Kurmi

Kurmi (Hindi:कुर्मी), which is the name of one of the castes of the Hindus.

Basically, In hindu society structure, there are four varna named as 1. Bharmanya 2. Kshatriya 3.Vaisya 4.Kshdrya. which was decided on the basis on thier work.

People from Kurmi community belong to Kshatriya varna. They were suppose to do administration related works. but with the due course of time, they got engaged with agriculture related works.

The "Kurmi" is known as the chief ancient agricultural caste of India. The Mohanta, mahanta, mahato, Singraur, Umrao,Chandrakar, Gangwar, Kamma, Kanbi, Kapu, Katiyar, Kulambi, Jaiswar, Niranjan, Kulwadi, Kunbi, Kutumbi, Naidu, Patel, Reddy, Sachan,Verma and Vokkaliga all are sub communities comes under community "Kurmi".

Colonel Dalton regards them as the descendants of some of the earliest Aryan Colonists - a brown tawny coloured people, of an average height, well proportioned and with fair amount of good looks. They show well-shaped heads and high features and except when they have obviously intermixed with aborigins , they are unquestionable Aryans in looks. Grey eyes and brownish hair are sometimes met with amongst them The women usually have small and well formed hands and feet [ ["Ethnology of Bengal" - p/320] .]

The link between Kshtriyas and agriculture has been justified on the grounds of linguistic affinities between the root "ar" (bravery, heroism, found in English and Greek hero, Russian geroj and Sanskrit arya) and other words for cultivators i.e. those who labour nobly (Russian oratel or ploughman, Airga in the Zend-Avesta), as well as in the legend of King "Prithu", who tamed the earth to make fertile again. It is for this reason that the Sanskrit word for "earth" is "Prithvi", in honour of the Aryan king "Prithu" who first cultivated the earth. And, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "cultivators of the earth are the most virtuous and independent citizens".

Kurmi Politics

In 1894 the Kurmi formed their first association in Lucknow which was named "Sardar Kurmi Sabha" to give teeth to their protest against the British decision to cut their numbers in the Military forces. Later on, realising it was not enough, this "Kurmi Sabha" included the Kammas, Patidars, Umrao,Sachan, Kunbis, Reddys, Naidus, Vokkaligas and Kurmis of other states in its fold. Fact|date=July 2008In its 5th conference in 1909, this sabha declared to change its name from "Sardar Kurmi Sabha" to "All India Kurmi Kshatriya Association".

Kurmi in India and Nepal

Kurmi, as also present in the east as well as southern India. They are relatively prosperous and educated, forward thinking, but conscious and rooted to farming and trading also. Etymologically, the words, "Kunbi" and "Kurmi" are generally considered a derivative of the word "Kutumbin/Kutumbina"(one who settled, Cultivator etc).

In the Deep South the Kudumbi/Kutumbins are known as Kudumban. In Kerala they are known as Pattakkar. Kurmis constitute around twenty two percent of the total population of India.

Kurmi As political force

The word "Kurmi" and why many of the Vedic people would use this term, reflects the advent and reasons for the advent of religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. The "Kurmi" movement as a national movement was started in the northern and eastern regions relatively recently to offset their tiny numbers.

When one says, the "kurmi", it literally means "the I cans" or the "I am ables".

External links

* [http://www.kurmigroup.org Kurmi Group]
*http://www.geocities.com/srigurugranthsahib/RAMANAND.htm
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/555124.cms Mighty Kurmis - a page from the Times of India]
*http://www.kammavelugu.org/ancienthistory.htm
*http://46.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CH/CHANDRAGUPTA_MAURYA.htm
*http://www.rajasthantravelguide.com/rajasthan_tourism/rajasthan_history.html
*http://www.patidarsamaj.org/culture-traditions.htm
*http://www.lps-london-snv.co.uk/about.html
*http://www.matiyapatidar.org/index2.htm
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunbi
*http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010706381200.htm
*http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/mp.html
*http://www.umasagpan.com/AboutusText_History.html
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamma_(caste)
*http://www.poduru.com/gothramulu.htm
*http://www.123exp-culture.com/t/03604527140/
*http://www.bavisgam.com/ourhistory.php
*http://aka-us.org/history.html

References

*The Times of India, "Mighty Kurmis of Bihar" March 12, 2004
*Vishnu Purana
*Agni Purana
*Tripitaka