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Khandayat (caste)
Khandayat or Khandait is a Martial caste from Odisha, East india.[1][2][3][4][5] They were feudal chiefs, military generals, zamindars, administrators, ministers, large land holders and agriculturalists.[6][7][8][9] During British raj, they ruled many tributary states in Odisha, including Khordha.
Numerically they are the largest caste of the state.They owned most Zamindaris in Odisha.[11.[10]
| Khandayat | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Odia |
| Populated states | Odisha |
Etymology[edit]
The name Khandayat is originated from the word "Khanda" which means Sword and khandayat means swordsman or head man of khands .[11][12]
History[edit]
Traditionally, they are martial caste who claim themselves to be of Kshatriya status,due to their Strong martial background.
Early mention of Khandayats as feudal chief and military personnel is found during the rule of eastern ganga dynasty in 11th century.
During this time, Khandayat military settlements were established in Bhubaneswar and nearby areas to protect the Great Lingaraj Temple.
Mughal chronicler Ain-i-Akbari gave a clear picture of Odisha after the breakdown of the Gajapati Empire. It mentioned different forts ruled by Khandayat Zamindars along with their King Mukund Dev.
The British conquered Odisha in 1803 and implemented land reforms to increase tax revenue. Khandayats enjoyed tax-free lands in Khurda Kingdom in strictly military tenure. But after their Paika Rebellion, they lost most of the free-hold lands.
Pradhan also attributes this to Brahmin patronage of Rajputs, who also claimed to be of Kshatriya status.[13][clarification needed] Communities such as Adivasis, Bhuyans, Chasas, and Agharia identifying as Khandayats in order to gain status, distance themselves from their original castes/communities, and exploit Zamindar land rights.[14]
References[edit]
- ↑ Behuria, N. C. (1990). Orissa State Gazetteer. Gazetteers Unit, Department of Revenue, Government of Orissa.
- ↑ Behura, Nab Kishore; Mohanty, Ramesh P. (2005). Family Welfare in India: A Cross-cultural Study. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7141-920-3.
- ↑ Patnaik, Nihar Ranjan (1997). Economic History of Orissa. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-075-0.
- ↑ Pati, Rabindra Nath (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
- ↑ Regional Development Dialogue. United Nations Centre for Regional Development. 2009.
- ↑ Bhola, Sudhira Chandra (1990). British Economic Policy in Orissa. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7141-075-0.
- ↑ Samal, J. K. (1990). Economic History of Orissa, 1866-1912. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-218-9.
- ↑ Ernst, Waltraud; Pati, Biswamoy (18 October 2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-11988-2.
- ↑ Bailey, Frederick George (1970). Politics and Social Change. University of California Press. p. 132.
- ↑ Punjab Journal of Politics. Department of Political Science, Guru Nanak Dev University. 1986.
- ↑ Ghosh, G. K. (2000). Legends of Origin of the Castes and Tribes of Eastern India. Firma KLM. ISBN 978-81-7102-046-1.
- ↑ Pati, Biswamoy (2003). Identity, Hegemony, Resistance: Towards a Social History of Conversions in Orissa, 1800-2000. Three Essays Collective. ISBN 978-81-88789-04-7.
- ↑ Pradhan, Prasanta Kumar (1996). "Story of the Peasant Militias or the Khandayats or Orissa: A Socio-Historical Approach". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 57: 752–745 – via JSTOR.
- ↑ Ernst, Waltraun; Pati, Biswamoy (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. ISBN 9781134119882. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
Further reading[edit]
- Ernst, Waltraud; Pati, Biswamoy, eds. (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-13411-988-2.
- Pati, Biswamoy (2001). Situating Social History: Orissa, 1800-1997. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-8-12502-007-3.
- Senapati, Fakir Mohan (2005). Six Acres and a Third: The Classic Nineteenth-century Novel about Colonial India. Mishra, Rabi Shankar (trans.). University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-52022-883-2.
- Roy, Bhaskar (2004). "Khandayats moving into political gear in Orissa". Times of India.