Mannerwarlu: Difference between revisions

{{Orphan|date=May 2017}}

The '''Mannerwarlu''' people are native to the state of [[Maharashtra]], India. They are mainly located in the border regions of Maharashtra and [[Telangana]], primarily in the [[Nanded district]] and [[Hingoli district]] of Maharashtra. They speak dialects of the [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu languages]] with adopted [[Hindi]] and [[Urdu]] words.

The Mannerwarlu tribe celebrates festivals such as [[Naga Panchami|Nagpanchami]], Dasara, and [[Diwali]] and have a distinct culture and customs. Local deities include ''Bijjamma near indirachowk Hingoli,''  [[Renuka|Pochamma]] and the goddess [[Yellamma Temple, Saundatti|Yellama]]{{cn|date=April 2018}} The Mannerwarlu people also worship the [[Pandava|Pandavas]], the five acknowledged sons of [[Pandu]] from the Mahabharata. The region's plain topography together with large scale deforestation during and after the reign of [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] left the tribe exposed to outside influences, unlike other tribes that were protected by either dense forest or hills.

An old custom is the offering of a goat or sheep to the local Goddess on the occasion of births, weddings and other big events. the ceremony takes place at the 'ancestral temple' which is dedicated to her, normally situated inside the house of a tribal elder.

The Mannerwarlu<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212634/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm |archive-date=20 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> were forest hunter-gatherers. In more recent history, men worked as guides on tiger-hunting expeditions for the British in colonial times and for Nizam. Many are farm laborers, tenant farmers and marginal farmers. Those who live near remaining forest areas gather and trade medicinal plants and forest produce. However, the majority of men migrate to West Maharashtra and [[Hyderabad]] in search of work and employment. The tribe has a generation of people who are educated, community members who became government officials. Balanna Ramanna Ratnalu (Dhamniwale) Hingoli were the great forefathers and their relation expanded among all the Maharashtra mannervarlu caste peoples mainly in Pune, Nagpur, Akola, Nagar, Khamgaon and Hyderabad.

Typical surnames include: Ramod, Ratnallu (Bagichewale) Yammalwad, Komwad, Pallewad, Pupulwad, Nalmelwar, Bodhgire, Badalwad, Ingewad, Nallewad, Bodemwad, Perke, Parodwad, Jethewad, Sathewad, Ungratwad, Sallawar, Akule, Thakarwad, Kantewad, Ambulgekar, Undratwad, Nainwad, Arsewad, Abulkod, Bachewad, Kaslod, Raulwar, Shirsetwar and Shirgurwar, Kurewar and Chabilwad. Mainly in Hingoli district there are surnames as Ratnalu, Puppalu, Vithallu, Pillay, Bollalu, Ponganty, Mutyalu, Akulwar, Bachrallu, Tote, Helchal, Sanpawar, Korvi, Suddulwar, Badamkar, Kamtewad and Menthewad.  

Tribal history passed down through tribal elders suggests that they organised themselves to resist the integration of Hyderabad State into the Dominion of India by fighting the [[Razakars (Hyderabad)|Razakars]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/survivor-of-razakars-brutality-reminisces/article5126155.ece|title=Survivor of Razakars’ brutality reminisces|last=Rao|first=Gollapudi Srinivasa|date=2013-09-14|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-03|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> who were a private militia led by [[Kasim Razvi|Qasim Razvi]] to support the rule of Nizam Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII.