-92538-10-0.
  9. ^ "TBI BLOGS: Why 12-Year-Old Divya Is a Vocal Advocate of Equal Rights for All". The Better India. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  10. ^ Industry, India Ministry of Commerce and (1954). All-India Directory of Cottage Industries. New Delhi, India, Asia: editor, Publications, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. p. 140.
  11. ^ Bhaskar, Dainik (2016). "महावर कोली समाज के 21 जोड़े हम सफर बने". Dainik Bhaskar.
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