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{{short description|Community of Kayasthas in India and Nepal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
'''Karan Kayastha''' is a community of [[Kayastha]]s that inhabit [[Orissa|Odisha]] and the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]], a region now divided between India and [[Nepal]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryhuAAAAMAAJ |title=Kayasthas in Making of Modern Bihar |date=2003 |publisher=Impression Publication |pages= |language=en}}</ref>
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}


'''Karan Kayastha''' are a community of [[Kayastha]] that inhabit [[Orissa]]<ref name="Sinha BP">{{cite book|title=Kayastha in making of modern Bihar|last=Sinha|first=BP|publisher=Impression Publisher|year=2003|location=Patna|pages=14–15|language=en}}</ref> and [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]], a region now divided between [[India]] and [[Nepal]].
== Origin ==
They commonly use the surname Karn or Karna or Das or Lal Das in Bihar<ref name="IndiaToday">{{cite book|authors=Arnold P. Kaminsky, Roger D. Long|title=India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wWDnTWrz4O8C&pg=PA404|accessdate=4 March 2012|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-37462-3|pages=403–404}}</ref> and Patnaik, Mohanty, Das etc in Orissa.<ref name="Devdutt Patnaik"> {{cite web|last=Patnaik|first=Devdutt|title=Descendants Of Chitragupta|url=
According to ''[[Manusmriti|Manu]]'', a Hindu scripture,  the Karans are regarded as bratya (degraded) [[Kshatriya]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mandal |first=Mahitosh |date=2022 |title=Dalit Resistance during the Bengal Renaissance: Five Anti-Caste Thinkers from Colonial Bengal, India |journal=Caste: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=11–30 |doi=10.26812/caste.v3i1.367 |jstor=48674170 |s2cid=249027627 |issn=2639-4928|doi-access=free }}</ref>{{clarify|reason=why? if this is important to know at all, so must be the reason for such alleged degraded status for human beings.|date=September 2025}}
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/devdutt-pattanaik--descendants-of-chitragupta-19083152}}</ref>


== History and migration ==
== Culture and profession ==
Eminent archeologist, BP Sinha explains that duty of Karana was rajaseva and durgantapuraraksha. They held high position in Oriya society with them being mentioned highly in early scriptures. They adopted the profession of writing and were merged in the Kayastha community. He also mentions that the word Kayastha and Karana are often used synonymously in the sricptures of Orissa.<ref name="Sinha BP" />
The archaeologist B. P. Sinha says that the duty of Karanas was rajaseva and durgantapuraraksha.<ref name=":02" />{{page needed|date=July 2023}}{{clarify|reason=utter gibberish|date=July 2023}}
Sahay expalins their migration from present day [[Bihar]] to [[Orissa]] and [[Nepal]]. The Karanas held important positions in Magadh bureaucracy and due to regime change had to move North into the Terai and Nepal and South into Orissa and southern India. Those in the periphery of [[Magadh]] moved to Himalayan regions including the [[Terai]]. While those that moved south came to be later known as [[Karan (caste)|Karana]] in Orissa, [[Karanam]] in Andhra, [[Karuneeka]] in Karnataka and [[Karan Kayastha#Karuneegar of TamilNadu|Karunageer]] in TamilNadu.<ref name=Sahay141>{{cite book|last=Sahay|first=Uday|title=Kayasth Encyclopedia|publisher=SAUV communications|year=2021|isbn=978-81-941122-3-5|location=Delhi|pages=141|language=en}}</ref>


Eminent epigraphist of [[Archaeological Survey of India]], [[Dineshchandra Sircar]], mentions that several historial edicts and inscriptions have been found in the relevant geographic locations that show that the terms Karana, Karanin, Karaneeka, Karanakas, Karaneegars are used to represent bureacratic range from clerks to ministers. Significant among these are Minor Rock Edict No. II, Kanas plates of Lokavigraha, Ghugrahati copperplate of Samacharadeva, Tipper copperplate of Lokanath etc.<ref name=Indica>{{cite book|last=Sircar|first=Dineshchandra|title=Epigraphia Indica- Volume XXXIV|publisher=Archaeological Survey Of India|year=1960–61|location=Delhi|language=en}}</ref>
Epigraphist [[Dineshchandra Sircar]] mentions that several historial edicts and inscriptions have been found in the relevant geographic locations that show that the terms Karana, Karanin, Karaneeka, Karanakas and Karaneegars are used to represent a bureaucratic range from clerks to ministers. Significant among these are Minor Rock Edict No. II, the Kanas plates of Lokavigraha, the Ghugrahati copperplate of Samacharadeva and the Tipper copperplate of Lokanath etc.<ref name=Indica>{{cite book|last=Sircar|first=Dineshchandra|title=Epigraphia Indica- Volume XXXIV|publisher=Archaeological Survey Of India|year=1960–1961|location=Delhi|language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2023}}


== Karan of Bihar ==
== Karn of Mithila ==
Jha mentions that they claim themselves as the original inhabitant of Mithila and  are  also knownas Maithil Kayasth or Tirhutiya Kayasth. They follow the ''Panji'' system of genealogies, which is indigenous to a few ethnicities of the region.<ref name=Jha>{{cite book|last=Jha|first=UgraNath|title=The Genealogies and Genealogists of Mithila|publisher=Kishore Vidya Niketan|year=1980|location=Bihar|language=en}}</ref> Verma explains that these help in understanding their migration over several centuries as several manuscripts of [[Panjis]] are possessed by various panjikars of Bihar which deal with such genealogies. They are written in [[Tirhuta]] script on palm leaves or old indigenous paper mainly dealing with ''Mulgrams'' and the transmigration to subsequent places of living.<ref name=Verma>{{cite book|last=Verma|first=BinodBihari|title=Maithili Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan|location=Madhepura| year=1973}}</ref>
The Karna Kayasthas are viewed as a part of the ancient embodiment of Mithila culture along with Maithil Brahmins. They do not fit in four varna system but still became a dominant caste of this region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Roma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJOUDwAAQBAJ |title=Wording the World: Veena Das and Scenes of Inheritance |date=1 December 2014 |publisher=Fordham Univ Press |isbn=978-0-8232-6187-1 |language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2024}}
The early records also mention Nanyadev of Karnat dynasty, whose rule began in 1057 AD as also mentioned in Simraungadh inscription.<ref name=Sahay>{{cite book|last=Sahay|first=Uday|title=Kayasth Encyclopedia|publisher=SAUV communications|year=2021|isbn=978-81-941122-3-5|location=Delhi|language=en}}</ref>


[[File:Kohbar of Mithila.png|thumbnail|center]]
== Karan of Bengal ==
Indigenous to the region is also the Mithila paintings that mainly females of some ethnicities including the Karans elaborate in their domestic-ritual space.<ref name=ICCR>{{cite book|author=Indian Council for Cultural Relations|title=Indian Horizon Volume 54|year=2007|location=Delhi|publisher=Indian Council for Cultural Relations}}</ref>
The Karan caste group can also be found in Bengal region from the mediaeval era([[Bengali Kayastha]]). The post of Karan used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pati |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5seKkk3GkIC&pg=PA116 |title=Family Planning |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-313-0352-8 |language=en}}</ref> They exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governors, military commanders, accountants, record keepers and diwans.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mohanty |first1=Ramesh P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kl66OPnClpoC&pg=PA40 |title=Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal |last2=Biswal |first2=Durgesh Nandini |date=2007 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-199-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sircar |first=D. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ceDuDwAAQBAJ&dq=srikarana&pg=PA375 |title=Indian Epigraphy |date=1 January 2017 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-4103-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mohanty |first=Pramod Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3GzaAAAAMAAJ&q=srikarana |title=Colonialism and South Asia: Cuttack, 1803-1947 |date=2007 |publisher=R.N. Bhattacharya |isbn=978-81-87661-52-8 |language=en}}</ref> {{page needed|date=November 2024}} According to Historian [[Ramesh Chandra Majumdar]] the Karan merged themselves into the Kayastha caste who performed the same profession.<ref>{{Cite book |last=MAJUMDAR |first=R. C. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13287 |title=HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL |date=1971 |publisher=G. BHARADWAJ, CALCUTTA}}</ref>
 
===Notable people===
*[[Jyoti Basu]]
*[[Bidhan Chandra Roy]]
* [[Sukanta Majumdar]], Central Union Minister in [[Council of Ministers of India]].


== Karana of Odisha ==
== Karana of Odisha ==
[[Karan (caste)|Main article : Karana]]
{{Main|Karan (caste)}}
 
Karanas in [[Odisha]] are referred to as members of writer caste community, they are a prosperous and influential community of Odisha and rank next to [[Utkala Brahmin|Brahmins]] in the social hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pati |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5seKkk3GkIC&dq=karan+rank+next+to+brahmin&pg=PA116 |title=Family Planning |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-313-0352-8 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas received land grants in mediaeval period and held feudatory status in Odisha.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panda |first=Shishir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zC1uAAAAMAAJ&q=karanas+received+land+grants |title=New Perspectives on the History and Culture of Orissa |date=2000 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |isbn=978-81-86791-23-3 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas also held high positions in government during mediaeval period.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakraborty |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PItbvfAvVggC&dq=karana+kayastha&pg=PA122 |title=National Integration in Historical Perspective: A Cultural Regeneration in Eastern India |date=1985 |publisher=Mittal Publications |language=en}}</ref> As per Sircar the Bhajas inscription, mentions a list of individuals involved in land records and contains a phrase 'Brahmana-Karana-Puroga-Nivasi' which is a good indication of their social status.<ref name="Indica" /> Historian RS Sharma has also mentioned that Loknatha, a Karana, was also referred to as a Brahmin in inscriptions, even in current scenario they hold good political power in Odisha including several Chief Ministers in recent years.<ref name=Singh>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Pradeep|title=Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems|publisher=Elsevier Science|year=2020|language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2024}} Karanas consider themselves as a separate group distinct from Kayasthas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Institute |first=West Bengal (India) Cultural Research |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQhuAAAAMAAJ&q=members+of+karan+caste+strongly+oppose |title=Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute |date=1980 |publisher=Cultural Research Institute |language=en}}</ref> Karanas had also developed their own unique "[[Karani script|Karani]]" script named after their community to write documents in Odisha.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Joanna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZeXeEAAAQBAJ&dq=karani+script&pg=PR56 |title=The Two-Headed Deer: Illustrations of the Ramayana in Orissa |date=22 December 2023 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-32182-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmqADwAAQBAJ&dq=karani+script&pg=PA15 |title=Orissa Society of Americas 25th Annual Convention Souvenir: For Annual Convention Held in 1994 at Pamona, New Jersey |publisher=Odisha Society of the Americas |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSduAAAAMAAJ&q=karani+script |title=The Orissa Historical Research Journal |date=2004 |publisher=Superintendent of Research and Museum |language=en}}</ref> Additionally Karanas are also mentioned as "Grama Karana" and "Mandala Karana" in [[Eastern Ganga dynasty|Ganga]] and [[Gajapati dynasty|Gajapati]] records having authority over a large number of villages, similarly the "Chamu Karana" and "Deula Karana" of Gajapati period were the private secretary of the king and the chief administrator of [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Temple]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Biswarup |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfYdAAAAMAAJ&q=Karana+caste |title=Orissa: Social, Cultural, and Religious Aspects |date=1985 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan |pages=50 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas emerged as a significant social group in [[Eastern Ganga dynasty]] as evident from early Ganga records, they occupied various important positions in the Ganga administration, from that of a village headman and accountant to that of a prime minister and army general.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dr. Manas Kumar Das |title=HISTORY OF ODISHA (FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 1434 A.D.) |url=https://ddceutkal.ac.in/Syllabus/MA_history/Paper-16.pdf |journal=History of Odisha (From Earliest Times to 1434 A.d.) |pages=125 |via=ddceutkal.ac.in UTKAL UNIVERSITY}}</ref> An important official under Narasimha Deva 4 of Ganga dynasty named “Srikarana Pattanaik Viswanatha Mahasenapati” was the governor and army general of four Dandapatas or regions in Eastern Ganga dynasty, he was known to be the “'''Chaturadikha Danda Parikha”''' of Eastern Ganga Dynasty or “Governor General” of all the four directions north, south, east and west as evident from Ganga inscriptions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahtab |first=Harekrushna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSj8395b_WMC&q=srikarana+mahasenapati |title=The History of Orissa |date=1959 |publisher=Prajatantra Prachar Samity |pages=256 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pāḍhī |first=Ekādaśī |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2EduAAAAMAAJ&q=srikarana+mahasenapati |title=The Cultural Heritage of Jajpur: The Ancient Capital of Orissa |date=2004 |publisher=Nijaswa Prakashan |isbn=978-81-902056-0-3 |pages=143 |language=en}}</ref> A military general named Srikaran Patnaik of [[Athagada Patna]] Kingdom of [[Ganjam district]] under the ruler Govindchandra is said to have led a successful expedition against the [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja]] ruler and defeated him, the victorious army under his command had captured the Bhanja fort of Kakarsali and built a new fort named Mandaragad, Srikaran Patnaik had placed 300 soldiers to guard the captured fort.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4IoPV2Rr4cC&q=Patnaik |title=The Indian Historical Quarterly |date=1931 |publisher=Calcutta Oriental Press |pages=35–36 |language=en}}</ref> Similarly [[Ramananda Ray]] and his brother Gopinatha Badajena were governors in [[Gajapati Empire]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bakshi |first=Shiri Ram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0luAAAAMAAJ&q=ramananda+raya |title=Struggle for Independence: Indian Freedom Fighters. Hare Krushna Mahtab |date=1993 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-715-6 |pages=75 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=PANIGRAHI |first=KRISHNA CHANDRA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0mkEAAAQBAJ&dq=ramananda+raya&pg=RA6-PA8 |title=History of Orissa: (HINDU PERIOD) |date=5 January 2023 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-68586-798-0 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas emerged from the community of [[Kshatriya]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Das |first=Biswarup |date=1980 |title=Kayasthas and Karanas in Orissa—a Study on Inscriptions— |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141924 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=41 |pages=940–944 |jstor=44141924 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref> Karanas were the major landholders of Odisha, however post [[Orissa famine of 1866]], the percentage of  landholdings for some Karana Landlords declined.<ref>https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/addodh36.pdf National Commission for Backward Classes, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA report, page no 239</ref> An official named Trilochan Patnaik of the [[Karan (caste)|Karan]] Community who was in charge of collection of revenue during the Maratha Rule of Odisha had managed to acquire the zamindari of “Kotdesh” from the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] by paying a large amount of nazarana (money) in 1775, Trilochan Patnaik had made himself known in the Maratha administration through his intelligence and skills, he became the founder of one of the largest [[Zamindar]]i estates of Odisha. Trilochan Patnaik was succeeded by his son Narayan Chotrai in 1792, Narayan Chotrai was the Zamindar of Kotdesh during the [[British Raj|British]] conquest of Odisha, “KOTDESH” was one of the 7 great zamindaris of Odisha at the time of British conquest. The zamindari was later auctioned off by the British government in 1896 due to arrears of revenue and debt of the estate.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Orissa (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0S9uAAAAMAAJ&q=kotdesh+trilochan+patnaik |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Puri |date=1966 |publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bengal (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThQmAQAAIAAJ&dq=kotdesh+trilochan+patnaik&pg=PA284 |title=Bengal District Gazetteers |date=1908 |publisher=Bengal Secretariat Book Depot |language=en}}</ref>
 
===Notable people===
*[[Naveen Patnaik]]
*[[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]]
*[[Biju Patnaik]]
*[[Janaki Ballabh Patnaik]]
*[[Biren Mitra]]
*[[Madhusudan Das]]
*[[Laxmikanta Mohapatra]]
*[[Radhanath Ray]]
*[[Gourishankar Ray]]
*[[Achyutananda Dasa]]
*[[Balarama Dasa]]
*[[Ananta Dasa]]
*[[Bisara Mohanty]]
*[[Ramananda Ray]]
*[[Birakishore Das]]
*[[Nityanand Kanungo]]
*[[Sarala Devi]]
*[[Ramadevi Choudhury]]
*[[Bira Kishore Ray]]
*[[Sukanta Kishore Ray]]
*[[Ananga Kumar Patnaik]]
*[[Braja Sundar Das]]
*[[Jagabandhu Patnaik|Jagu Dewan]]
*[[Banamali Dasa]]
*[[Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka]]
*[[Kalicharan Pattnaik]]
*[[Gopinath Mohanty]]
*[[Akshaya Mohanty]]
*[[Prana Krushna Parija]]
*[[Gopal Ballav Pattanaik]]
*[[Nikhil Mohan Pattnaik]]
*[[Chandi Prasad Mohanty]]
*[[Sarat Pattanayak]]
*[[Bijoy Mohapatra]]
*[[Uttam Mohanty]]


Thurston suggests that the Karanas were first invited to Orissa by the King Yayati Keshari in about 5th century A. D.<ref name=Sahiyta>{{cite book|author=Shaitya Academi|title=Souvenir, Orissa Sahitya Akademi Silver Jubilee, 1982|publisher=The Academi|year=1982|location=Odisha|language=en}}</ref>
== Karanam or Sistakarnam of Andhra and Telangana ==
Sircar suggests that as shown in the Bhajas inscription, a list of individuals involved in land records contains a phrase 'Brahmana-Karana-Puroga-Nivasi' which may be good indication of their social status then.<ref name="Indica" /> Historian RS Sharma also mention that Loknatha, a Karana, was also referred to as a Brahmin in inscriptions, but they were ranked lower in most literature.<ref name=Sharma>{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=RS|title=Early Medieval Indian Society|publisher=Orient Longman|year=2001|language=en}}</ref>
{{Main|Karanam}}
Even in the current scenario they hold good political power in Odisha including several Chief Ministers in recent years.<ref name=Singh>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Pradeep|title=Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems|publisher=Elsevier Science|year=2020|language=en}}</ref>


== Karanam or Sistakarnam of Andhra ==
'''Karanam''' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]: కరణం) or '''Karnam''' was an office and title native to the Indian states of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes.<ref name=":03">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VO4eAQAAMAAJ |title=Community Development and Panchayati Raj Digest, Volumes 3-5 |publisher=National Institute of Community Development |year=1971 |page=334 |quote=Patwari / Karanam shall be the additional secretary to the gram panchayat for keeping the record concerning lands}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiULAQAAIAAJ&q=karanam |title=Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers |date=2000 |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |pages=185, 186 |language=en}}</ref> Sircar mentions that they mostly dealt with accounting, bureaucracy, teaching etc.<ref name="Indica" />
Sircar mentions that they mostly dealt with accounting, bureaucracy, teaching etc.<ref name="Indica" />
They are believed to have migrated from Orissa to the flourishing Vijayanagar empire where they also were heads of villages mostly in Northern costal Andhra, with quite a few ministers, warriors, reformers and administrators. Sahay mentions that the Sistakarnams perform the upanayan ceremony and hold the belief of decent from Shri Chitragupta, the language of these communities in Andhra is mostly Odiya called Karnala bhasha and are also called Karnalu, Chitti Karnalu or Shristikarnalu.<ref name="Sahay" />


== Karuneegar of TamilNadu ==
==Karuneegar of Tamil Nadu and Kerala==
[[File:Vallalar.jpg|thumb]]
Sahay mentions that the poet Paarisanadhar wrote Karuneegar Purana during the Vallar Pandiyan era. Their holiest cite is the Shri Chitragupt Swamy Temple in Kanchipuram and they hold the belief to have descended from the presiding deity and have 64 gotras in the community. They are mainly devotees of Vallalar Shri [[Ramalinga Swamigal|Ramalinga Swamy]] of Vadalur.<ref name="Sahay" /> The famous Tamil saint, reformer and poet belonged to the community and to a line of Tamil saints known as "gnana siddhars".<ref name=Civañān̲am>{{cite book|last=Civañān̲am|first=Ma. Po|title=The Universal Vision of Saint Ramalinga|publisher=Annamalai University|year=1987|location=Tamil Nadu|language=en}}</ref>
Sircar mentions that they give great importance to mathematics,<ref name="Indica" /> so much so that one of the subcaste is named ''Kanakkar'' which literally stands for Mathematics in Tamil.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Hindu surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]
[[Category:Kayastha]]
[[Category:Kayastha]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
{{India-ethno-stub}}

Revision as of 21:27, 3 January 2026


Karan Kayastha is a community of Kayasthas that inhabit Odisha and the Mithila region, a region now divided between India and Nepal.[1]

Origin

According to Manu, a Hindu scripture, the Karans are regarded as bratya (degraded) Kshatriyas.[2][clarification needed]

Culture and profession

The archaeologist B. P. Sinha says that the duty of Karanas was rajaseva and durgantapuraraksha.[1][page needed][clarification needed]

Epigraphist Dineshchandra Sircar mentions that several historial edicts and inscriptions have been found in the relevant geographic locations that show that the terms Karana, Karanin, Karaneeka, Karanakas and Karaneegars are used to represent a bureaucratic range from clerks to ministers. Significant among these are Minor Rock Edict No. II, the Kanas plates of Lokavigraha, the Ghugrahati copperplate of Samacharadeva and the Tipper copperplate of Lokanath etc.[3][page needed]

Karn of Mithila

The Karna Kayasthas are viewed as a part of the ancient embodiment of Mithila culture along with Maithil Brahmins. They do not fit in four varna system but still became a dominant caste of this region.[4][page needed]

Karan of Bengal

The Karan caste group can also be found in Bengal region from the mediaeval era(Bengali Kayastha). The post of Karan used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate people.[5] They exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governors, military commanders, accountants, record keepers and diwans.[6][7][8] [page needed] According to Historian Ramesh Chandra Majumdar the Karan merged themselves into the Kayastha caste who performed the same profession.[9]

Notable people

Karana of Odisha

Main article: Karan (caste)

Karanas in Odisha are referred to as members of writer caste community, they are a prosperous and influential community of Odisha and rank next to Brahmins in the social hierarchy.[10] Karanas received land grants in mediaeval period and held feudatory status in Odisha.[11] Karanas also held high positions in government during mediaeval period.[12] As per Sircar the Bhajas inscription, mentions a list of individuals involved in land records and contains a phrase 'Brahmana-Karana-Puroga-Nivasi' which is a good indication of their social status.[3] Historian RS Sharma has also mentioned that Loknatha, a Karana, was also referred to as a Brahmin in inscriptions, even in current scenario they hold good political power in Odisha including several Chief Ministers in recent years.[13][page needed] Karanas consider themselves as a separate group distinct from Kayasthas.[14] Karanas had also developed their own unique "Karani" script named after their community to write documents in Odisha.[15][16][17] Additionally Karanas are also mentioned as "Grama Karana" and "Mandala Karana" in Ganga and Gajapati records having authority over a large number of villages, similarly the "Chamu Karana" and "Deula Karana" of Gajapati period were the private secretary of the king and the chief administrator of Jagannath Temple respectively.[18] Karanas emerged as a significant social group in Eastern Ganga dynasty as evident from early Ganga records, they occupied various important positions in the Ganga administration, from that of a village headman and accountant to that of a prime minister and army general.[19] An important official under Narasimha Deva 4 of Ganga dynasty named “Srikarana Pattanaik Viswanatha Mahasenapati” was the governor and army general of four Dandapatas or regions in Eastern Ganga dynasty, he was known to be the “Chaturadikha Danda Parikha” of Eastern Ganga Dynasty or “Governor General” of all the four directions north, south, east and west as evident from Ganga inscriptions.[20][21] A military general named Srikaran Patnaik of Athagada Patna Kingdom of Ganjam district under the ruler Govindchandra is said to have led a successful expedition against the Bhanja ruler and defeated him, the victorious army under his command had captured the Bhanja fort of Kakarsali and built a new fort named Mandaragad, Srikaran Patnaik had placed 300 soldiers to guard the captured fort.[22] Similarly Ramananda Ray and his brother Gopinatha Badajena were governors in Gajapati Empire.[23][24] Karanas emerged from the community of Kshatriyas.[25] Karanas were the major landholders of Odisha, however post Orissa famine of 1866, the percentage of landholdings for some Karana Landlords declined.[26] An official named Trilochan Patnaik of the Karan Community who was in charge of collection of revenue during the Maratha Rule of Odisha had managed to acquire the zamindari of “Kotdesh” from the Marathas by paying a large amount of nazarana (money) in 1775, Trilochan Patnaik had made himself known in the Maratha administration through his intelligence and skills, he became the founder of one of the largest Zamindari estates of Odisha. Trilochan Patnaik was succeeded by his son Narayan Chotrai in 1792, Narayan Chotrai was the Zamindar of Kotdesh during the British conquest of Odisha, “KOTDESH” was one of the 7 great zamindaris of Odisha at the time of British conquest. The zamindari was later auctioned off by the British government in 1896 due to arrears of revenue and debt of the estate.[27][28]

Notable people

Karanam or Sistakarnam of Andhra and Telangana

Main article: Karanam

Karanam (Telugu: కరణం) or Karnam was an office and title native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes.[29][30] Sircar mentions that they mostly dealt with accounting, bureaucracy, teaching etc.[3]

Karuneegar of Tamil Nadu and Kerala

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sinha, Bindeshwari Prasad (2003). Kayasthas in Making of Modern Bihar. Impression Publication.
  2. ↑ Mandal, Mahitosh (2022). "Dalit Resistance during the Bengal Renaissance: Five Anti-Caste Thinkers from Colonial Bengal, India". Caste: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion. 3 (1): 11–30. doi:10.26812/caste.v3i1.367. ISSN 2639-4928. JSTOR 48674170. S2CID 249027627.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sircar, Dineshchandra (1960–1961). Epigraphia Indica- Volume XXXIV. Delhi: Archaeological Survey Of India.
  4. ↑ Chatterji, Roma (1 December 2014). Wording the World: Veena Das and Scenes of Inheritance. Fordham Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-8232-6187-1.
  5. ↑ Pati, Rabindra Nath (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  6. ↑ Mohanty, Ramesh P.; Biswal, Durgesh Nandini (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-199-1.
  7. ↑ Sircar, D. C. (1 January 2017). Indian Epigraphy. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-4103-1.
  8. ↑ Mohanty, Pramod Kumar (2007). Colonialism and South Asia: Cuttack, 1803-1947. R.N. Bhattacharya. ISBN 978-81-87661-52-8.
  9. ↑ MAJUMDAR, R. C. (1971). HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL. G. BHARADWAJ, CALCUTTA.
  10. ↑ Pati, Rabindra Nath (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  11. ↑ Panda, Shishir Kumar (2000). New Perspectives on the History and Culture of Orissa. Punthi Pustak. ISBN 978-81-86791-23-3.
  12. ↑ Chakraborty, Rabindra Nath (1985). National Integration in Historical Perspective: A Cultural Regeneration in Eastern India. Mittal Publications.
  13. ↑ Singh, Pradeep (2020). Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems. Elsevier Science.
  14. ↑ Institute, West Bengal (India) Cultural Research (1980). Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute. Cultural Research Institute.
  15. ↑ Williams, Joanna (22 December 2023). The Two-Headed Deer: Illustrations of the Ramayana in Orissa. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-32182-3.
  16. ↑ Orissa Society of Americas 25th Annual Convention Souvenir: For Annual Convention Held in 1994 at Pamona, New Jersey. Odisha Society of the Americas.
  17. ↑ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 2004.
  18. ↑ Das, Biswarup (1985). Orissa: Social, Cultural, and Religious Aspects. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 50.
  19. ↑ Dr. Manas Kumar Das. "HISTORY OF ODISHA (FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 1434 A.D.)" (PDF). History of Odisha (From Earliest Times to 1434 A.d.): 125 – via ddceutkal.ac.in UTKAL UNIVERSITY.
  20. ↑ Mahtab, Harekrushna (1959). The History of Orissa. Prajatantra Prachar Samity. p. 256.
  21. ↑ Pāḍhī, Ekādaśī (2004). The Cultural Heritage of Jajpur: The Ancient Capital of Orissa. Nijaswa Prakashan. p. 143. ISBN 978-81-902056-0-3.
  22. ↑ The Indian Historical Quarterly. Calcutta Oriental Press. 1931. pp. 35–36.
  23. ↑ Bakshi, Shiri Ram (1993). Struggle for Independence: Indian Freedom Fighters. Hare Krushna Mahtab. Anmol Publications. p. 75. ISBN 978-81-7041-715-6.
  24. ↑ PANIGRAHI, KRISHNA CHANDRA (5 January 2023). History of Orissa: (HINDU PERIOD). Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-68586-798-0.
  25. ↑ Das, Biswarup (1980). "Kayasthas and Karanas in Orissa—a Study on Inscriptions—". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 41: 940–944. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141924.
  26. ↑ https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/addodh36.pdf National Commission for Backward Classes, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA report, page no 239
  27. ↑ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Puri. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
  28. ↑ Bengal (India) (1908). Bengal District Gazetteers. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot.
  29. ↑ Community Development and Panchayati Raj Digest, Volumes 3-5. National Institute of Community Development. 1971. p. 334. Patwari / Karanam shall be the additional secretary to the gram panchayat for keeping the record concerning lands
  30. ↑ Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers. Government of Andhra Pradesh. 2000. pp. 185, 186.
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