Roman Catholic Kshatriya: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
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{{Main|Caste system among South Asian Christians}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group            = Roman Catholic Kshatriya
| image            = [[File:Cuncolim_Martyrs.jpg]]
|native_name      = '''Chardo'''
| image_caption    = [[Cuncolim Massacre|Martyrs of Cuncolim]] killed by [[dhoti]] clad [[warrior]]s of pre-Christian Konkani Cxatrias
|native_name_lang = kon
| group            = Roman Catholic Kshatriya
|langs            = [[Konkani language|Konkani]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| native_name      = '''Chardo'''
|religions        = [[Roman Catholic]]
| native_name_lang = kon
|related          = [[Kshatriyas]]
| langs            = [[Konkani language|Konkani]], [[British English]], [[Hindi-Urdu]]& [[Bombay Mahratti]]. Previously [[Indo-Portuguese]], [[Liturgical use of Latin|Latin]] & [[Sanskrit]]
| religions        = [[Latin Church in India]]
| related          = [[Shett]]s, [[Somvanshi Kshatriya Pathare]]es, [[Solar Dynasty|Purvoes]], [[Daivajna]]s, [[Christian Brahmins]], [[Aagri]], [[Koli Christians|Koli]], [[ Kharvi]], [[Gauda and Kunbi|Kunbi]] & [[Chaukalshi]]s
}}
}}
'''Roman Catholic Kshatriyas''' (''Chardo'' in [[Indo-Portuguese creole]] and ''Saarodi'' in Mangalorean [[Konknni]]) are a modern and [[Christianisation of Goa|Christianised]] caste among [[Goan Catholics]], [[Bombay East Indian]]s, and [[Mangalorean Catholic]]s. They are the patrilineal descendants of [[Kshatriya]] and [[Vaishya Vani]] converts to [[Latin Church in India|Roman Catholicism]], in parts of the [[Konkan]] region that were under [[Portuguese Goa]]n rule.<ref name="Silva"/><ref name="Chardos"/><ref>{{harvnb|Risley|Crooke|1915|p=[https://books.google.com.bh/books?id=QA2OKK0-bdcC&pg=PA80#v=onepage&q&f=false 80]}}</ref> They are known as '''''Chardo''''' in the Goan Catholic dialects of Konkani<ref>{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=165}}</ref> ([[Devanagari]]: चारड्डो) and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], '''''Charodi''''' ([[Kanarese script]]: ಚರೋಡಿ; ''Tsāroḍi''<ref name="Silva">{{harvnb|Silva|Fuchs|1965|p=4}}</ref>) in the Mangalorean Catholic dialect of Konkani, and as '''''Sandori''''' for their hometown in [[Sandor, Palghar|Sandor]], in contrast to ''[[Kupari]]s'' in [[Bombay East Indian dialect]]s. They have mostly been an [[Endogamy|endogamous]] group.<ref>{{harvnb|Silva|Fuchs|1965|p=15}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Robinson|2003|p=[https://books.google.com.bh/books?id=lyU4nepW2xQC&pg=PA78#v=onepage&q&f=false 78]}}</ref>
'''Roman Catholic Kshatriyas''' or '''Christian Kshatriyas'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/mesmerising-mussoll-khell-of-chandor/201323 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221200321/https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/mesmerising-mussoll-khell-of-chandor/201323 | archive-date=21 February 2023 | title=Mesmerising Mussoll Khell of Chandor | date=20 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gomantaktimes.com/ampstories/web-stories/centuries-old-tradition-in-goas-chandor-village | title=Centuries-old tradition in Goa's Chandor village }}</ref> (simply '''Cxatrias''' in [[Romi Konkani]], [[Indo-Portuguese]] & [[Indian English]]) are a modern [[Christianisation of Goa|Christianised]] caste among [[Goan Catholics|Goan]], [[Bombay East Indian]], [[Mangalorean Catholic|Mangalorean]], [[Christianity in Maharashtra#Bārdeskars|Kudali]] & [[Karwari Catholics]]. They are patrilineal descendants of [[Kshatriya]] and [[Vaishya Vani]] converts to the [[Latin Church]], in parts of the [[Konkan region]] that were under [[Portuguese Goa]]n rule.<ref name="Silva"/><ref name="Chardos"/><ref>{{harvnb|Risley|Crooke|1915|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=QA2OKK0-bdcC&pg=PA80 80]}}</ref> They are known as ''Chardo'' in [[Goan Konkani]],<ref>{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=165}}</ref> ''Charodi'' ([[Kanarese language|Kanarese]] ''Tsāroḍi'') in Canarese Konkani<ref name="Silva">{{harvnb|Silva|Fuchs|1965|p=4}}</ref> & as ''[[Sandor, Palghar|Sandori]]'' or ''[[Vadval]]'' in [[Maharashtrian Konkani|Damanese-Maharashtrian Konkani]]; while others also converted from the ''[[Khatri]]'', ''[[Panchkalshi]]'', ''[[Daivajna|Sonar]]'' & ''[[Pathare Prabhu|Pathare]]'' subcastes who speak the [[Bombay East Indian dialect]].<ref>http://www.sahapedia.org/sociological-study-of-the-east-indian-community-of-mumbai</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.east-indians.net/EI_history.htm | title=History of the East Indian Community }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ&q=Vadval | title=India's Communities | isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 | last1=Singh | first1=K. S. | last2=India | first2=Anthropological Survey of | year=1998 | publisher=Anthropological Survey of India }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://eastindianmemoryco.com/portfolio/east-indian-love | title=Poster: EI Love | date=26 August 2017 }}</ref><ref name="The East Indian Dialect">{{cite web |title=The East Indian Dialect |url=https://www.sahapedia.org/the-east-indian-dialect |website=Sahapedia |access-date=12 July 2021 |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606093921/https://www.sahapedia.org/the-east-indian-dialect |url-status=live }}</ref> Some ''Chardos'' have maintained [[endogamy]], while others have intermarried with ''[[Christian Brahmin|Bamonns]]''.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyU4nepW2xQC&dq=chardo+Endogamy&pg=PT34 | title=Christians of India | isbn=978-0-7619-9822-8 | last1=Robinson | first1=Rowena | date=9 October 2003 | publisher=SAGE Publications }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5C9uAAAAMAAJ&q=chardo+Endogamy | title=The Transforming of Goa | isbn=978-81-85569-45-1 | last1=Dantas | first1=Norman | date=1999 | publisher=Other India Press }}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The precise etymology of the word ''Chardo'' is unclear. The two most probable explanations are as follows:<ref name="gazat"/>
The precise etymology of the word ''Chardo'' is unclear. Two most probable explanations are as follows:<ref name="gazat"/>
* The roots of this Konkani word probably lies in the [[Prakrit]] word ''[[Chavda dynasty|Chavada]]'', which the name of a tribe of warriors who migrated to Goa from [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] in the 7th and 8th centuries, after their kingdom was destroyed by the [[Arab]]s in 740 AD.<ref name="gazat">{{harvnb|Gune|Goa, Daman and Diu (India). Gazetteer Dept|1979|p=21}}</ref>
* The roots of this Konkani word is said to lie in the [[Prakrit]] word ''[[Chavda dynasty|Chavda]]'', which is the name of a [[dynasty]] who are said to have migrated to [[Old Goa]] from [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] in the 7th and 8th centuries, after their kingdom was destroyed by the [[Arab Sind|Sunni Caliphate's conquest]] in around 740 AD.<ref name="gazat">{{harvnb|Gune|1979|p=21}}</ref>
* Another explanation given by historian B.D. Satoskar is that the Konkani word comes from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''Chatur-rathi'' or the Prakrit ''Chau-radi'', which literally means "the ones who ride a chariot yoked with four horses".<ref name="gazat"/>
* Another explanation given by historian B.D. Satoskar is that the Konkani word comes from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''Chatur-rathi'' or the Prakrit ''Chau-radi'', which literally means "the ones who ride a chariot yoked with four horses".<ref name="gazat"/>


==Origins==
==Origins==
The Kshatriyas of [[Goa]] constituted the nobility and warrior class, and ranked second in the Hindu [[Varna (Hinduism)|Varna system]]. Those involved in the trading profession were known as ''Chattim'', which was an occupational appellation common to Brahmins as well.<ref name="Chardos"/> The origins of this Christian caste can be traced back to the [[Christianisation]] of the [[Velhas Conquistas]] ({{lang-pt|Old Conquests}}) by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] during the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref name="Chardos"/> The [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]], [[Franciscan]] and [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] [[missionaries]] converted many Kshatriyas to Christianity.<ref name="Prabhu">{{harvnb|Prabhu|1999|p=133}}</ref> The caste appellation of ''Chardo'' eventually fell into disuse among the remaining few Hindu Kshatriyas, who began calling themselves ''Maratha'', in order to differentiate themselves from those Kshatriyas who had embraced Christianity and to also align themselves with the ascendant Hindu [[Maratha]]s in the neighbouring [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]].<ref name="Chardos"/> The Kshatriyas and [[Vaishya Vani]]s, who were among the last to convert, were incorporated into the ''Chardo'' caste.<ref name="Chardos">{{harvnb|Gomes|1987|pp=77–78}}</ref>
[[Kshatriya]]s of the [[Konkan region]] were composed of the [[warrior]] class, they ranked second in the [[Varna (Hinduism)|Hindu Varnashrama]] system. Those who were into trading by profession, were known as ''Chattim'', which was an occupational appellation common to [[Brahmans]] as well.<ref name="Chardos"/> The origins of this Christian caste can be traced back to the [[Christianisation]] of the [[Velhas Conquistas]] ({{langx|pt|Old Conquests}}) by the [[Portuguese East Indies]], during the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref name="Chardos"/> [[Missionaries]] of the [[Jesuit]], [[Franciscan]] & [[Dominican Order]]s converted many Kshatriyas to Christianity.<ref name="Prabhu">{{harvnb|Prabhu|1999|p=133}}</ref> The caste appellation of ''Chardo'' eventually fell into disuse among the remaining few Hindu Kshatriyas, who began calling themselves ''Maratha'', in order to differentiate themselves from those Kshatriyas, who had embraced Christianity & to also align themselves with the Hindu [[Mahrattas]] in the neighbouring [[Mahratta Confederacy]].<ref name="Chardos"/> The Kshatriyas and Vaishya Vanis, who were among the last to convert & could not be admitted to the ''Chardo'' fold identify as ''Gauddos''.<ref name="Chardos">{{harvnb|Gomes|1987|pp=77–78}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E7Qrc4Z-ZdAC&dq=gauddo+caste+Goa&pg=PA40 | title=Land and people of Indian states and union territories : (In 36 volumes) | isbn=978-81-7835-356-2 | last1=Bhatt | first1=S. C. | date=2005 | publisher=Gyan Publishing House }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rl9uAAAAMAAJ&q=gauddo+caste+Goa | title=Goa | isbn=978-81-237-4139-0 | last1=Gomes | first1=Olivinho | date=2004 | publisher=National Book Trust, India }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33LiAAAAMAAJ&q=gauddo+caste+Goa | title=History, Religion and Culture of India | isbn=978-81-8205-062-4 | last1=Gajrani | first1=S. | date=2004 | publisher=Isha Books }}</ref>


The earliest known instance of Goan Kshatriya conversions to Christianity took place in 1560, when 700 Kshatriyas were baptised ''en masse'' in [[Karmali|Carambolim]], [[Tiswadi]]. Their decision to embrace Christianity was made after deliberation of the village assembly, and came about as they were subjects of the Portuguese government.<ref name="de Sousa"/> Another instance of a Kshatriya group of 200 members being baptized ''en masse'' in [[Batim]] (a village in [[Bardez]]) in August 1560 is mentioned in a letter of Jesuit missionary [[Luís Fróis]], dated 13 November 1560.<ref name="de Sousa">{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=166}}</ref>
The earliest known instance of Kshatriya conversions to Christianity in what is present-day Goa, took place in 1560, when 700 Kshatriyas were baptised ''en masse'' at the [[Carambolim]] village of [[Tiswadi]]. Their decision to embrace Christianity was made after deliberation of the village assembly, the decision came about as they were subjects of Portuguese rule.<ref name="de Sousa"/> Another instance of a Kshatriya group of 200 members being baptized ''en masse'' at [[Batim]] in [[Bardez]], in August, 1560; the event is mentioned in a letter of a Jesuit missionary, [[Luís Fróis]], dated 13 November 1560.<ref name="de Sousa">{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=166}}</ref>


The ''Charodis'' form the second largest group in the [[Mangalorean Catholics|Mangalorean Catholic]] community.<ref name="Silva"/> In [[South Canara]], many ''Charodis'' took up service in the army of the [[Keladi Nayaka]]s, and came to constitute the bulk of the Christian soldiers in their army. The Lewis-Naik family of [[Kallianpur]] near [[Udupi]], produced many distinguished soldiers and officers in the Keladi army. In recognition of their service, the Nayakas rewarded them with large tracts of land in Kallianpur.<ref>{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=180}}</ref> During the [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence struggle]], ''Chardos'' were perceived by Indian nationalists to be more sympathetic to Indian nationalist leanings and less likely to be pro-European loyalists than ''[[Roman Catholic Brahmin|Bamonns]]''.<ref name="Cunha">{{harvnb|Desai|2000|p=5}}</ref>  
The ''Charodis'' form one of the largest groups in the [[Mangalorean Catholics|Mangalorean Catholic]] community.<ref name="Silva"/> In [[South Canara]], many ''Charodis'' took up service in the army of the [[Keladi Nayaka]]s, and came to constitute the bulk of the Christian soldiers in their army. The Naik-Lewis families of [[Kallianpur]] near [[Udupi]], produced many distinguished soldiers and officers in the Keladi army. In recognition of their service, the Keladi Nayakas rewarded them with large tracts of land in Kallianpur.<ref>{{harvnb|Pinto|1999|p=180}}</ref> During the [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence struggle]], ''Chardos'' were perceived by Indian nationalists to be more sympathetic to Indian nationalist leanings and less likely to be pro-European loyalists than ''[[Roman Catholic Brahmin|Bamonns]]''.<ref name="Cunha">{{harvnb|Desai|2000|p=5}}</ref>  


The ''Chardos'' have traditionally been an endogamous group, and while they traditionally did not inter-marry or mingle with lower castes, the statutes and norms of the Roman Catholic church and the Portuguese authorities prevented them from discriminating against the latter.<ref>{{harvnb|Sinha|2002|p=74}}</ref> ''[[Padval]]s'' are a subcaste within Roman Catholic Cxatrias of [[Jain Bunt]] origin.
The ''Chardos'' have generally been an endogamous group, so they did not inter-marry or mingle with lower castes, while the statutes and norms of the Roman Catholic Church & Portuguese rule prevented them from indulging in [[Hindu caste based discrimination]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sinha|2002|p=74}}</ref> ''[[Padval]]s'' are a subcaste within Roman Catholic Cxatrias of [[Jain Bunt]] origin.


==See also==
==See also==
 
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
*[[Bettiah Christians]]
*[[Bettiah Christians#Castes|Christian Rajputs]]
*[[Reddy Catholics]]
*[[Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Guntur#Parishes_in_Guntur_Diocese|Kamma Catholic Christians]]
*[[Christianisation of Goa]]
*[[Christianisation of Goa]]
*[[Christianity in Goa]]
*[[Christianity in Goa]]
*[[Christianity in Karnataka]]
*[[Christianity in Karnataka]]
*[[Christianity in Maharashtra]]
*[[Christianity in Maharashtra]]
*[[Kadambas of Goa]]
*[[Norteiro|Christianity in Damaon]]
*[[Christianity in Gujarat]]
*[[Cuncolim Revolt]]
*[[Cuncolim Revolt]]
*[[Caste system among Indian Christians]]
*[[Mussoll]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Goa]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Goa]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Mangalore]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Bombay]]
*[[Saibinn]]


==Citations==
==Citations==
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==References==
==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{Cite journal  
*{{Cite journal |last1=Desai |first1=Nishtha |author-link=Nishtha Desai |url=http://www.lusotopie.sciencespobordeaux.fr/desai.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]], 36 [[Kilobyte|KB]] |title=The Denationalisation of Goans: An Insight into the Construction of Cultural Identity |journal=Lusotopie |year=2000 |pages=469–476 |access-date=19 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322225837/http://www.lusotopie.sciencespobordeaux.fr/desai.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}}
|last1=Desai  
*{{Cite book |last=Gomes |first=Olivinho |year=1987 |title=Village Goa: a study of Goan social structure and change |publisher=S. Chand}}
|first1=Nishtha  
*{{Cite book |editor-last=Gune |editor-first=Vithal Trimbak |year=1979 |title=Gazetteer of the Union Territory: Goa, Daman and Diu. District Gazetteer Part 1: Goa |publisher=Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3386/}}
|url=http://www.lusotopie.sciencespobordeaux.fr/desai.pdf  
*{{Citation |last=Pereira |first=Benegal |url=http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/eddiepereira/ |title=The life and times of Eddie Sadashiva Pereira: An extraordinary Goenkar (1915–1995) |publisher=Goacom.com |ref=eddie |access-date=19 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092511/http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/eddiepereira/ |archive-date=27 September 2011 |df=dmy-all}}
|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]], 36 [[Kilobyte|KB]]  
*{{Cite book |last=Pinto |first=Pius Fidelis |authorlink=Pius Fidelis Pinto |year=1999 |title=History of Christians in coastal Karnataka, 1500–1763 A.D. |location=Mangalore |publisher=Samanvaya Prakashan}}
|title=The Denationalisation of Goans: An Insight into the Construction of Cultural Identity  
*{{Cite book |last=Prabhu |first=Alan Machado |year=1999 |title=Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians |publisher=I.J.A. Publications |isbn=978-81-86778-25-8}}
|journal=Lusotopie  
*{{Cite book |last2=Crooke |first2=William |last1=Risley |first1=Herbert Hope |authorlink2=William Crooke |authorlink1=Herbert Hope Risley |title=The people of India |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924024114773 |publisher=Thacker & Co |year=1915 |access-date=15 February 2012}}
|year=2000  
*{{Cite book |year=2003 |last=Robinson |first=Rowena |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyU4nepW2xQC |title=Christians of India |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-0-7619-9822-8 |access-date=19 April 2011}}
|pages=469–476  
*{{Cite journal |last1=Silva |first1=Severine |last2=Fuchs |first2=Stephan |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf |title=The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara, India |journal=Asian Ethnology |year=1965 |series=2 |pages=1–52 |volume=24 |access-date=1 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320030443/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}}
|access-date=19 April 2011  
*{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Arun |year=2002 |title=Goa Indica: a critical portrait of postcolonial Goa |publisher=Bibliophile South Asia |isbn=978-81-85002-31-6}}
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322225837/http://www.lusotopie.sciencespobordeaux.fr/desai.pdf
|archive-date=22 March 2012
|df=dmy-all  
}}
*{{Cite journal
|last=Gomes
|first=Olivinho
|year=1987
|title=Village Goa: a study of Goan social structure and change
|publisher=S. Chand
}}.
*{{Cite journal
|last2=Goa, Daman and Diu (India). Gazetteer Dept
|last1=Gune
|first1=Vithal Trimbak
|year=1979
|title=Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu: district gazetteer, Volume 1
|publisher=Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu
}}.
*{{Citation  
|last=Pereira  
|first=Benegal  
|url=http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/eddiepereira/  
|title=The life and times of Eddie Sadashiva Pereira: An extraordinary Goenkar (1915–1995)  
|publisher=Goacom.com  
|ref=eddie  
|access-date=19 April 2011  
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092511/http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/eddiepereira/
|archive-date=27 September 2011
|df=dmy-all  
}}
*{{Cite journal
|last=Pinto
|first=Pius Fidelis
|authorlink=Pius Fidelis Pinto
|year=1999
|title=History of Christians in coastal Karnataka, 1500–1763 A.D.
|location=Mangalore
|publisher=Samanvaya Prakashan
}}.
*{{Cite book
|last=Prabhu
|first=Alan Machado
|year=1999
|title=Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians
|publisher=I.J.A. Publications
|isbn=978-81-86778-25-8
}}.
*{{Cite book
|last2=Crooke
|first2=William
|last1=Risley
|first1=Herbert Hope
|authorlink2=William Crooke
|authorlink1=Herbert Hope Risley
|title=The people of India
|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924024114773
|publisher=Thacker & Co
|year=1915
|access-date=15 February 2012}}
*{{Cite book
|year=2003
|last=Robinson
|first=Rowena
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyU4nepW2xQC
|title=Christians of India
|publisher= SAGE
|isbn=978-0-7619-9822-8
|access-date=19 April 2011}}
*{{Cite journal  
|last1=Silva  
|first1=Severine  
|last2=Fuchs  
|first2=Stephan  
|url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf  
|title=The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara, India  
|journal=Asian Ethnology  
|year=1965  
|series=2  
|pages=1–52  
|volume=24  
|access-date=1 January 2011  
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320030443/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf
|archive-date=20 March 2012
|df=dmy-all  
}}
*{{Cite book
|last=Sinha
|first=Arun
|year=2002
|title=Goa Indica: a critical portrait of postcolonial Goa
|publisher=Bibliophile South Asia
|isbn=978-81-85002-31-6
}}.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|colwidth=50em}}
{{Refbegin|colwidth=50em}}
*{{Cite journal
*{{Cite book |last=Morenas |first=Zenaides |year=2002 |title=The Mussoll dance of Chandor: the dance of the Christian Kshatriyas |publisher=Clarissa Vaz e Morenas Konkani Research Fellowship Endowment Fund}}.
|last=Morenas
|first=Zenaides
|year=2002
|title=The Mussoll dance of Chandor: the dance of the Christian Kshatriyas
|publisher=Clarissa Vaz e Morenas Konkani Research Fellowship Endowment Fund
}}.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Kshatriya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Kshatriya}}
[[Category:Goan society]]
[[Category:Society of Goa]]
[[Category:Mangalorean society]]
[[Category:Mangalorean society]]
[[Category:Christian communities of India]]
[[Category:Christian communities of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Goa]]
[[Category:Social groups of Goa]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Castes]]
[[Category:Goan Catholics| ]]
[[Category:Goan Catholics| ]]
[[Category:Mangalorean Catholics| ]]
[[Category:Mangalorean Catholics]]
[[Category:Vasai-Virar]]
[[Category: History of Mumbai]]
[[Category:History of Christianity in India]]
[[Category:Indian Christians]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 16 December 2025

Main article: Caste system among South Asian Christians
Roman Catholic Kshatriya
Chardo
Martyrs of Cuncolim killed by dhoti clad warriors of pre-Christian Konkani Cxatrias
Languages
Konkani, British English, Hindi-Urdu& Bombay Mahratti. Previously Indo-Portuguese, Latin & Sanskrit
Religion
Latin Church in India
Related ethnic groups
Shetts, Somvanshi Kshatriya Patharees, Purvoes, Daivajnas, Christian Brahmins, Aagri, Koli, Kharvi, Kunbi & Chaukalshis

Roman Catholic Kshatriyas or Christian Kshatriyas[1][2] (simply Cxatrias in Romi Konkani, Indo-Portuguese & Indian English) are a modern Christianised caste among Goan, Bombay East Indian, Mangalorean, Kudali & Karwari Catholics. They are patrilineal descendants of Kshatriya and Vaishya Vani converts to the Latin Church, in parts of the Konkan region that were under Portuguese Goan rule.[3][4][5] They are known as Chardo in Goan Konkani,[6] Charodi (Kanarese Tsāroḍi) in Canarese Konkani[3] & as Sandori or Vadval in Damanese-Maharashtrian Konkani; while others also converted from the Khatri, Panchkalshi, Sonar & Pathare subcastes who speak the Bombay East Indian dialect.[7][8][9][10][11] Some Chardos have maintained endogamy, while others have intermarried with Bamonns.[12][13]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The precise etymology of the word Chardo is unclear. Two most probable explanations are as follows:[14]

  • The roots of this Konkani word is said to lie in the Prakrit word Chavda, which is the name of a dynasty who are said to have migrated to Old Goa from Saurashtra in the 7th and 8th centuries, after their kingdom was destroyed by the Sunni Caliphate's conquest in around 740 AD.[14]
  • Another explanation given by historian B.D. Satoskar is that the Konkani word comes from the Sanskrit word Chatur-rathi or the Prakrit Chau-radi, which literally means "the ones who ride a chariot yoked with four horses".[14]

Origins[edit | edit source]

Kshatriyas of the Konkan region were composed of the warrior class, they ranked second in the Hindu Varnashrama system. Those who were into trading by profession, were known as Chattim, which was an occupational appellation common to Brahmans as well.[4] The origins of this Christian caste can be traced back to the Christianisation of the Velhas Conquistas (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) by the Portuguese East Indies, during the 16th and 17th centuries.[4] Missionaries of the Jesuit, Franciscan & Dominican Orders converted many Kshatriyas to Christianity.[15] The caste appellation of Chardo eventually fell into disuse among the remaining few Hindu Kshatriyas, who began calling themselves Maratha, in order to differentiate themselves from those Kshatriyas, who had embraced Christianity & to also align themselves with the Hindu Mahrattas in the neighbouring Mahratta Confederacy.[4] The Kshatriyas and Vaishya Vanis, who were among the last to convert & could not be admitted to the Chardo fold identify as Gauddos.[4][16][17][18]

The earliest known instance of Kshatriya conversions to Christianity in what is present-day Goa, took place in 1560, when 700 Kshatriyas were baptised en masse at the Carambolim village of Tiswadi. Their decision to embrace Christianity was made after deliberation of the village assembly, the decision came about as they were subjects of Portuguese rule.[19] Another instance of a Kshatriya group of 200 members being baptized en masse at Batim in Bardez, in August, 1560; the event is mentioned in a letter of a Jesuit missionary, Luís Fróis, dated 13 November 1560.[19]

The Charodis form one of the largest groups in the Mangalorean Catholic community.[3] In South Canara, many Charodis took up service in the army of the Keladi Nayakas, and came to constitute the bulk of the Christian soldiers in their army. The Naik-Lewis families of Kallianpur near Udupi, produced many distinguished soldiers and officers in the Keladi army. In recognition of their service, the Keladi Nayakas rewarded them with large tracts of land in Kallianpur.[20] During the Indian independence struggle, Chardos were perceived by Indian nationalists to be more sympathetic to Indian nationalist leanings and less likely to be pro-European loyalists than Bamonns.[21]

The Chardos have generally been an endogamous group, so they did not inter-marry or mingle with lower castes, while the statutes and norms of the Roman Catholic Church & Portuguese rule prevented them from indulging in Hindu caste based discrimination.[22] Padvals are a subcaste within Roman Catholic Cxatrias of Jain Bunt origin.

See also[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Mesmerising Mussoll Khell of Chandor". 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Centuries-old tradition in Goa's Chandor village".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Silva & Fuchs 1965, p. 4
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Gomes 1987, pp. 77–78
  5. ↑ Risley & Crooke 1915, p. 80
  6. ↑ Pinto 1999, p. 165
  7. ↑ http://www.sahapedia.org/sociological-study-of-the-east-indian-community-of-mumbai
  8. ↑ "History of the East Indian Community".
  9. ↑ Singh, K. S.; India, Anthropological Survey of (1998). India's Communities. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  10. ↑ "Poster: EI Love". 26 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "The East Indian Dialect". Sahapedia. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Robinson, Rowena (9 October 2003). Christians of India. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-0-7619-9822-8.
  13. ↑ Dantas, Norman (1999). The Transforming of Goa. Other India Press. ISBN 978-81-85569-45-1.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Gune 1979, p. 21
  15. ↑ Prabhu 1999, p. 133
  16. ↑ Bhatt, S. C. (2005). Land and people of Indian states and union territories : (In 36 volumes). Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-356-2.
  17. ↑ Gomes, Olivinho (2004). Goa. National Book Trust, India. ISBN 978-81-237-4139-0.
  18. ↑ Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Isha Books. ISBN 978-81-8205-062-4.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Pinto 1999, p. 166
  20. ↑ Pinto 1999, p. 180
  21. ↑ Desai 2000, p. 5
  22. ↑ Sinha 2002, p. 74

References[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Morenas, Zenaides (2002). The Mussoll dance of Chandor: the dance of the Christian Kshatriyas. Clarissa Vaz e Morenas Konkani Research Fellowship Endowment Fund..

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