Dhangar

Dhangar
Classification:	Caste/Kshatriya Dhangar (Shepherd)
Clans:	108
Significant populations in:	India
Language	Marathi, Hindi, Gujrathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telgu
Religion	Hinduism

The Dhangar (Sanskrit / Devanāgarī: धनगर ) caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The literal translation of the name Dhangar is "Who is wealthy". The word Dhangar is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Dhenu' i.e. Cow. These are quiet and innocent group of people who wander with flocks and herds. They are called by different synonyms like Dhangar, Dhangad and Dhanpal.

The main Dhangar subcastes are Ahir, Baghel, Bakarwal, Banjara, Bharwad, Dange, Dewasi, Gadge, Gadari, / Gadariya, / Gaddi, Gawali, Golla, Gurjar, Hatkar / Bande / Zende, Jhade/Jhadi/Zade, Hulwan, Idaiyan / Idaiyar / Idaiga / Konar, Kambar, Khutekar / Kuktekar, Konkani, Kshitri, Kuruba(meaning trustworthy)Kanore/Kanade, Kurmar, Kurbar, Kurumbar, Lad Mendhe/Ladse, Mahure/Mahurai, Metkari, Mhaskar, Neekhar / Nikher, Oraon, Pal, Sengar / Sangar, Shegar / (Sagar), Talwar, Telange, Tellari, Warhade/Varadi/Barade, Yadu (Yadav), Shirotya, Utekar, Bhillari, Khillari, Bargi/Barahatti. The Dhangars ignore the subcastes and project themselves only as Dhangars.

Traditionally being warriors, shepherds and farmers, Dhangars were late to take up modern day education. Though it has a notable population not only in Maharashtra but also in India, had a rich history, today it is still politically highly unorganized community and is socially, educationally, economically and politically backward.

Dhangari Gaja

This is a dance form performed by Dhangars of Solapur district of Maharashtra. Their poetry is mainly inspired by the evergreen trees all around. The poetry is in a form called 'Ovi' which is made up of couplets. These poems also contain tales of the birth of their God "Biruba" or Birappa, in simple and basic lines. The group of dancers surrounds the drum players and move at the rhythm

Jejuri

Jejuri is one of the famous temples in Maharashtra. The God of Jejuri - Khandoba (Lord Shiva), who is husband of Banai (from the Dhangar caste) - is popular amongst the Dhangars.

Other names

Dhangars are identified by different names in different regions of the country.

• Andar
• Ahiyaru
• Ahir,Ahir

(Tirthap, Thakre, Manore, Sonwane, Baviskar, Pawar,Borse, Sangore, Nhyade, Adhave, Landge, Nile, Khankhare only in North Maharashtra. DHULE - JALGAON DIST.)

• Appugol
• Maldhari / Bharwad / Rabari/ Jagri / Khavas (Gujrath)
• Baghel
• Bakarwal (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Bhadiyar / Gangajali
• Bharavadaru
• Dhangad / Dhanwar / Dhanpal / Dhangod
• Doddi Gowda
• Gari / Bharud / Ghosi (MP)
• Gadhariya / Gadaria / Gadariya (UP, MP, Bihar)
• Gowda
• Gaddi
• Gadri
• Gairi / Gari / Ghosi / Gurjar / Dewasi (Rajasthan)
• Gollavadu
• Golla
• Gounder
• Gowda
• Gwala
• Halumatha
• Heggades
• Idaiga / Idyar / Idiyan / Idaiyar / Konar (Tamilnadu)
• Kanne
• Khuruk
• Kamaria
• Kuda
• Kuruba (Karnataka, AP)
• Kuruba Gowda
• Kurumba / Kurumbar / Kurumans / Kurubaru (Tamilnadu)
• Kurmar
• Kalavar
• Kuruma
• Kurumavaaru
• Kurkhi
• Kurupu
• Kantak
• Meshshawak (Bengal)
• Naikers
• Neekhar (North India)
• Nikhers
• Oraon (East India)
• Pal / Pala (North India)
• Palaru
• Paalakyatriya
• Poduvar
• Raika
• Yadavalu

Clans in India

Dhangars are Kshatriyas. Enthoven in his observations has listed 22 Endogamous groups (Sub-Castes) and 108 Exogamous groups (Clans) of Dhangars (Enthoven 1920:311). It should be recorded that the list of the 22 Endogamous groups and 108 Exogamous groups of Dhangars, as provided by Enthoven, is not exhaustive.

Notable Dhangars

Kingdoms

• Holkars

The Great Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar was the first freedom fighter who made an army, in 1803, mostly consisting of Dhangars to fight with the British and to drive them out of India single handedly. He built a factory to manufacture cannons. He appealed to the rest of the Kings of India and said, "First Country and then Religion. We will have to rise above caste, religion and our states in the interest of our country. You too must wage a war against the British like me". His appeal fell on deaf ears as all of them had already signed treaties with the British. The Dhangars took part in the revolt of 1857. Many of them were hanged till death in Berar (M.P.). The British were so much afraid of Dhangars that they made a law banning purchase of land by Dhangars stating a reason that they were not Kunbis (Agriculturists). They were oppressed in all spheres of life, they were never allowed to come forward.

He was the only King in India to whom the British approached to sign a peace treaty. Initially he refused to sign any treaty with the British but when he saw that rest of the Kings were not ready to unite and were interested in personal benefits he was the last to sign a treaty with the British on 24 December 1805 at Rajghat. He didn’t accept any condition which would affect his self respect.

• Hoysalas

Political

• Late Shivajirao Shendge.

• Anandrao Devkate Ex-Minister (Maharashtra) Congress(I)
• Annasaheb Dange Ex-Minister (Maharashtra)
• Arun Gawali. M.L.A. (Maharashtra)
• B K Kokare. Founder, Yashwant Sena.
• Ganpatrao Deshmukh M.L.A. (Maharashtra) PWP
• Ganpatrao Patil Ex-M.L.A. (Maharashtra)
• Kokare. Ex-M.L.A. (Maharashtra)
• Mahadeo Jankar (Maharashtra) President RSP
• Popatrao Gawade. Ex-M.L.A. (Maharashtra)
• Prakashanna Shendge M.L.C.(Maharashtra) BJP
• Ramkaran Pal. (M.L.C.) (Bihar)
• Sachin Ahir. M.L.A.(Maharashtra)
• Sundersingh Baghel. M.L.A. (U.P.)

Social Workers / Reformists

• Anna Hazare
• Dr. Sham Singh Shashi
• Krantiveer Bapu Biru Wategaonkar

India

• Feild Marshall K. M. Cariappa
• General Sri Nagesh
• Bachendri Pal - 1st Indian woman (5th in world) to climb Mount Everest.
• Captain Shriram Pal Holkar.
• Kapil Sibal - Union Minister
• Bandaru Dattatreya - Former Union Minister.
• Siddaramaiah - Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka
• Laxmidevi Ramanna - First woman representative in Mysore Assembly.
• Sangolli Rayanna was a prominent freedom fighter. He continued the struggle till 1829. Finally he was captured by treachery and hanged. At the time of being hanged he said "My last wish is to be born again in the country to fight against the British and drive them away from our sacred soil".
• S.P. Baghel. M.P. (U.P.)

Writers

• N. D. Mahanor

See also

• Khandoba
• Eklingji
• Pashupati / Shree Pashupatinath
• Veer Mhaskoba
• Beeralingeswara
• Janai Malai

External links

• Distribution of Y Haplogroup
• Pastorial People Worldwide
• Molecular insight into the genesis of ranked caste populations of western India by Sonali Gaikwad and VK Kashyap
• Gene differentiation among the Dhangar caste-cluster of Maharashtra, India
• Dances of Maharashtra
• Jejuri
• Dhangar Matrimonies
• http://www.vidyaonline.net/arvindgupta/mythandreality.pdf
• http://illiad.biblio.com/isbn/351501926X.html
• Matrimonial distance, inbreeding coefficient and population size: Dhangar data
• The Warlis and the Dhangars
• [1]

References

• Shree Shatradharma, Prachalit and pramikh kshtravansh and tyanche gotra, pravar, kuldaivat, kuldevata a Devak.
• Author: Bhramibhoot sadguru param pujya Moredada
• Publisher: Shree Swami Samarth Seva And Adhyatmik vikas pradhan kendra District Nasik, Taluka Dindori, Maharashtra state.
• Printer: Shree Swami Samarth Gurukul Shree Shetra Trambkeshwar.
• Edition: Thursday 11 July 2002
• Karve, Irawati, 1969, Maharashtra, land and people. Bombay.
• Enthoven, R.E., 1920, Tribes and castes of Bombay Presidency. Bombay.
• Sontheimer, G.D., 1975, ‘The Dhangars’, In L.S. Leshnik and G.D. Sontheimer, (eds.), Nomads and pastoralists in South Asia. Wiesbaden.