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The term Maratha referred broadly to all the speakers of the Marathi language. [33] [3] In the 17th century, it also served as a designation for peasants from the Deccan Plateau who served as soldiers in the armies of Muslim rulers and later in the armies of Shivaji. Thus, the term Maratha became a marker of an endogamous caste for them. [34]
The state Government of Maharashtra does not recognise a group called Maratha-Kunbi. [36] According to Irawati Karve, the Marata-Kunbi form over 40% of the population of Western Maharashtra. [37] Later in 1990, Lele records that the Maratha-Kunbi group of castes account for 31% of the population, distributed over the whole of Maharashtra. [30]
Iravati Karve, an anthropologist, showed how the Maratha caste was generated from Kunbis who simply started calling themselves "Maratha". She states that Maratha, Kunbi and Mali are the three main farming communities of Maharashtra – the difference being that the Marathas and Kunbis were "dry farmers" whereas the Mali farmed throughout the year.
For the first time, the creation of Maharashtra brought most Marathi people under one state with the mainly rural Kunbi-Maratha community as the largest social group. This group has dominated the rural economy and politics of the state since 1960. [85] [86] The community accounts for 31% of the population of Maharashtra.
In Maratha society, membership of a Kul or clan is acquired in a patrilineal manner. People belonging to a clan usually have a common surname, a common clan deity, and a common clan totem . [12] Various lists have been compiled, purporting to list the 96 "true Maratha" clans, but these lists vary greatly and are disputed.
After assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse who was a Chitpavan Brahmin, Marathi Brahmins were targeted by people from the Maratha caste. Later, Jains and Lingayats also attacked innocent Brahmins. Several incidents of burning of homes were reported. [3] [4] [5] 1957 Ramnad riots: Tamil Nadu
The numerically strong Maratha–Kunbi community dominates the state's politics. The state has national and regional parties serving different demographics, such as those based on religion, caste, and urban and rural residents. The Congress party dominated state politics for many years after the formation of the state in 1960.
Maratha Empire. 1713: Chatrapati Shahu I becomes a puppet of the Peshwas (Bhat Family) 1818: Third Anglo-Maratha War leads to British East Indian Company control of Maratha territory and the creation of Satara State under British suzerainty; Bhonsle States. 1849: annexation of the Satara State by the East India Company