Kurmi
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| Kurmi ; कुर्मी | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Hindu Kshatriya |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Marathi, konkani, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, South Indian languages and dialects |
| Populated states | Northern India, Western India, Central India, South India |
| Subdivisions | Kurmi, Singraur, Umrao, Awadhiya, Kochyasa, Gangwar, Kanbi, Kapu, Katiyar, Kulambi, Jaiswar, Kulwadi, Kutumbi, Patel, Singhror, Choduary, Sachan, Verma,artarvavanshi,sinha(Niranjan) |
Kurmi (Hindi: कुर्मी) or Kunbi is the name of one of the Vedik Kshatriya Jātis (castes) of the Hindus in India. Kurmi are a tribe among the Har-Mitan social civilization. Kurmi is known as the chief ancient warrior/agricultural caste of India.
Kshatriyas and agriculture: Kurmi
Kshatriyas turned to farming or agriculture are known as Kurmis.
As per ancient Hindu texts, agriculture is permissible to Kshatriyas under special circumstances [1] in the absence of opportunities in the military and feudal apparatus of a righteous Aryan king. Indeed, the service in the army of an unrighteous, or a 'Yavana', or a 'Maleccha', king was the biggest imaginable anathema for a conscientious and observant Vedic Kshatriya in ancient India. A Vedic Kshatriya was not a mercenary soldier but a defender of faith and righteous order (dharma).
Origin & History
People from the Kurmi known as Kunbi also, community in India belongs to a sub-caste of the Kshatriya Varna. The word kunabi is a generic term equivalent to farmer in English. there is ancestral connections with kuru race has been established. According to Indian mythology, Lord Rama had two sons one Luv and other Kush. Luv's successors came to known as lavyas who settled in Kashmir and later moved towards other parts of the country. Successors of Kush came to be known as Kushwahas, who settled in northern plains of India. Kurmis used to be governing bodies in Gujrat, Maharashtra, South India, Sindh, Kashmir, eastern Afghanistan plains, Indus valley and parts of Pakistan before invasion of Central Asian non Aryans. Then were owners of land and gave that for farming in 'pattas'.
The physical appearance of the Kurmis tends to support the view of their Kshatriya origin. According to the Revd. Sherring, “The Kurmi has a strong, bony hand, natural to a man of his employment. He is frequently tall and powerful, manly outspoken and independent in manner and is altogether free from cringing obsequiousness.”[2] Colonel Edward Tuite Dalton regards them as the descendants of some of the earliest Aryan colonists - a "brown tawny coloured people, of an average height, well proportioned and with [fair] amount of good looks. They show well-shaped heads and high features and except when they have obviously intermixed with aborigines, they are unquestionable Aryans in looks. Grey eyes and brownish hair are sometimes met with amongst them. The women usually have small and well formed hands and feet".[3]
Etymology and usage
Basically, it means “I do”, “I am able”. “Kuru” in Sanskrit means “do”. “Kurmi” in Sanskrit, which is frequently used in The Ramayana, literally translates as “I can” or “I am able”, or “within my power to act”. In other words, those who are not Kurmi are not able, incompetent or without power to act.
Examples of the usage of the word in Sanskrit are from the Ramayana:
1) ’yat na Kurmi’ sadresam priyam... (Valmiki Ramayana, Book 6, Sarga 1). ‘I am not able’ to do a pleasant act...
2) ’na Kurmi’ tvam bhasmam (Valmiki Ramayana, Book 5, Sarga 22) ‘I am not making’ you into ashes.
Kurmi Politics
In 1894 the Kurmi formed their first association in Lucknow which was named as “Sardar Kurmi Sabha” to protest the British decision to cut their numbers in the military forces. In its 5th conference in 1909, this sabha changed its name from “Sardar Kurmi Sabha” to “All India Kurmi Kshatriya Association”.