Ganiga

Ganiga is a subcaste of the Vaishya caste in the Indian caste system in India.

Origin

From ancient time in India, vegetable oils were obtained by crushing oilseeds in village , using an oil-press - or "ghana". A ganiga is a person who extracts oil using a "ghana".

In Sanskrit literature of about 500 BC there is a specific reference to an oil-press, or Ghanis , although it was never described (by Monier-Williams, M. 1899. A Sanskrit-English dictionary, Delhi, India, Motilal Banarsidass. Reprinted 1963).

The Ganiga Caste today

Ganiga people in Andhra are different. They are called as Deva Gandla, Tilakeshwara Gandla, Gandla reddy, jothi gandla, Ganiga, Teli in Coastal Andhra. In North Andhra region such as Adilabad, Karim Nagar, Mehabob Nagar gandla are reddy gandla

Ganiga People speak Kannada, Tulu, or Telugu as their mother tongue.

Ganiga people mainly live in different parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In South Karnataka Ganiga people mainly speak Tulu. Ganiga people are living the following districts of Karnataka, India - Bijapur, Bagalkot,Belgaum, Bangalore, Mangalore,Bhadravati,Chikamagalur,Kurboor,Chintamani, Gulbarga, Hassan, Haveri, KGF, Kolar, Mulbagal, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur, Tiptur Udupi, Uttara Kannada.

Besides Karnataka, Ganiga community settled in some parts of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad and many other cities in India.

In overseas countries members of Ganiga Community have settled in the USA, Canada, Japan and UAE.

A majority of Ganiga community continue to remain backward economically due to mechanisation of oil crushing which slowly took away their livelihood in the 1950s. Deprived of this age old profession continued for generations, Ganiga community found their way in business such as setting up of shops, hotels etc. Enterprising Ganiga entrepreneurs set up many Udupi Hotels in Bangalore and other prominent cities in Karnataka. Others took up odd jobs to meet both the ends. Having been remained economically backward even after 60 years of independence due representations were made from time to time to the successive Governments.

Govt.of Karnataka, Social Welfare Department, on 30th March 2002 issued Order No. SWD 225 BCA 2000 dated notifying Ganiga community as an Economically Backward Class under Category - II (A) Sl. No. 78. Castes listed under this category are (a) Ganiga, (b) Teli.

In Maharashtra Ganiga community has been granted OBC (Other Backward Caste) Certification by the Govt. of Maharashtra in 2005.

Ganiga Samaj, Mumbai-India

In Mumbai Ganiga Samaj was formed in 1996 to bring together Ganiga community living in and around Mumbai under the leadership of N.S. Balimane (Founder President). The Ganiga Samaj Mumbai has completed 10 years in September 2006. Office Bearers of Ganiga Samaj Mumbai:
Past Office Bearers - Ganiga Samaj
*N.S. Balimane - President
*Krishna Ganiga - President
*Shankar H. - SecretaryCurrent Office Bearers

*Jagannath Ganiga - President
*K. Ramachandra - Vice President
*B. Vasudeva Rao - Vice President & Secretary
*M. Bhaskar Ganiga - Vice President
*Vijayendra Ganiga - Vice President(HRD)
*Madhav Ganiga - Jt. Secretary
*Chandrashekhar Ganiga - TreasurerMembers, Managing Committee:
*Smt. Tara Bhatkal
*Anant N. Ganiga
*Sanjeev R. Ganiga
*P.N. Ganiga
*Balakrishna Ganiga Tonse
*Vasudeva U.B.
*Tonse Harish Rao
*Sadanand Kallianpur
*Chandrashekar R.Ganiga (Panvel)
*Narasimha Ganiga (Kalamboli)
*Gangadhar N. Ganiga
*Sitaram M.R.
*Mohan N. Rao

Office address:
Ganiga Samaja Mumbai34/668 Adarsh NagarPrahadeviWorliMumbai 400 030

omakshathriya Vaishnava Samaja, Bangalore-India

President: B.S. Manjunath
In Bangalore Ganigas are also known as 'Somakshatriyas' and are very actively performing tasks of developing the community, the 'Samparka' challenge cup has recently celebrateed the decennial celebrations and Prathiba Sambhrama is organised in November and December where the children from the Ganiga community of Udupi district and those who have settled in Bangalore actively participated in the sports and cultural events.

*Leaders in Community Development Initiatives at Bangalore:.
*Mr.Rajashekhar Birthi
* Mr.N Ravindra Pan Merchant City Market Bangalore
*Vyasa Rao (Kamat Group of Hotels)
*B.A. Narasimha Moorthy (Abhinaya Group of Hotels)
*Shankar N. Rao (President: Shree Venugopalakrishna Co-op. Credit Society)
*Neelavar Sanjeev Rao (Hotel Hallimane)
*Janardhana Rao (SeaRock Hotel)
*U. Sundar Rao*
*Janardhana Rao (Roti Ghar)
*G. Ananda Rao
*T.K. Ramakrishna (Retired)

Ganiga Associations at other locations in Karnataka, India

*South Kanara District (Udupi) Somakshathriya Samaj, Moodukeri,Barkur President: K. Gopal Kula Devaru Shri Venugopalakrishnaswamy Temple Moodukeri Barkur - Krishna janmashtami-Mosaru Kudike, Deepotsava - Karthika bahula Ashtami, Akshaya Thadige-Brahma kalasha Vardhanthyotsava every year being celebrated. All are cordially invited.
*Hassan Ganiga Sangha - President: H.L.RangaShetty. Owner of SreeGopalKrishna Oil Mill, President of ShivaJyothi(Ganiga) Kalyana Mantapa, AdLee-maney, Hassan
*Somakshathriya Ganiga Samaj, Kundapur - President: Ramesh Ganiga Kollur
*Shimoga District Ganiga Sangha, Shimoga - President: H. Subbiah
*Ganiga Samaj, Bhadravati - President: U. Govind
* Dr. T.A. Prasanna ,Phd.Economics, Prof. Kuvempu University, Shimoga-Bhadravati.India
*Gopalakrishna Yuvaka Sangha Bhadravati (Youth Wing)
*Somakshathriya Yuvaka Sangha,(Youth Wing) Gangoli (Udupi Dist.)
*Utttara Kannada District Ganiga Seva Sangha, Sirsi - President: S.P. Shetty (Previously headed by Mr. Madhav Narayan Shetty, Honnavar for more than a decade).
*karnataka ganigara sangha bangalorekolar,tumkur,chittur(Ap)president:Amarnath
*sln students union bangalore
*D B Kalashetty, State Bank of Hyderabad, Secretary, SBH staff Association, Gulbarga
* C.P. Venkatesh Murthy, Chairman , Comsoft Technologies (India)., Software Training and Development Company.
* Venkatesh Murthy C.P , Secretary, Vishwa Jyothi Education Trust.

"=KALABURGI ZILLA GANIGA SAMAJ, GULBARGA=" SRI.Apparao M Patil, HON'LE PRESIDENTSRI.Sursh Sajjan, PRESIDENTSRI.R B Malipatil, GENERAL SECRETARYSRI.D B Kalashetty, SECRETARYSRI.Siddaanna Sajjan, TREASURERSRI Shivayogeappakalashetty, ASST.TRESURER

=SRI MANGAL JYOTI SHARAN GANADA KANNAPPA USTAV SAMITI, GULBARGAPRESIDENT - Sri.Suresh SajjanVICE PRESIDENT - Rajeshekhar YankanchiSECRETARY - Sri.D B KalahettyASST.SECRETARY - Sri. Mallanna MangaTREASURER - Siddanna Sajjan

—= Well known Ganigas =

Yakshagana Actors:
* Mr. Haradi Rama Ganiga
* Mr. Haradi Krishna Ganiga,
* Mr. Haradi Narayana Ganiga
* Mr. K. Ananda Ganiga from Udupi region.
* Mr. Birthi Balakrishna
* Mr. Gopala Ganiga, Heranjal
* Mr. Vishwanatha Ganiga, Kodi-Kundapura
* Mr. Sarva Ganiga, Haradi

Leading Maddale player Late Suragikatte Basava Ganiga.

Engineering:

* Mr. Thonse Harish Rao, General Manager, C E India Ltd Mumbai

Engineers/IT Professionals:

* Mr. Kallappa. M. Kadimani Horti (Tq-Indi Dist-Bijapur), Software Engineer, IBM India Pvt. Ltd.,
* Mr. Sateesh.M. Pasodi Shirashyad,Asst.Manager,SAP Labs,Bangalore.
* Mr. Praveen Adavesh Ghaniger, Team Lead, ITC Infotech, Bangalore
* Mr. Bhimashankar.S. Teli, Ballolli, Oracle,Bangalore.
* Mr. Ashok Sajjan, Systems Analyst, Fidelity India Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore.
* Mr. Ambarisha.K.N, Software Engineer, NDR Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan(Kurboor, Chintamani Taluk).
* Mr.Sanjay D.Hortikar-belongs to Ganiger,
* Mr. Prasad Gandla Thogarcheedu, (Kurnool Dist-AP), Software Engineer, IBM, Bangalore India Pvt Ltd,
* Mr. Jagadish Bomma Vempenta, (Kurnool Dist-AP), Software Consultant, Daimler AG, Stuttgart, Germany
* Dr. R. Sathya Murthy, , Professor, Bangalore
* Mr. Vamsikrishna Mula Vempenta, (Kurnool Dist-AP), Aerospace Stress Engineer, AIRBUS, Bristol, UK.
* "'Mr. B.V. Murali,(Bagepalli Taluk,Karnataka) Sr.Graphic Designer, Genaral Motors,India,(GMTC-I)ITPLB,Bangalore.

* Mr. Sateesh.M. Pasodi Shirashyad, SAP Labs,Bangalore
* Mr. Sunil S.Teli, Software Engineer
* Mr. Praveen Adavesh Ghaniger, ITC Infotech(native of AINAPUR)
* Mr. Madhu Ghaniger, ITC Infotech(native of AINAPUR)
* Mr. Raghavendra Gangia , Solution Architect, HCL Technologies.
* Mr. Srikanth Srinivasulu Chetty , Technical Architect, KPIT Cummins Info Systems.
* Mr. Ananth Prasad Gangia , Consultant , Lehman Brothers, Tokyo
* Mr. Prakash Gangia , Consultant ,Symphony Services, Bangalore
* Mr. Raghavendra U Gangia , Software Engineer , Fidelity India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore
* Mr. Naveen Gangia , Software Engineer , Infosys, Bangalore
* "'Mr. Venkngouda. A.Patil.Software Engineer , Bluestar HP Ltd, Bangalore
* Mr. Ravi C Hangargi, Senior Software Engineer , SRA India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore.
* "'Mr. Ravichandra.A.Patil Software Engineer , SASKEN Technologies, Bangalore
* "'Mr. Satish Yearva. Software Engineer , SASKEN Technologies, Bangalore
* "'Mr. Mohan Babu. Software Engineer , HUAWEI Technologies, Bangalore
* "'Mr. Raghavendra S Ganiger Software Engineer , AGILENT Technologies, Bangalore
* "'Mr. Nagavisweswar Byrepalli Senior Software Engineer , HA, Bangalore (Kuppam, Chittoor DT)
* Mr.Gurangouda patil Sr.Engineer,Emcon Technologies, bangalore.
* "'Mr. Gavishetty,Ex.Directoy-(Mines & Geology) Karnataka.Politicians:
* Mr.V.R. Sudarshan, a three-time MLC, belongs to an OBC (Ganiga). He is currently Chairman of the Legislative Council, Karnataka Govt, hailing from Vemgal, KOLAR Dist.
* "'Mr. N.S. Vishwanath, Karnataka State Government
* "'Mrs/Dr. B.V. Vasantha Lakshmi, Assistant Commissioner,Karnataka.
* "'Mrs. A. Rajamma,Assistant Commissioner, Karnataka.

* Mr. B.J. Puttaswamy who belongs to the Ganiga caste had been nominated to the Council in 1982 by the then Chief Minister, R.Gundu Rao. also Mr. B.J.Puttaswamy was MLA.

* Mr. Anjutagi"' belong to the predominant Ganiga community from Bijapur, District Karnataka. Mr. Anjutagi was defeated in the 1994 Assembly Election.

* Mr. P.C. Gaddigoudar, MP from Bagalkot(LS), Karnataka. also he was a former MLC and the chief of party's Bagalkot district unit. He belongs to Ganiga Caste.

* Mr. S.B. Nyamagouda, MLC, Karnataka. also he was a former MP & Central Minister and the chief of party's Bagalkot district unit. He belongs to Ganiga Caste.

* Mr. G.S. Nyamagouda, Well know person in jamkhandi taluk. He is Director of DCC Bank, Urban Bank Jamkhandi, Royal Residencial school. He belongs to Ganiga Caste.

* Mr. B.G. Patil Halasangi, MLC who belong to the Ganiga sub-sect of the Lingayats, 2003.
* Mr. Ganapa Ganiga, Contestant for Legislative Assembly of Karnataka from Baindur, Near Mangalore udupi, in June 1998, Bye-elections.
* Mr.Apparao.M.Patil (Atnoor), Youngest APMC CHAIRMAN in INDIA.Hails from gulbarga district's Atnoor village.He is one who organised GANIGA samaj in Gulbarga and north karnataka.
* "' Mr. Hanamanth kalashetty, R/o Kaulaga(k) Tq.Dist. Gulbarga,Social worker (emial Gangiahelpline_indiatimes.com)Bussiness:
* Mr. Venu Vaishya, Executive Vice President, Covansys Corporation, USA, IIT Kanpur Alumni
* Mr. Siva Sankar Prasad Thupalli, CEO , Jasmin infotech Pvt.Ltd , Chennai , India, IIT
* Mr. Raghavendra Ganiga, Co Founder, DataTraverse,Bangalore

Banking:
* Mr T J A Ganiga Ex CMD Andra Bank.
* Mr K Jagannatha Ganiga Ex General Manager Syndicate Bank
* Mr Shekar Ganiga Kuthpady Asst General Manager Vijaya Bank Mumbai
* Mr Gopal Ganiga P, Senior Manager, UCO Bank, Regional Office Bangalore
* Mr Narasimha Moorthy T, Senior Manager (IT), Syndicate Bank Regional Office Udupi
* Mr K Gopalakrishna, Senior Manager (Credit), Vijaya Bank KG Road Bangalore
* Mr D B Kalashetty,Sate Bank of HYderabad,Gulbarga (Karnataka)

Power Sector - Ministry of Coal, Government of India
* Mr JN Prasanna Kumar Acting CMD and Director(Finance) Neyveli Lignite Corporation.

Geology:
* Dr. J V Subbaraman , Ex Chief Geologist, BGML

OIL & GAS
* Mr Dinakara Laxmana Tonse, Territory Manager, Bharat petroleum Corporation Ltd, Manmad, Nasik Dist, Maharastra

Education:
* Mrs. Rama Mani Vaishya , Directress, Montessori School, Michigan, USA
* Dr. T.A. Prasanna , Prof. Kuvempu University, Shimoga-Bhadravati.India
* Mr. Adavesh Sangappa Ghaniger, Chairman, Shanti Sagar VidyaPeeth English School, AINAPUR

Police Department:
* Mr. Shivanand Adavesh Ghaniger, KARNATAKA Police Sub-Inspector(Civil),Native of AINAPUR
* Mr. S S Samba, DSP,KARNATAKA
* Mr. S S Masali, RT. DIG, KARNATAKA

Medicine:
* Dr. Gundmi Praveena Kumara MD General Medicine, Asst Prof. KMC MANIPAL
* Dr. Pradeep Ganiga,Asst. Prof, K V G Medical College, Sullia, Obstetrics & Gynaecology,
* Dr. Manohar Babu KV, MS ortho, MRCSEd Edinburg UK. E mail: [e-mail]
* Mohan Ganiga, Respiratory Technician, C/o. Kapadia F N. MD, FRCP Consultant Physician & Intensivist, Hinduja National Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai
* Dr Arun G Patil, MD General Physician Nizamabada(Andhrapradesh)
* Dr. Mahantesh Adavesh Ghaniger, AINAPUR

* Mr. Birthi Radhakrishna, was the Registrar and chief protocol officer of Delhi High Court

* Mr. Pundalika Ganiga . recipient of National Teacher Award

"VAIKUNTA VAHANA" Free Hearse van donated by AIRODI JANARDHAN , Chairman of UD GROUPS OF HOTELS.

Clinical Researcher / Pharmacist:
* Mr. Sathya Prakash R J, Master of Pharmacy (Pharmacology). Rank holder in M.Pharm, Clinical Research Associate, ICON Clinical Research Limited, Bangalore

Hotel and Restaurant:
* Mr. R.Prabhakar Ganiga, is rightly called the Darshini Brahma. He started the concept of Darshini and made the cost of food affordable to the general public. He started with Upahara Darshini, later on Dosa camp, Pavithra, Rotigar, cool joint, nammoora hotel, Hallimane and the list keeps growing. Now he has formed an organisation for fighting against adulteration of food in hotels under the banner Hotel Grahakara Sangha

* Mr. B.S.Manjunath , is proprietor of "Hotel Vaibhav "
* Mr. B.A.Narasimhamurthy , is proprietor of "Abhinaya Group of Hotels"