Bhavsar

Infobox caste
caste_name=Bhavsar, Bhavasar, Bhawasar, Rangari, Rangrez, Bhavsar Kshatriya, Chippa, Chhapgar, Basar
classification=Kshatriya
subdivisions=
populated_states=Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
languages=Gujarati, Marathi, Bagri
religions=Hinduism, JainismThe Bhavsar (Gujarati:ભાવસાર, Hindi: भावसार) are an ethnic group in India. They claim to belong to the traditional Kshatriya varna in Hinduism. However, they are listed as Other Backward Classes as per the Kalelkar Commission [cite book
last = Yadav
first = Neelam
title = Encyclopedia of Backward Classes
year = 2006
publisher = Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd.
isbn = 8126122293
pages = 257] .

History and Origin

The Bhavsar are an ethnic group originating from the Sindh in current day Pakistan [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Gujarat
year = 2003
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8179911047
pages = 206] [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Rajasthan
year = 1998
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8171547664
pages = 146] . Tradition has it that was formed by Bhavsingh and Sharsingh, two young princes from North Western India . Hinglaj Mata or Hingulamba is regarded as the the Kuldevi or the Clan Goddess of the community. The princes sought protection from Lord Parashuram, who had vowed to destroy all Kshatriyas. The shrine where Bhavsingh and Sarsingh had prayed to the goddess is located near Karachi in present day Pakistan. In fact, the Bhavsar samaj is now negotiating with the Pakistan government for regular pilgrimage to Hinglaj [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Rajasthan
year = 1998
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8171547664
pages = 148] . As time passed, this community got involved in occupations related to Clothing like Tailoring and Dyeing. Since the skills of these tailors and dyers were well known, they travelled to many neighboring states and established trade there. This diaspora is at least seven hundred years old [cite book
last = Siraj ul Hassan
first = Syed
title = The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions
year = 1989
publisher = Asian Educational Services
isbn = 8120604881
pages = 60] .

Culture and Demographics

Today, Bhavsars are found mostly in southern Rajasthan [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Rajasthan
year = 1998
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8171547664
pages = 206] . They are also found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and so on, all adapting to their local culture and traditions to varying degrees. However,Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the primary regions from where the more recent migrations have occurred. For instance, as part of their orignal trade of dyeing and tailoring, the Maharashtrian Bhavsars have migrated to South India since earlier times. They have settled in the South for several generations. However, they have maintained their Maharashtrian cultural ties to this day.

Languages Spoken

The Bhavsar community in Rajasthan speak Bagri, a Rajasthani language [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Rajasthan
year = 1998
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8171547664
pages = 146] . Further south, a very large number of Bhavsars have either Gujarati or Marathi as their mother tongue. Migrants to states other than Gujarat or Maharashtra invariably continue to speak their native tongue while being multilingual with the local language. For example, migrants from Maharashtra to the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu speak marathi, while being multilingual with the local language.

In Gujarat, the community has two linguistic divisions Gujarati and Marathi, which are endogamous in nature. There is also a creole of Gujarati and Marathi called Bhavsari spoken in certain areas near Gujarat.

Surnames of the Bhavsars

Some families from the Bhavsar Community apply Bhavsar as their last name, for the purpose of identity. This is especially true of the Gujarati Bhavsars and some Bhavsars in Maharashtra. However, the Bhavsars from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have surnames in the Maharashtian tradition. This indicates that Maharastra has been their second home after Gujarat for a very long time and it preceded their migration further south.

Bhavsar Samaj

Bhavsars have their traditional caste council known as the Bhavsar samaj or Bhavsar Kshatriya samaj [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India
title = People of India: Rajasthan
year = 1998
publisher = Popular Prakashan
isbn = 8171547664
pages = 148] . This is a common denominator of all Bhavsars irrespective of the region they have migrated to. The main function of the jati panchayat (as in the Rajasthani bhavsar samaj) is to settle inter-family feud, quarrels, etc. The office bearers of these panchayats are elected. In other states, the membership is voluntary.

Notable individuals

*Chunilal Asharam Bhavsar "Pujya Mota", (1898-1976) : Saint
*Raj Bhavsar, (1980-) : Olympic 2008 bronze medal winner (born in America)

ee also

*Hinglaj mata
*Kshatriya
*Raj Bhavsar
*Pujya Mota

External References

* [http://www.BhavsarSamaj.com Bhavsar Kshatriya Samaj - Community Portal]
* [http://www.hinglajmatamandir.com Hinglaj Mata Mandir]

References