Ramoshi
The Ramoshi (alternately Berad or Bedar) is an Indian aboriginal community found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.[1] They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe[2] by the Indian govt.
They do not consider themselves to be a part of any caste, hence Ramoshi is what their identity is and as well as the name of their group/community, and claim themselves to be Kshatriya's. The Ramoshis practice Lingayat faith.
History[]
The Ramoshi in Maharashtra were earlier known as Boya, Bedar and Vedan.[3]
The Bedars were employed as Pindari freebooters by the Maratha rulers.[4] They were then classified as a criminal tribe under the Criminal Tribes Acts of the Raj.[5]Ramoshis were employed as maratha footsoldiers but after british win over marathas , they were unemployed.Taxes were charged from these unemployed families amidst famine , This led to famous Ramosi rebellion after which britishers employed them as hill police , decriminalising their tribes.
Culture[]
Despite belonging to the lowest of Hindu castes they were skilled hunters and warriors.[6] They are Hindu and belong to the Lingayat section while some are Vaishanavas.[7]
References[]
- ^ Sarkar, jadunath (1952). History Of Aurangzib, vol.5. pp. CH.56 Page 173.
- ^ List of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (PDF) (Report). p. 3.
- ^ Dr. K. Jamanadas. "Criminal Tribes of India". Ambedkar.org. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Roy, M. P. (1973). Origin growth and suppression of the Pindaris. pp. A GENERAL ACCOUNT Page 3.
- ^ Bates, Crispin (1995). "Race, Caste and Tribe in Central India: the early origins of Indian anthropometry". In Robb, Peter (ed.). The Concept of Race in South Asia. Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-19-563767-0. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ Sarkar, jadunath (1952). History Of Aurangzib, vol.5. pp. CH 56 Page 173.:”Berads, a race of aboriginal Kanarese, also called Dheds, and regarded as one of the lowest in the scale of Hindu castes. They are a virile and hardy people, not much advanced from savagery, but at the same time riot toned down like the over-refined upper castes of Hindu society.”
- ^ People of India: Maharashtra, Volume 3, Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Bhanu, Anthropological Survey of India 2004, ISBN 9788179911020
Further reading[]
- Precolonial India in Practice, Cynthia Talbot, Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0195136616
External links[]
- Denotified tribes of India
- Indian castes
- Social groups of Karnataka
- Social groups of Maharashtra
- Scheduled Tribes of Karnataka