Vanjari (caste)

Vanjari is a community in India spread all over the country but especially in the state of Maharashtra and districts of Warangal and Adilabad, which abound in rich pastures (A.P)

The Government of India has officially documented castes and subcastes, primarily to determine those deserving reservation (positive discrimination in education and jobs) through the census. The Indian reservation system, though limited in scope, relies entirely on quotas. According to caste and subcaste system, Vanjaris comes under caste "Vanjari" and subcaste "NT(D)".Vanjari caste belongs to the OBC category in the central list of OBC.

A Vanjari or a trader seems to be occupational description, is etymologically identical with Vanijya which means trade or commerce. These tribes were in the past engaged in carrying grains and supplies for armies, before the time of cart-roads and railways. The term Laman also seems to be derived from Laman (salt), the Tribe being the chief carrier of salt in the past.

Bhagwangad is the major place of pilgrimage for vanjaris. Bhagwan baba was the prominent saint of the vanjari community. He was followed by Bhimsinh baba. Currently Namdeo shastri hold the gaddi of Bhagwan baba. Every year around 1 lakh vanjari gather at bhagwan gad on Dussehara.

History

The Vanjaris were grain carriers and traders of commodities including quality cattle which they used to breed. But during British rule, due to modernisation, Vanjaris lost their traditional occupations. As a result, many of them settled down as marginal farmers near mountains and hilly regions. As of today, population of Vanjaris is estimated around 7 million.they are also concentrated in Beed district of Maharashtra.

Prominent personalities are:Mr.Gopinath Munde (PoliticianMr.Jitendra Avhad (politicion)Mr.Vishwanath Karad(Educationalist)Mr.Abhishek rao Sangale(Businessman)

Derivation of the term "Vanjari"

Vanjari or Vanjara is the corrupt form of "Vanaskara" i.e. roaming in forest. The true derivation is perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader). Brinajari a synomym for Lambadi. Banjara, Brinjari, Lambadi, Lamane, Vanjara, Gohar, Herkeri (Carnatic), grain and salt carriers, cattlebreeders and cattle dealers,

Occupation

Vanjari's business was to load bullocks with wheat and go from place to place to sell it. They went down to Ghats even to the Konkan districts. Once they used to carry their wares to Surat, Navsariand Kalyan in the west and Namad, Nagpur and Jabalpur in the North east, with their bullocks packed and in bands or armies of thousands, but with growth of transport facilities like railways and metalled roads, nearly killed their trade. Many of them work as labourer on daily wages, on coffee fields, the building work and on the farms. But now a days fortunate Vanjaris who moved to cities are found in almost all professions.

The most common surnames of vanjari are:Doifode,Sangale,wagh,kendre,palwe,Khade,Kayande,Jaybhaye,nagre,munde,kagne,pandramesi,khandare,hemke,lavangu,kaler,hamand,bavanaka,kuyya,kanukanti,karpe,dhatrika,salver,bilanki,mysari, sankhe,Wade, Pimple and Patil,awhad,sanap,ghuge.

Religion

Vanjaris comes under Hindu religion and worship all Brahminic gods, of the regular Hindu fasts they keep only Gokulashtami in August. Their priest is a village Joshi, who conducts their marriages. They make piligrimage to Jejuri in Pune Pandharpur in Solapur District and Tuljapur in Nizams country. Their religious and social customs are as those of Maratha kundies in Maharashtra. Description:The name Vanjara is supposed to be derived from the Persian word "Berinj Arind", means "dealers in rice" (Shakespear's Dictionary). Vanjari or Vanjara is the corrupt form of "Vanaskara" i.e. moving about in forest. Caran or Cháran also comes from the same root. Vanjara means burners or the inhabitants of woods, while yet others say that the word means an arrow. It may, with equal plausibility, be referred to Vanachara (Sanskrit meaning wanderer in the forest), on account of the nomadic character of the tribe. The true derivation is perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader).

ee also

*Castes