Kunbi
Kunbis, also known as Kunbi Marathas, are a Maratha sub-caste residing primarily in Maharashtra & Karnataka, India.
List of famous Saints
- Saint Tukaram A 17th Century popular poet.
- Nisargadatta Maharaj One of the world famous disciple of Siddharameshwar Maharaj and author of book I AM THAT.
- Rashtra Saint Tukdoji Maharaj A national saint, musician and social reformer. He wrote Gramgeeta for rural development.
List of other Saints
- "Shree Saint Gulabrao Maharaj" was blind by birth and was unable to see by both of his eyes. Inspite of being blind he had had a powerfull brain where he could remember whatever told to him. His brain was full of magic and he use to preach vedas to the brahmins.
- Shree Sant Gadaji Maharaj A saint, visionary leader and social reformer in 1700. He saved his own villages from the mughal occupation and became famous for his extra-ordinary leadership and visionary speeches. Nearly 20 thousand people get together on Holi occasion to remember him.
List of Famous Kunbi Women
- Lalita Pawar was a Bollywood actor known as the The Mother of all mother-in-laws in films. She was born in a rich Yevle family of Nashik and was married to Raj Prakash Gupta and lived in Pune. She started her career in silent films in 1928 and acted in more than 500 Hindi and marathi films.
- Usha Chavan was a Bollywood actor famous for acting as the leading lady of the great Marathi Comedy actor Dada Kondke.
- Smita Patil was a Bollywood actor who was the first Asian cine-star to have the unique honour of Retrospectives in Paris and La Rochelle, (at the promptings of no less a film luminary than Director Costa Gavras), a two-time Best Actress award winner at the National Film Festival (Bhumika and Chakra) and a Padmashree. She was a keen photographer and died at the age of 31.
- Smt Prabha Rau (Woman President of MPCC) She was a sportsperson and has represented Maharashtra in the long jump, high jump, hurdles, discus throw and running. She is also a musician, and holds a Masters degree in Politics and Music.
- Smt Pratibha Patil was the first woman Governor of Rajasthan, Woman President of MPCC. Before becoming Governor of Rajasthan, she was a Member of Rajya Sabha. She was Table Tennis Champion in her college days, and has won Inter-Tournaments. She holds an MA in Arts and a Law Degree. Besides her political career, she also manages her own educational institutes for the poor, and industries.
- Mrs Ujjwala Raut-Sterry She is India's most accomplished supermodel now settled in the USA. She has been awarded both in India and Internationally for her performance as a model. Born and brought up in Mumbai, she is now married to British film producer Craig Maxwell Sterry in USA. She has also been on the cover of Time magazine.
List of Famous Youngsters
- Aditya Raut Youngest person in the world to swim across five continental channels [1]
- Padma Patil Co-star in Harry Potter movies
- Parvati Patil Co-star in Harry Potter movies and twin sister of Padma Patil
List of Famous Kunbi Men
- Yashaskara, King of Kashmir [2] After the Utpala dynasty, a Yashaskara became king. (V 469). He was a great-grandson of a Viradeva, a Kutumbi (V 469). He was from the kutumbi group(also known as kurmis of UP and Kunbis of Gujarat/Maharastra). He was the son of a treasurer of Karkota Shamkaravarman.
- Dr Chintamanrao Deshmukh First Governor of RBI & Chairman of UGC.,Union Finance Minister of India, President of the Indian Statis. Insti, Board of Governors of the Adm. Staff College of India, Hyderabad,Chairman of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New DelhiA number of prestigious universities and institutions, international as well as Indian, conferred on him doctorates honoris causa. He was student of University of Bombay in 1912 and University of Cambridge
- 'Shri Yashwantrao Chavan' He belonged to a poor farming family and was born on 12 March 1913, in the village of Devrashtre in Karad Taluka of Satara. He has held and performed well in several government positions during his tenure.
- Shri Shankarrao Chavan Former Union Home Minister & Union Finance Minister, India. Born on July 14, 1920, Educated from Madras University and then obtained a law degree from Osmania University
- Dr Shrikant Jichkar, MP, Member of Rajya Sabha, Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra.Holds 20 postgraduate degrees. He has obtained 28 Gold Medals. Between 1972 and 1990 he has written 42 University Examinations. He was also IPS officer and IAS officer. At 25 years of ages, he became the Youngest MLA in India. He was also leading Indian delegations on several forums including the UNO, the UNESCO. Founder of Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas (India's First) Sanskrit University. Managing Editor of Nagpur Times and Nagpur Patrika. Founding Chairman of National Institute of Amateur Radio.(The Guinness World Records lists him Politician with most qualifications. He was the first Non-Brahmin who was awarded Dixit Title)
- Sandeep Patil Cricket Player and former coach of the Kenya Cricket Team that reached World Cup Semi-Finals in 2003. He had a record for six fours in a cricket over.
- Shri Ashok Desai Former Attorney General of India, Author of several books on law, Chief Justice of Uttaranchal, awarded Padma Bushan by Government of India.
- Shri Shivraj Patil (Union Home Minister, India) He was also a Minister of Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development and Biotechnology. He was also a Minister of Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development and Biotechnology.
- Barrister S. K. Wankhede Former BCCI President and State Minister. He was married to the late Smt Kusumtai (from a brahmin family) who greatly contributed to his career success. Due to his contribution to Indian cricket a stadium was named after him.
- Shri Anant Geete (Member of Parliament, Former Union Minister of Power) Involved in power reforms that started during orthodox BJP Led-NDA central government. He belongs to Konkan Region.
- Shri Datta Meghe (Educationist, Member of Parilment, Rajya Sabha) He runs several educational institutes in Mumbai and Central India.
- 'Dr Atul Gawande' A second generation Harvard Professor & Doctor, who is also a columnist in USA. He was a student at Standford, Oxford [3]"
- 'Sharad Pawar', Union Minister of Agriculture and Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mumbai Cricket Association President & BCCI President. A native of Baramati"
- Rajnikanth also known as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad is a Bollywood actor, born in Bangalore. He was a former bus conductor before he entered into the film industry. Rajnikanth is a follower of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
List of Common Surnames
It is quite common in the state of Maharashtra that following family names may be used by other castes.
- Adik, Aware
- Bachale, Bhalerao, Brahmankar, Bele,Bhagavath Bhope, Belkar, Bhoir, Bodhale
- Chowdhary, Choudhari, Chavan
- Dhone, Dange, Dongre, Dore, Desai, Dhawle, Dhanwate, Deshmukh, Deoskar, Deorkar, Dhamankar, Dhande, Dubey, Dhamakar, Dhadse,
- Gaonkar, Geete, Gurve, Gaithonde, Gore, Gode, Gaikwad, Gedam, Gawande, Gurve, Gaidhane, Gharat
- Jadhav, Junarkar, Jichkar
- Khandar, Kadam, Kedar, Kale, Kor
- Lunge, Lalke, Lambat, Lode,Lade
- Ingle, Ingole
- Misal, Mathankar, More, Mahajan, Manik, Mate, Mane,Mahale
- Nagle, Nagale, Navalkar, Naik, Nayak, Nigam, Nikunj
- Pabley, Parimal, Patil, Pawar, Pandey, Premkhede, Pashte
- Rode, Raut, Rane, Rasal,Raul
- Shinde, Sable, Sawant, Salve, Sayankar, Shinde, Shelar
- Taiwade, Thakur, Thakre, Taley, Tambe, Thape, Tope, Thombre,
- Uparker
- Wankhade, Wankhede, Watonde, Wagh, Waghmare
- yeole
Demographics
Kunbis of Maharashtra only are known as Marathas as they form the farming section of Marathas. They are also known as Patils, Patels or Patidars. Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj coined the word Maratha for the peasant section, so as to stand united against the priestly domination that existed for around 1,900 years. Kunbis from Maharashtra have a 12 and 1/2 (also known as Saade Bara) clan system. The 12 clans predominantly consists of Indo-Aryan race and 1/2 part consists of other clans. Names of clans are listed below [4]
-Tirole, Vandhekars (i.e Deshmukhs) and Jadav (administration, business, farming and now politically dominant)
-Ahire, Bawne, Vanjari and Dhanoje (money lenders, business and farming )
-Lonare, Zade, Beldar, Ghatole, Killedar and Dhakane
-Mana, Karadi and Khedule
-Khaire and Jungli (tribals involved in farming)
In the Konkan region, many Kunbis practice Christian, brought by people from Portugal. Many Kunbi groups in the Konkan and Goa region have their own churches. The famous cricketer Vijay Hazare was a Goan Christian.
Culture
Many Hindu-Kunbis perform the Upanayana Samskara as per their family traditions. In the past Kunbis have larger houses - some were called WADA, some were GADHI (fortressed complex) and some also had KEELLA (a fort). Most of the historical evidences are as on date managed and maintained by National (India) and State (Maharashtra) level government departments, although there are many families who maintain their own set of documents or evidences as a mark of family assets. Large scale Kunbi farmers generally maintain large herds of dairy cattle and a number of horses.