Nethakani, also known as Netkani, are a Maratha and Telugu caste of cotton weavers and laborers.
These people were migrated from Maharashtra and spread over middle India, Northern and southern parts of India. In Maharashtra Nethakanis are known as Netkani. Traditionally they have been associated with the occupation of weaving (netha neyuta means "weaving" in Telugu), but they have now largely moved to cultivation and agricultural labor; with a few of them being small land-owners.
According to Bhadravathi Kalyana Natakamu, a folk-drama which has been published, the Nethakani are one among the four sections of Padmasaliyulu who are the sons of Bhavana Rushi. The four sections mentioned in this drama are Padmiyulu, Padmasakhiyulu, Padmasalikulu and Padmapulindulu. Padma-pulindulu was the Original Name of the Nethakani. From Padmapulindulu, the name became Chenethakanivaru, which in course of time changed to the present form, Nethakani.
Most of the people related to this caste are located in the northern region of the Indian state of Telangana in the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Warangal. Nethakanis also migrated to Maharashtra and distributed throughout, they speak Marathi in Maharashtra & Adilabad bordering MH. Based on the financial status in the society, Nethekanis are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) in northern parts of India and scheduled caste (SC) in some parts of India.
This people are part of Hindu Shiva and Vishnu Sampradaya. They are unique caste present in India. They speak Marati, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati And Tulu
Their roots are from Brigu Maharshi and Markandeya sage and Bhawana rishi.[1][2] Nethakani's are among the smaller SC castes in Telangana; a study estimated their population to be around 80,000, constituting about 1% of the state's total SC population.[3] The Nethakanis are distinguished by their custom of tying their head cloth in a roughly square shape, and by their loin cloths, which are worn very loose and not knotted.[1][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Russell, Robert Vane; Lal, R.B. The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. vol. 4. Anthropological Publications. p. 156.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - ↑ Dube, S. C.; Opler, Morris Edward (1955). Indian village. International Library of Sociology E: The Sociology of Development. Routledge.
- ↑ Chalam, K. S. (2002). Human Development in South India: The Dravidian Marvel. Anmol Publications. p. 78. ISBN 81-261-1034-1.
- ↑ Sharma, Jagdish Saran (1981). Encyclopaedia Indica. Vol. vol. 2 (ed. 2 ed.). S. Chand. p. 761.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help)
 | This article about an Indian ethnicity or social group is a stub. You can help Bharatpedia by expanding it. |