Hatkar
Hatkar is a caste found in Deccan region of India.
Etymology
S. B. Joshi traced the origin of the name to the word "Hatakara", meaning cattle herder and a synonym of Dhangar.[1]
History
S. B. Joshi traced the ancestry of Hatkars (Hattikaras) to the "Patti-Jana" people who were settled to the south of Narmada river in the Middle Ages. He also traced the etymology of the word "Maratha" to "Mara-hatta", and theorized that the region was originally known as "Hatta-desa".[1]
The Ain-i-Akbari mentions a Hatkar force of 1,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry.[2]
In 1819, the Hatkar leader Novsaji Naik rebelled against the Nizam's rule in the Nanded district.[3] Also known as Naosaji, he held the forts of Nowah and Umerkhed, where he assembled a large number of Arab mercenary soldiers.[citation needed] The British-trained Nizam's contingent was called in to put down the rebellion.[4]
Culture
There is an expression, "Dhangar's ram and Hatkar's flag". Meaning, the one who tends to ram and sheep is Dhangar, while one with a flag is Hatkar. The flag is sparrowtailed and is bi-coloured. The upper-half is yellow, and the second half is red.[5][full citation needed]
Traditionally, the Hatkars are distinguished from other Dhangar by wearing a red turban, earring and a coarse blanket and carrying staff. Their women wear a considerable number of rings, necklaces, nose rings and ankle bangles.[6]
References
- ^ a b Joshi, S. B.. (1952). Etymology of place names paṭṭi-haṭṭi: Some observations on the History of Mahārāṣṭra & Karṇāṭaka. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 33(1/4), 41–56.
- ^ Ghulam Yazdani (1961). The Early History of the Deccan. Oxford University Press. p. 25.
- ^ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Osmanabad District. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery, and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1971. p. 72.
- ^ P. V. Kate (1987). Marathwada Under the Nizams, 1724-1948. Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7099-017-8.
- ^ Parbhani Gazetteer
- ^ David J. Phillips (2001). Peoples on the Move: Introducing the Nomads of the World. William Carey Library. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-87808-352-7.