Twashta Kasar

2022-12-06T10:54:57Z

2401:4900:1C17:A845:6863:6632:CA66:1BEA:

{{short description|Hindu artisan caste}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2018}}

[[File:Twashta Kasar Maha Kalika Devi Pune.jpg|thumb|MahaKalika idol at Twashta Kasar Kalika Devi Mandir, Kasba Peth, Pune.]]
'''Twashta Kasar''' (also known as '''Tambat''' or '''Kasar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[artisan]] [[caste]] of [[coppersmith]]s ([[tamrakar|tamrakar and tamta]]), predominantly residing in the [[Indian state]] of [[Maharashtra]]. In [[Goa]], they call themselves ''Twashta Kasar Brahmin''. According to [[Herbert Hope Risley]], they are a branch of the [[Suvarna Banik]], who became degraded because they took to working in metal.<ref>{{cite book|title=Protective Discrimination: Other Backward Classes in India|page=124|isbn=9788186208236|quote=Risley (1891) refers to them as an offshoot of the Subarnabanik, who became degraded because they took to working in Kansa or bell -metal. They are also known as Kangabanik in West Bengal. They are known as Kansara in Gujarat and Twasta Kasar or Tambat in Maharashtra. They are known as Tamrakar in Madhya Pradesh. In Goa they call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahmin. In Bihar they are also known as Kanskar. Traditional occupation of Kansari is working on bell-metal.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3PaAAAAMAAJ&q=Twasta+Kasar|last1=Sharma|first1=Shish Ram|year=2002}}</ref><ref name="singh1998">{{cite book|title=India's Communities, Volume 5|author=K.S.Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=1558|year=1998|isbn=978-0-19-563354-2|quote=They enjoy civic amenities and derive benefits from other developmental programmes. In Goa, the Kasar call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahman. They are also referred to as Kasar or Tambat (coppersmith) by the local people. Konkani is their mother tongue, but most of them converse in Marathi. They use the Devanagari script. The Kasar are non-vegetarian...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lZuAAAAMAAJ&q=twashta+kasar}}</ref>

They are included in the [[Other Backward Class]] category by the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in/obc/faq/maharashtra.pdf|title= CENTRAL LIST OF OBCs FOR THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/central-nod-for-obc-list-modification/article3236434.ece|title= Central nod for OBC list modification| year=2006|work=The Hindu|quote=They also include `Aryakshatriya' and `Sarige' as synonyms of Somavamsha Arya Kshatriya and `Hindu Sadaru' castes/communities of Karnataka, Twashta Kasar, Kansar as synonym of `Tambat', `Kurmi' as synonym of Kunbi and `Yellam/Yelam' castes in Maharashtra}}</ref>

== Etymology ==

The word ''Tambat'' comes from "tamba" in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] or [[copper]] in English. The community claims descent from Twashta, third son of [[Vishwakarma]], divine architect of universe.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

== Traditions ==

Traditionally, Twashta Kasars have been known to be the manufacturers of variety of copper and brass vessels and artifacts. These include copper and brass utensils, holy artifacts and more popularly the copper Bamba (a copper boiler like vessel used to heat bathing water for the family). Over the time these artisans diversified their businesses across designer showpieces of copper and brass.

The primary religion of Twashta Kasar is [[Hindu]]. The community worships [[Kali]]ka as a guardian deity. They have established "Twashta Kasar Samaj Sanstha Kalika Mandir" in a few cities across Maharashtra, mainly where they have a sizable population - these include Mumbai and Pune. In Pune, the community has been celebrating [[Ganeshotsav]] since 1893.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://dnasyndication.com/dna/dna_english_news_and_features/These-coppersmiths-faith-glow-in-tradition/DNPUN52716 |title=These coppersmiths' faith glow in tradition |newspaper=DNA |date=2012-09-27 |accessdate=2013-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5317150213649936652&SectionId=5171561142064258099&SectionName=Pune&NewsDate=20100915&NewsTitle=Twashta%20Kasar:%20ruling%20devotees%E2%80%99%20hearts |title= Twashta Kasar: ruling devotees' hearts |author=Supriya Shelar |newspaper=Sakaal |date=15 September 2010 }}</ref>

Twashta Kasars' customs are akin to Brahmins which is evident from the rituals like [[Upanayana]], a threading ceremony as a [[Sanskar]]. Most of them converse in [[marathi language|marathi]]. Historically, they were said to be vegetarians. However, most of them are non-vegetarians today.<ref name="singh1998"/> Due to their artisanal history, it is no surprise that this community has a sizable population working in industries like films, television (art direction and make-up), sculpting, civil engineering and architecture.

== Family Names found in Twashta Kasars ==

Arte, Ashtamkar, Borlikar, Bothare, Dakhawe, Dandekar, Dere, Godambe, Hajare, Kadu, Karde, Kawle, Khule, Kosamkar, Lanjekar, Mulay, Nijampurkar, Patil, Pimple, Potphode, Purohit, Salvi, Samel, Sandhane, Sapte, Shete, Soste, Tambat, Tribhuvane, Wadke, etc.

== Other names of the community include:{{cn|date=September 2017}}==

* Hindi-Thathera/[[Tamrakar]]
* Gujarati-Kansara [[Kansara]]
* Nepali-tamo/tamot/tamrakar
* Punjabi-thatheri/thathiyar,
* Bangla-karmakar,
* Rajasthan- Thathera [[Thathera]]
* Marathi-twastha tambat/ kasar [[Twashta|Kasar]]
* Tamera/Vadhera/hayaran, Tamta (Uttrakhand)

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{Social groups of Maharashtra}}
[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Social groups of Maharashtra]]

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Twashta Kasar