Gowala (caste): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Subcaste of Ahir/Yadav community in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox caste
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name = Gowala
|caste_name = Gowala/ Goala
|image=Gwalla caste.jpg
|caption=A Gowala, 1799
|classification = [[Ahir]]/[[Yadav]]
|classification = [[Ahir]]/[[Yadav]]
|populated_states = [[Assam]], [[Tripura]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Chandigarh]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|populated_states = [[Assam]], [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Chandigarh]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|languages = [[Assamese language|Assamese]] {{*}} [[Bengali language|Bengali]]{{*}} [[Himachali language|Himachali]] {{*}} [[Hindi language|Hindi]] {{*}} [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|languages = [[Assamese language|Assamese]] {{*}} [[Bengali language|Bengali]]{{*}} [[Himachali language|Himachali]] {{*}} [[Hindi language|Hindi]] {{*}} [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|religions = [[Hinduism]]
|religions = [[Hinduism]]
}}
}}
'''Gowala'''<ref name="Inspection1950">{{cite book|author=India. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection|title=Marketing Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=an4nAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala+Assam|year=1950|publisher=The Directorate}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Indian Journal of Adult Education|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsugAAAAMAAJ&q=gowala+milk|year=1977|publisher=R.M. Chetsingh}}</ref><ref name="Economic and Political Weekly 2007 pp. 7–8">{{cite journal | title=Politics at the Margin: A Tale of Two Villages | journal=Economic and Political Weekly | volume=50 | issue=23 | date=2007-08-11 | pages=7–8 | url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/32/special-articles/politics-margin-tale-two-villages.html | access-date=2021-05-13}}</ref> (also spelled as '''Goala''')<ref name="Das1987">{{cite book|author=Bhuban Mohan Das|title=The Peoples of Assam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wcIOc0YaxGEC&dq=Gowala+Ghosh+Goala&pg=PA30|year=1987|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-212-0093-6|pages=30–}}</ref> is a subcaste of [[Ahir]]/[[Yadav]] community, <ref name="http://www.uniindia.com/~/-madhepura-of-assam-braces-for-electoral-battle-where-caste-lines-run-deeper/States/news/2357542.html 2021">{{cite web | title='Madhepura' of Assam braces for electoral battle where caste lines run deeper |url=http://www.uniindia.com/~/-madhepura-of-assam-braces-for-electoral-battle-where-caste-lines-run-deeper/States/news/2357542.html | access-date=2021-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=RE; Review of Ethnology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdQWAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala|year=1974|publisher=E. Stiglmayr}}</ref> found from Indian state of [[Assam]], [[Tripura]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]]<ref name="Singh1996">{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala+Ghosh|year=1996|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|isbn=978-0-19-563357-3}}</ref> and the neighbouring states of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Chandigarh]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1981: Arunachal Pradesh|year=1984|publisher=Controller of Publications}}</ref><ref name="Bhatt2006">{{cite book|author=Shankarlal C. Bhatt|title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awketfu78rsC&dq=gowala+caste+punjab&pg=PA83|year=2006|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7835-378-4|pages=83–}}</ref> Traditionally they are herdsman or milkman and considered as a prosperous community.<ref name="RoyRāẏa2014">{{cite book|author1=Dayabati Roy|author2=Daẏābatī Rāẏa|title=Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3bn1AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67|year=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-04235-3|pages=67–}}</ref>
'''Gowala'''<ref name="Inspection1950">{{cite book|author=India. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection|title=Marketing Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=an4nAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala+Assam|year=1950|publisher=The Directorate}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Indian Journal of Adult Education|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsugAAAAMAAJ&q=gowala+milk|year=1977|publisher=R.M. Chetsingh}}</ref><ref name="Economic and Political Weekly 2007 pp. 7–8">{{cite journal | title=Politics at the Margin: A Tale of Two Villages | journal=Economic and Political Weekly | volume=50 | issue=23 | date=2007-08-11 | pages=7–8 | url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/32/special-articles/politics-margin-tale-two-villages.html | access-date=2021-05-13}}</ref> (also spelled as '''Goala''')<ref name="Das1987">{{cite book|author=Bhuban Mohan Das|title=The Peoples of Assam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wcIOc0YaxGEC&dq=Gowala+Ghosh+Goala&pg=PA30|year=1987|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-212-0093-6|pages=30–}}</ref> is a subcaste of [[Ahir]]/[[Yadav]] community,<ref name="http://www.uniindia.com/~/-madhepura-of-assam-braces-for-electoral-battle-where-caste-lines-run-deeper/States/news/2357542.html 2021">{{cite web | title='Madhepura' of Assam braces for electoral battle where caste lines run deeper |url=http://www.uniindia.com/~/-madhepura-of-assam-braces-for-electoral-battle-where-caste-lines-run-deeper/States/news/2357542.html | access-date=2021-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=RE; Review of Ethnology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdQWAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala|year=1974|publisher=E. Stiglmayr}}</ref> found in the Indian states of [[Assam]], [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]]<ref name="Singh1996">{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&q=Gowala+Ghosh|year=1996|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|isbn=978-0-19-563357-3}}</ref> and the neighbouring states of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Chandigarh]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1981: Arunachal Pradesh|year=1984|publisher=Controller of Publications}}</ref><ref name="Bhatt2006">{{cite book|author=Shankarlal C. Bhatt|title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awketfu78rsC&dq=gowala+caste+punjab&pg=PA83|year=2006|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7835-378-4|pages=83–}}</ref> Traditionally they are herdsmen or milkmen and considered a prosperous community.<ref name="RoyRāẏa2014">{{cite book|author1=Dayabati Roy|author2=Daẏābatī Rāẏa|title=Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3bn1AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67|year=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-04235-3|pages=67–}}</ref>


==Mythological Origin==
==Mythological Origin==
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[[Category:Ahir]]
[[Category:Ahir]]
[[Category:Social groups of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Himachal Pradesh]]
 
{{Ahir clans |state=collapsed}}
{{India-ethno-stub}}
{{India-ethno-stub}}
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]

Latest revision as of 22:21, 17 December 2025


Gowala/ Goala
A Gowala, 1799
ClassificationAhir/Yadav
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesAssamese  • Bengali • Himachali  • Hindi  • Punjabi
Populated statesAssam, West Bengal, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Punjab

Gowala[1][2][3] (also spelled as Goala)[4] is a subcaste of Ahir/Yadav community,[5][6] found in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh[7] and the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh.[8][9] Traditionally they are herdsmen or milkmen and considered a prosperous community.[10]

Mythological Origin[edit | edit source]

The Gowalas are closely associated with Krishna and consider themselves to be descendants of Raja Yadu. By 1910s they became the part of Yadav community as part of Sanskritisation.[11]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ India. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (1950). Marketing Series. The Directorate.
  2. ↑ The Indian Journal of Adult Education. R.M. Chetsingh. 1977.
  3. ↑ "Politics at the Margin: A Tale of Two Villages". Economic and Political Weekly. 50 (23): 7–8. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Bhuban Mohan Das (1987). The Peoples of Assam. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-81-212-0093-6.
  5. ↑ "'Madhepura' of Assam braces for electoral battle where caste lines run deeper". Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  6. ↑ RE; Review of Ethnology. E. Stiglmayr. 1974.
  7. ↑ Kumar Suresh Singh (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
  8. ↑ Census of India, 1981: Arunachal Pradesh. Controller of Publications. 1984.
  9. ↑ Shankarlal C. Bhatt (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-81-7835-378-4.
  10. ↑ Dayabati Roy; Daẏābatī Rāẏa (2014). Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal. Cambridge University Press. pp. 67–. ISBN 978-1-107-04235-3.
  11. ↑ William R. Pinch (18 June 1996). Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-520-91630-2.
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