| Revision as of 18:55, 18 April 2011 view sourceTnxman307 (talk | contribs)64,361 editsm Reverted 2 edits by KurmiKshatriya (talk); Wrong place for request. Using Twinkle← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:56, 18 April 2011 view source MatthewVanitas (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers120,868 edits Rv to version which actually reflects what references say. Ref says "Shudra"; again, it is deceitful to maintain that footnote while changing the textNext edit → | ||
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| The '''Kurmi''' ({{lang-hi|कुर्मी}}, alternately ''']''') are a ] farming caste of ] in India.<ref name="Pandey2005">{{cite book|author=Aditya Pandey|title=South Asia: Politics of South Asia|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LaINywMCwgAC&pg=PA150|accessdate=13 April 2011|year=2005|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=9788182053038|pages=150–}}</ref> Though designated as Shudra in historical sources, the historian ] noted that the Kurmi: ''thought of themselves not as cosmically created servants (shudra) devoid of any history, but as the descendants of divine warrior clans (kshatriya) firmly rooted in the Indian past.''<ref name="Jaffrelot2003">{{cite book|author=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qJZp5tDuY-gC&pg=PA196|accessdate=13 April 2011|year=2003|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231127868|pages=196–}}</ref> | The '''Kurmi''' ({{lang-hi|कुर्मी}}, alternately ''']''') are a ] farming caste of ] in India.<ref name="Pandey2005">{{cite book|author=Aditya Pandey|title=South Asia: Politics of South Asia|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LaINywMCwgAC&pg=PA150|accessdate=13 April 2011|year=2005|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=9788182053038|pages=150–}}</ref> Though designated as Shudra in historical sources, the historian ] noted that the Kurmi: ''thought of themselves not as cosmically created servants (shudra) devoid of any history, but as the descendants of divine warrior clans (kshatriya) firmly rooted in the Indian past.''<ref name="Jaffrelot2003">{{cite book|author=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qJZp5tDuY-gC&pg=PA196|accessdate=13 April 2011|year=2003|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231127868|pages=196–}}</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
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| Kurmi कुर्मी | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Hindu |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Kurmali, Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Marathi, konkani, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, South Indian languages and dialects |
| Populated states | Northern India, Western India, Central India, South India |
| Subdivisions | Kurmi, Singraur, Umrao, Awadhiya, Kochyasa, Gangwar, Kanbi, Kapu, Katiyar, Kulambi, Jaiswar, Kulwadi, Kutumbi, Patel, Singhror, Choduary, Sachan, Verma, artarvavanshi,(Niranjan) |
The Kurmi (Template:Lang-hi, alternately Kunbi) are a Shudra farming caste of Hindus in India. Though designated as Shudra in historical sources, the historian William Pinch noted that the Kurmi: thought of themselves not as cosmically created servants (shudra) devoid of any history, but as the descendants of divine warrior clans (kshatriya) firmly rooted in the Indian past.
History
Kurmis used to be governing bodies in Bihar, Gujurat, Maharashtra, Sindh, Kashmir, the eastern Afghanistan plains, Indus Valley, parts of Pakistan and some part of Central Uttar Pradesh before invasion of Central Asian non-Aryans. Then were owners of the bulk of land and gave that for farming in pattas. They have very strong and powerful presence near all the ancient capitals or cities of India. Kurmis are Kshatriya supposed to be decedents of Lava (son of Lord Rama).
Colonial descriptions
According to the Rev. Sherring, The Kurmi has a strong, bony hand, natural to a man of his employment. He is frequently a tall and powerful man, outspoken and independent in manner, and is altogether free from cringing obsequiousness.
Colonel Edward Tuite 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 amount of good looks. They show well-shaped heads and high features and except when they have obviously intermixed with aborigines, 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.
Etymology
Kurmi translates to “I do”, “I am able”. “Kuru” in Sanskrit means “do”. “Kurmi” in Sanskrit, which is frequently used in the Ramayana, literally translates as “I can” or “I am able”, or “within my power to act”.
Politics
In 1894 the Kurmi formed their first association in Lucknow which was named as “Sardar Kurmi Sabha” to protest the British decision to cut their numbers in the military forces. In its 5th conference in 1909, this sabha changed its name to “All India Kurmi Kshatriya Association”. The Kurmi was one of those few castes which did suffer the least atrocities of the British as Kurmi people were mostly zamindars or farmers and would timely pay taxes or grains. In the era of independence, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel led the Kurmi and is arguably regarded as the greatest leader of the Kurmi. Today, most of the Kurmi are wealthy and land owners with strong political affiliations.
Language
The Kurmi of Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam use to speak Kurmali language. Kurmi of other state speak their native and regional languages. In Bihar, Kurmi people speak the Magahi and Angika, while in Uttar Pradesh the Kurmi speak Hindi.
See also
References
- Kurmi Kshatriya Nirnay - p/81-83
- Martial races of undivided India - Page/269
- Aditya Pandey (2005). South Asia: Politics of South Asia. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 150–. ISBN 9788182053038. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- Christophe Jaffrelot (2003). India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India. Columbia University Press. pp. 196–. ISBN 9780231127868. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- Kurmi Kshatriya Itihas - p/117
- Tribes and Castes Vol III - p/258
- Ethnology of Bengal - p/320
- Indian History
Further reading
- William R. Pinch (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520200616. Retrieved 13 April 2011.