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The '''Ghirth''' (also known as Ghirath, Ghrit or Chaudhary) is | The '''Ghirth''' (also known as Ghirath, Ghrit or Chaudhary) is an agricultural [[Indian caste system|Indian]] [[caste]] found in the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]] in [[North India]].{{sfn|B R Sharma|A R Sankhyan|1996|p=237}} | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
According to a legend, the Ghirths are so-called because the Hindu god [[Shiva]] made them out of [[ghee]] (''ghrita'' in [[Sanskrit]]). This etymology is reflective of the community's traditional occupation of [[animal husbandry]] and [[agriculture]]. However, some members of the community trace their ancestry to a sage called Ghrit Rishi, and claim connections to the legendary [[Kauravas]] mentioned in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. | According to a legend, the Ghirths are so-called because the Hindu god [[Shiva]] made them out of [[ghee]] (''ghrita'' in [[Sanskrit]]). This etymology is reflective of the community's traditional occupation of [[animal husbandry]] and [[agriculture]]. However, some members of the community trace their ancestry to a sage called Ghrit Rishi, and claim connections to the legendary [[Kauravas]] mentioned in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. | ||
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ghirths were the dominant low-caste cultivators and marginal landholders in the Himachal region.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=68}} Since they were considered as a 'clean' (not [[untouchability|untouchable]]) low caste, they were employed as domestic servants by the higher castes: their 'clean' status allowed them to perform tasks such as fetching water or cleaning cooking utensils, which the untouchable servants were not allowed to do.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=74}} Nevertheless, the [[Rajput]], who were the dominant landholding caste of the region, had imposed social restrictions on them. Around 1926, the Ghirths started a movement to achieve upward [[social mobility]], and started opposing these restrictions.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=68}} They refused menial work, creating difficulties for the higher castes that earlier employed them as servants.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=74}} | At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ghirths were the dominant low-caste cultivators and marginal landholders in the Himachal region.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=68}} Since they were considered as a 'clean' (not [[untouchability|untouchable]]) low caste, they were employed as domestic servants by the higher castes: their 'clean' status allowed them to perform tasks such as fetching water or cleaning cooking utensils, which the untouchable servants were not allowed to do.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=74}} Nevertheless, the [[Rajput]], who were the dominant landholding caste of the region, had imposed social restrictions on them. Around 1926, the Ghirths started a movement to achieve upward [[social mobility]], and started opposing these restrictions.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=68}} They refused menial work, creating difficulties for the higher castes that earlier employed them as servants.{{sfn|Mahesh Sharma|2001|p=74}} | ||
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The Ghirth, including the Chahang and Bahti, are classified among the [[Other Backward Class]]es by the government of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvnHHKZ9t8g%2BEgijzJVQthoZ1sm9YcGu7qq4lrERyBbQdJcY9VJUSnQ |title=Central List of OBCs |publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes |access-date=2 May 2018 }}</ref> The ''Ghirth, Chahang, Bahti Mahasabha'', established in 1932, represents the interests of these three communities.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lalit Mohan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/community/obc-committee-members-put-up-united-front/294865.html |title=OBC committee members put up united front |newspaper=The Tribune |date=14 September 2016 }}</ref> | The Ghirth, including the Chahang and Bahti, are classified among the [[Other Backward Class]]es by the government of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvnHHKZ9t8g%2BEgijzJVQthoZ1sm9YcGu7qq4lrERyBbQdJcY9VJUSnQ |title=Central List of OBCs |publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes |access-date=2 May 2018 }}</ref> The ''Ghirth, Chahang, Bahti Mahasabha'', established in 1932, represents the interests of these three communities.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lalit Mohan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/community/obc-committee-members-put-up-united-front/294865.html |title=OBC committee members put up united front |newspaper=The Tribune |date=14 September 2016 }}</ref> | ||
==Politics== | |||
After the Rajput and Brahmans, there is another dominant caste Girth in the Politics of Himanchal. | |||
<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cdDkAAAAMAAJ&q=girth+|title = Administrative Problems of Rural Development in India|isbn = 9788185475158|last1 = Sud|first1 = Onkar Chand|year = 1992}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
*[[Jat people]] | |||
*[[Anjana Chaudhary]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
== Bibliography == | |||
{{ref begin}} | {{ref begin}} | ||
* {{cite book |editor1=B R Sharma |editor2=A R Sankhyan |title=Himachal Pradesh |series=People of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XEduAAAAMAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |oclc=471782049 }} | * {{cite book |editor1=B R Sharma |editor2=A R Sankhyan |title=Himachal Pradesh |series=People of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XEduAAAAMAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=9788173040948 |oclc=471782049 }} | ||
* {{cite book |editor=Kumar Suresh Singh |title=People of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uw8wAQAAIAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7304-123-5 }} | * {{cite book |editor=Kumar Suresh Singh |title=People of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uw8wAQAAIAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7304-123-5 }} | ||
* {{cite book |author=Mahesh Sharma |title=The realm of faith: subversion, appropriation, and dominance in the Western Himalaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jAwRAQAAIAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study |isbn=978-81-85952-92-5 }} | * {{cite book |author=Mahesh Sharma |title=The realm of faith: subversion, appropriation, and dominance in the Western Himalaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jAwRAQAAIAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study |isbn=978-81-85952-92-5 }} | ||