CHAPTER—I

A) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DHANGARS

1. Introduction

2. The Shepherd Community

3. Origin of Dhangar Caste

4. Shepherds belong to Aryan Race

5. Shepherds are Dravidians

6. Dhangar community in Maharashtra.

B) METHODOLOGY AND THE FIELD WORK !

1. Purpose of the Study.

2. Methodology and the field work

3. The Mendhe Dhangars of Hatkanangale

Taluka.

4. Studies on the Dhangar Community.

2

CHftMBHUX

A) jflfegsasaiBapEft UIK0M)B|D
* f*rT Of iijagCWSSMPMPCg*
ijw^ W TfHlifMfl

i> xmomcnm *

Cute iy»t«B or cut* structure ia on Integral

part of Hindu society* It is baaed on nodal etretlfl­
ection, an a renult of which the status and role of the
individual nenber of the eodety in dntendnad* In India
the cante aynten in still en inportant factor in the
rural nodety* Tracing the origin of the Dhangarn, on
have to go bade to the origine of cante itnelf*
According to the traditional theory newborn of different
eeetee were bora eat of different part of the body of
the original ntn-Brahana, the greater of the universe*
According to thin theory, Brahdee were born oot of neoth,
Knhatrlyan, out of the handn, Vaiabyae net of ateneeh or
thingn while the Sandras out of feet*

Several nodal thinkers, philosophers end scholars

hove tried to find oat the origin of the caste aysten ia
India* Indian costa aynten in very complicated, itn
oonplieated ntructure goea to prove that it ia not a
thing of ten yeare, twenty yearn or a century.

In every nodety there ere certain provisions for

the regulation of nodal control end doteminetion of
3

Individual status* In India such provisions have bean

roprosantad by caate-eyatsn* it ia caw of th* principal
aoareas of social stratification and anaKeisa a powerful
influence upon tbs social structure* Xt has not hose
peculiar to India hut as nentionod by Shrl X>*K* Anantha
Iyer* ”it existed in ancient tines sntg the Egyptians.
Oolshlans* Iberians* Hades* Persians and the Btruscens*
as also anong the Mexicans and Peruvians in the new world*
Xt existed also anong the earliest of the Attic tribes
and the Spartans whose trades and occupations ware alnost
all hereditary* The law of caste are said to have
prevailed enong the Saxons*”* But in India it reached
the clinax while la other countries it ceased to exist*
As an institution* *eests Illustrates the spirit of
conprehensive synthetic characteristics of the Hindu wind
with its faith in the collaboration of races and tbs
2
oo-eperatioa of cnlturoa*”

2) The Shepherd Oanenaity i

The Shaphsrd co-unity ell over the world is

associated with Psstorslian* Xt has baan practised for
the last 5»QO0 years at least* Xt has hsooes s traditional

1* Iyer, L*r« Anantha Krishna# Lectures on

Hthnograpfay* p* I4«
2* Kadhaikrishnan t The Hindu Hw of Life* p* 67*
4

end historic occupation of the oomnwity. The shepherd

oonwunity is e noli kaoisi in India* It has pxoduead nany

sniaant nan and wonen nail versed not only in the arts

of poses hut have shown thair uisdon and statesmanship in

ruling kingdons all over India* and in the field of

warfare* literature and as nail as in the buildings of

aspire* Thus* it has a great history.

Bet today dee to poverty# illiteracy# idleness* etc*

it has bacons very weak socially# ocononlcally*

educationally* politically and above all culturally.

Therefore* it is very urgent to study than to find out

and solve their burning prohlens. It is our first noral

duty to know and study of our ancestors, it is also learnt

that they were not only sheep and cattle keepers but also

great rulers# e.g. HUkka-Bukkaru* Krishna Oevraya*

Pallavas. Kadanbas* Malhar Rao# hhilyadevi Holkar ate.

Thus* by building e^ire# they served and protected

the conuiiiiity fron all evil things. Bvon it is a nost

ancient tribe still it has naintained its holy caltuxe.

But today dea to tha inpact of industrialisation,

sanskrltlsatlon and nodernisation# no tribe is as pure as

it was# and Shepherd coununity ia not an eneaption.

Shapherda were known by different aeeas in

different areaa e.g.

5

1* Tanilnada Xndiyor Karobor

2* Punjab Gaddi* Ondriya
3* Gujarat Munwtoi
4* Rajasthan Pal Xlh«til|«»
5. Andhra Pradesh (fellas
6. Kamatak Kurobaro
7* Maharashtra Slwgar
8* Madhya Pradesh Mwigtr

Sine* teaB dflUnUon their Mia oeoapatiaa is

sheep and ettUt rctzlag. And their ateoadary ocaqpatioa
in that of traditional agriculture*

3) Qriqia of "fmtT fflfft *

Megerding thair origin, tho Jetiwiweiea anaartn that

thay ara dtacandad from a Shudra fathar and a Mahishya
«OMBi tfaa Mahishya again* is said to bo tho offspring of
a Kshatriya fathar and a Vaishye nether*

"According to an old tradition* they wars created

from tho dast of Shlwa’s body* Another tradition alleges
that thair original aneastor was the saga Taps* A third
tradition assarts that whila Khandoba was ones strolling
in a forest* ha not thair progenitor* whom ha strode Anb
6

with cut by tht display of bis nlrecwlous powers* Fron

that tlM the Phangar with bis relatives bogan to worship
Khandoba with luplldt devotion* and offocod bis daughter
Basai to tha dad* who accepted bar as bis «ift» Kbaodoba*
being thus propitiated, oonfarred upon bio tha boon that
ha and bis descendants would earn a good 11wing by soaring
end tending sheep**3

Generally* we can say that in ancient tines uen

was in prlnitlve stags* cave was the hone* Food gathering
and banting wore their badness. After tha saarch of fira
nan knew tha wsa of aninal* fnrthar* nan also knew tha asa
of natton and nilk. The result was that the herding was
tbs aain business for all prlnitlve societies to aalntaln
their life, la course of tine herding is divided into
several categories.

These borders were known as Ahire* devils*

Phengsrs ate* They started their life near the basics of
rivers (Indus) end see-chores. In beediag* sheep* goats*
eons* dogs* boffslos sad herooo wore noin oainola*

droheno Clerk is of tin openlon that non wan

content to 11vo as a barbarian fren 5*500 B.c.

9* Enthoveo* K*K* * The Tribes end castes of Bonbey#

p* 311*
7

Gsnarally# tha shepherd on—mnfty it settled in

hilly region. M per iwy 1—d authors and social

scientists tha origin of hard la Csntral haia.

"With tha cafaraaoa of Bibla it ia claar that

Abrab— visited tha laud of Nleear. Zn Miaaar region#

ahspharda wars tha kings in 1080 B.c. Tha first king was

powerful and n—ad Solatia. Xu tha treat of Syria there la

a hilly region in between Seed aaa and Mila River. In

thia hilly region extensive ah— hard oosaamlty was settled.

Xt ia also Mentioned in * Artie Ham* of Vedas* that herders

4
ware originally froa Polar region.*

Gustav Oppwv in his book said that "there is no

B
state without ahaphard q—unity."

By studying all old literature we can gather

following conclusions about Changer tribe *

i) This ia a noat ancient tribe,

ii) The main dod of thia ooa—anity ia 'Shiva* in

the few of ' Blroba* •

ill) Sh—herds Migrated in India with Aryans,

iv) Under the leadership of 8heshnag-XI# group of

shepherds Migrated in the 7th Century B.c. They ruled

over Magadhe for 300 years. Frasanjit and PoraJ kings

of Rajputana were Oadrlya Shspherds.

4. flberge* S.R. * "Seasonal Migration of Shephard

OoMMunity in central Plate— Maharashtra# pp. 12*13.

5. Gustav oppev * The Original Inhabitants of Bharata*

tea— a ill
8

v) lgftm Hod - * fanour historian of Rajasthan

said that tha Pal Dhangar of South India cans fron

Palestine* sons of than moved towards Nopal for tha

purposa of trads and commerce. Sue to tha faar of Muslins

few shsphards nigratad to south India.

si) Tha first known records of pastoral!» in this

part of tha country ara fron tha Maollthlc parlod around

1*500 B.c* This civilisation is confined to tha seal-arid

tracts of pradpltlon •

Finally* wa can say that It Is not easy to give

tha origin of any eananalty In India. Because* tha sacred

books tall us that there ware divisions In tha Hindu

sod sty of tha Vedlc parlod 1* 500 • 2000 B.c. But nothing

Is existed to eonpara It with nodera sodal system as It

Is seen today with Its Inflnlt variety of sects* each

separated one fron other.

Dhangars have a legend to explain their origin.

Tears back there was an Incarnation of God 'Shiva* In tha

fora of Revanaiddeahuar at Kalyan. During this parlod a

Goddess by name *Mayi* was at Kolhapur district In

Maharashtra* she had Incarcertad thousands of Llngayat

Saints shorn Bevanslddeswar llberted. Half of the llberted

salats became llngayat jungnas and other half were turned

into sheep? and ware left In a cave In the field of one

9

ptrion • 'PtdMDM*. Qm day ha accidently saw theee

sheep in the cere and started rearing than. Zn this way

'Padnanna* is said to be the £lrst Changer.

There la great oontrovery about the shepherds that

whether they belong to Aryans or Drarldlans.

4> -f¥?t >

I) The great scholar and researcher V.R.Hammathiah

said In his book# "Bharat dasher Knrubar Charltre" that the

shepherds belong to Aryan race. For this many evidences

were found In the holy-vedas. The Aryans' naln occupation

was cattle keeping weaving of woolen blankets, agriculture

etc. Today we are used to call shepherds by different

aanes in different states# l.e. Changers In Maharashtra

and Madhya Pradesh and Kuruaba la Karnatak. But during

vedlc period the Shspherd was known as the Arlpal# AJpal,

Meshspal# dopal ete.

II) Many referenoes of Shepherd Comnmity were

found In Vedas eepeelally In Blgveda and Atharvaveda. The

great scholar S.B. JosM said that# "the tern 'Kssabal* is

found both la Blgveda and Atharvaveda."*

6. Joshl S.B. « "Karnatak Veer Kshetrlyaru”# p. 101.

10

Xn tht wards of Max Hollar, • world Sanskrit

scholar, "Rigvada is tha oldsst book la tho Library ot
tho world*. Horeover, tbs Rashis Ilka Mash, VTashabha,
Mitbun, ate. toll os about Shaphord Ooaamnlty of post#

111) Many prayers did by tha slayhards to tho God,

Parwashwar wars found In tha VOdas e.g.

a) Pushan Is son as visaed by Shaphsrds, la

thalr wondering# la qpast of fsash pasture
lands.

b) Tha hjwn to Pushan. tharafora. breaths a

simplicity which is truly pastoral*

c) Mhsrs tht grass is rich and groan, whera tho

boautloos sun load our flocks osar such
pleasant way*

d) Grant os Pastuos far and osar* wake os

Pushan strong In war.

All thaaa prows that shaphsrds belong to Aryan

race. The oarly Aryans had no eastoa* tho fathor wee tha
hand and Prlaat of tho family* Sadi fanlly cultivated
lta oun land, pastured its flocks and evory aeaber hald
tha hsliafs that a God watches Ida and his work*
11

5) jhepfrrfo .W9l *£**i*tV*§ *

ZndMdi the shepherd* must bo regarded as the ▼ary

old inhabitants of this land# we can contort with their
firavidiaa Kinahen the priority of occupation of the Indian
soil*

The Karuhbae are the nodern representative of the

ancient Kuruebas of Fallavas who were once# so powerful
throughout south India* The tint coins found in South
India belong to Shepherd ooenunlty oalfr*

Sir Slliot in his book asserted that* "these coins

beer witness to a great narltine traffic in the early
7
centuries of the cristian era*"

In ancient inscription the words like Xhrebar

Hetti# Knrubar Halil, Kurubar VIshay etc* were found in
South India.

Badhakneal Mukharji and p*i, Shesha Iyengar in

CJL
their books# Indian shipping and firavidiaa India said
that the trader shepherd frequently bacon a rulers*

fir* Krlshnaswani said that the Yadovas of 2nd

Oentury belong to head Xuxuba caste*

7* Sir Slliot s % "Coin's of South India"# pp*35»37*

12

This it ths first net which founded Its stats

first in South India* and ths stats was toss as

*Kur—feaaadu* • Ths kings wars known as Kurunforajeru*

Knrunb Kshatrlyaru*

Ths Hblkar dynasty of Indors also bsiongs to >

shepherd on—win1 ty»

8os« Anthropologists and Sociologists era of ths

slow that this oonwinilty is oldsr than ths Aryans* Risley

says that thsy belonged to ths Drawldian group*

Our country* Bharatvarsha is a wary and ant ons*

Different people haws eons into it at different tines*

from different parts of the world* They all speak

different languages at different degress of civilisation*

Most of than settled thensslves here in these far distant

ages end inter narriad* We are their present deseendsnts

races (Shepherd cnemial ty) we

belongs*

Thus the shepherds who are scattered all over

India are Aryans or Dravidians is a 1—atarial* However*

these shepherds were living in India since 4000-5000 B*c*

la various parts of India* Once upon a tine this

co-unity had reached its prosperous lenth by founding

13

empires in th* country* But in comrse of tine this caste

was influenced by various religions like Jainism, Budhiae,

Veershalvlaa end lost its glory. Bet still today this

community is maintaining its owi culture end civilization

by living in rsmofre srees of tbe country side*

7) Pmw: 4^ Mitariyteri *
e) Origin s

As we know in Maharashtra State tbe ten •Phangar*

generally neons a Shepherd. They an Id a geneses settlers*

Ibsy an found practically throughout the State except in

the coastal anas* They an called Changers because their

traditional occupation is sheep and cattle rearing*

Changers are the modern representatives of tbe ancient

Inhabitants of India. They become outrreal ancestors.

Today non than one cron of Dhangars an living in

Maharashtra with 22 emdagamous groups. Thus* it is next

to Karsthe ceemunity. It has a big history in the Indian

continent. This Dhangar community was the railing family

of Indore. These people are very simple in dnes honest

in behaviour.

The gnat anthropologist late Dr. Iravati Karve

said that Dhamgars belong to 'Kandail* tribe (Budbkkattu) *

Since long post they wen fmeous for their courage

especially during region of chhatrapatl Sbivejl MahoreJ.

14

It li said that tha people living between the

hanks of rivers Narmada and Krishna vara Drsvidian groups*

Their impacts vara seen on Maharasbtrtin residences and on

Marathi language. And moreover, when they belong to

*Ksndeil* tribe it will be clear that it la pre-Aryan race.

When it is so then Changers belong to Dravidian race. And

today most of the historians* scholars are agreed to this

point. This community is living in forests* hills* like

Katkaris* Thakurs, Mahers, Kangs etc* since long bade* That

is* they are living in Maharashtra before the arrival of

Aryans* That is near round about 700 B.c* or atleast 2645

years ago*

In the words of Prof* Charge* "the Changer oommunity

of Maharashtra is not originally from Maharashtra* Zt is

migrated from various parts of India* in the beginning they

were migrated from Bactriya and Sender to Indus valley*

They migrated from Indus valley to Panjab, Gujarat*

Maharashtra and Konkan region* As per many references*

shepherd community in Maharashtra is migrated from Gujarat*

Punjab and Ssurushtra* Today the majority of shepherd

community is migrated from Uttar Pradesh* Madhya Pradesh*

Mysore etc*"*

8* Prof* Gharge* 8*8* t *S

It is also said that Ksnad davits lived in Kaslk

and Khandssh# ted even Ww in tha investigators e£

"Linguistic Survay of India"# found that in tha district

like Chand# Bhandara# Nagpur of Maharashtra# Karwbas ware

found* Ail these indicates that Dhangar ooasainlty of

Maharashtra is eigrated free above states# specially free

Kamatak due to following reasons t

1# The availability of Pasture# Meadow#

2# Natural reasons like - twines# Hoods etc#

3# Favourite grouping/nomadic nature# •Migration

of their religion * •

4# Political conflict# between Aryans and

Oravldlans#*

5# Market and religious centres# e#g# Pall# Jejurl#

Pattahkodoli# Vashl# solapur.

B) Meaning »

Many echolsrs# historians wars triad thair best

but till today nobody has glvsn the exset origin end

penning of the sold commnity. The gsneral weaning ef

the torn is -

Dhan * Cattle#

gar ■ Haidar#

9# Crooks# millen t "Tribes and eastas of w# lone"#

(Hoi# II)# P* 44# 301#

Ji

ft—*1 i Cattle holdar/keeper/eeiler. That ie,

tha paopla who keep cattle* cell cattle are known aa

Bhangera# The nerd Bhangar la darlved from the Kannada

word 'Danger* or 'Dehkar* • According to S#M# Londa, the

tew Bhangar la derived fro* the tew Gandhar#

The word Bhangar night have derived from the tern,

•Dheuugar* or 'Dbenukar* • Dhanugar neana cattle keeper of

Dhanupal# mth the evolution of the aene tew It night

have heewe aa Dhangar#

Another openion about the origin of Bhangar la

that, Bhangar la a awe of a Pre-Aryan tribe# But In

cannon we can eay that *Bbaa* neana 'Wealth* or 'Banal*#

During the barter ayatw of the econowy the cattle playe

the role of exchange of noney# That la why cattle waa tha

naln neana of exchange, like thla one can aay that the

pereon who haa nueh cattle la known aa Bhangar or

'Bawidhar* •

Wlnact (Bawan etheologlata and Bthnographera are

of the openlon that Dhangara are country wide Pre-Aryan

aboriginal tribe# According to Sir Blaley they belong to

tha Seytho-Bravldiaa atode.

The tew Phangar la inacrlbed aa •Danger* on a

atone carvatlon of Beddhlat cave# Thla cave la aald to

have carved between the firet and third centnry A#D#

17

The word eo spelt Danger stands for Dhangar says by

Dr* Bhagvantalal Indraji•

The word is derived from the Sanakrlt word

‘Dhanged* which weans a hill. Therefore* Bhamgar way be
said to be a wan who lives near wowntalne, hills, i*e*
'JUngalche Baje*.

In course of tine this community has left its

nonodic nature and settled in one place by accepting cattle
beeping as nain occupation and agriculture as the subsidiary
occupation* But now-a-days Dhangere are doing all sorts of
occupations due to the impact^ lndusti 11 cation and
nodsraisatlon*

Shangars stay in a separate place near villages

called as Dhaagarwadi, where they keep sheep and cattle
and do som hill cultivation. The dress like Kunbl
Marathas, the nan are very strong# sturdy, ignorant, simple,
honest and rough. The women are brave and hard working take
the milk and butter to the market for sale*

According to SUB# Bathoses, the Dhangere have the

following endogenous v divisions!

10. Bhthoven, R.B. i "The tribes and Castes Bembey”,

p. 313.

5
18

TABhB-2

i) AUr 2) Asal or Maratha

3) Bmji 4) Barga* Banda or Nathkari
5) Banga 4) Qadaga
7) QtvU 8) Qhogattanya
9) B»tkar or Zsndaval 10) Balkar
11) Kangar 12) Khikal
13) Khllarl or Thilaxi 14) Khatakar or Khuta
15) Lad 16) Kuktakar
17) Mandhs 18) Mhaaka
19) Sangar 20) Shagar
21) Shilotya 22) utagar
23) Masalsun.

Moat of tita above divisions have a sub-division

known as Kada or Bastards, to which tha illagitinala or
axcomnaikicatad naabers of tha divisions ara relegated. Tha
origin of tha nanaa of no at of tha divisions is obscura.

Tha Bhangars of Maharashtra ara dividsd into 21

andoganous groups. Borne Bhangars ara saainosiads, othar
sons ara nosiads and othar fsw Bhangars ara sottlad. They
ara soattarad all oornars of Maharashtra nainly in western
ghats.

1
19

TABLB-3

ipdog—ous groups of Dkiugirt

*»d theirlocation

too of * Main Motor* of U>cation

droop Occupation Ldn
1. a. il 4.

1. Ahir Sh#«p roaring Saniaeoiado Naalk, Ahanad-

nagar, Kbandeah
2. Dong* Buffalo *#»• Kolhapur,Sangli,
roaring, coolie, Satara#Belgoure,
toll Batnagirl.
3. Oadhaxl Sheep roaring m0 9m All over
Maharashtra.
4* Gadhari, Stop roaring m* #“ *# »•
HLkhar
5. Halnat *#•** •M* “♦ #•
6. Hand* or *##•» ■*,,"
Bonds
7. Hatkar/ #m Troo-nonadn *##•
Balkar
8* Hatti- •# *m Soaincmadn *##■
Konkhani
9. Kannada SIMMS faring Solapur, other
oollon# blanket, parts of
wearing. Maharashtra.
10. Khatik Moat nailing Poona, Bonbay,
Magpur.
11* Khutekar Sheep roaring, *•# #•* All over
or blanket Maharashtra
Utegors wearing.
12. Kumar Sheep rearing
20

TABLB-3 (Oontd...)

.
1 2 . 3. 4.

13. Ladghe Sheep rearing Saminoeeda All over

Maharashtra

14. Mendhe Sheep and dost -3V

S3Spl»VMSe» V

15. Saagtf Woolen blanket •#»'

wearing

16. Shegar Agriculture settled

17. Telangi Sheep rearing Settle

18. Thailari/ Tree noeada
Khi 1lari

19. Unnekonkan m*0m *#r

20. Varhade **# # **

21. Sands Agrieeltore Settled

22 . agriculture Settled

Kventhoagh they ere divided into 22 types, they

are nainly found in three categories only *

1) Mende - Sheep rearing*

2) Sands - Agriculture.

3) Benge - Buffalo Keeper.

Most of the Bhangara are living in a scattered

situation. They are living in the mot* areas of the

country side. The Benge Bhangara at Kolhapur District,

21

are actually living in tiia hills. Van other fitiangare# who

are working as labourers# hanals la the citiao lika Boefcay#

Poona# Magpur, Afcnednagar# Maaik# Kolhapur ate* ara living

in alvsi areas. According to K.C. Malhotra and Nadbav

Gedgll# “the Dhangars in Haharashtra hava the following

endogenous divisions# distribution* population also#

language and traditional occupation1* s

TABL&»4

Dhawgar letiaated Mothar Distribution in Traditional

Castas Popular tongua Districts Occupation
tlon

1 2 . 3 . 4 . 5.

1* Ahir 3#00*000 Marathi Afanednagar# Akola# Sheep-keep*

Anraoti # Auranga­ lng and M0o>
bad* Btaldhana# weaving.
Bhulla# Jalgaon#
Maaik.

2. Danga 1#00,000 Marathi Kolaba,Kolahpur# Buffalo

Puna# Ratnagiri# keeping.
Sangli# Satara.

3. Gadhari- 20,000 Hihdi Akola#Anraoti# Bheap

Dhangar Aurangabad# keeping.
bhulla# Jalgaon.
4. Gadhari* 5,ooo Hindi Akola# Anraoti# Shoap
Mikhar Aurangabad, keeping and
Btanlla# Jalgaon. wool weavin.
5. Halnat 8#000 Kannada Kolhapur# Sangll • Sheep
keeping endi
wool
t weaving.
22

TABUH4 (Ooatd...)

6. Handa 4,000 Kannada Sangli, Sholapur Shaap kaaping

7. Hatkar 5,73,000 Marathi Ahaa&agar, Akola, Shaap kaaping.

Aaraotl, Dhulla,
Aurangabad, Bhir,
Buldhana,Jalgaon,
Kolhapur, Mandad,
Maaik, Oaaanabad,
Parbhani, Puna,
Sangli, Satara,
Sholapur, Mardha,
Yaotnal.

8. Hatti- 5,000 Marathi Bhir, Mandad, Shaap kaaping

kankan Oaaanabad,
Sholapur.

9* Kannada 15,000 Marathi Bhandara, Chanda Shaap kaaping

Nagpur, Mardha.

10. Khatlk 15,000 Marathi Ahna<kiagar, Maat aallara.

Aurangabad, Bhir,
Bonbay, Kolaba,
Maaik, Puna,
Satara, Sholapur,
Thana.

11. Khutakar 5,00,000 Marathi Alaadnagar, Sh«p kaaping

Akola, Anraoti, and wool
Aurangabad, weaving.
Bhir, Buldhana,
Jalgaon, Kolaba,
Nagpur, Mandad,
Naaik, Oanahabad,
Parbhani, Puna,
Rataagiri,Satara,
Sholapur, Mardha,
Yaotual.

12* Kumar- 15,000 Kannada Bhandara,Chanda. Shaap kaaping

Hatti-
kankan

13* Kumar 5,000 Kannada Bhandara, Chanda • Shaap kaeplag

Unnlkankan and Mool
waaviag.

Hi ilAdfaA* f MA a
23

TASLB-4 (COHTD...)

1 . 4. 5.

14* fcadhaa 4,000 Marat)*. Auraoti, Bhandara Shaap kaaplng

and cotton
waavlng.
15. Mandha 30,000 Marathi Kolhapur, Puna, Shaap kaaplng
Saagll, Satara, and wool
Sholapur. waavlng.
14. 8angar 10,000 Marathi Ahnadnagar, Bhir, Mdol wuaving.
Kolhapur, Puna,
Batnagirl,Saagll,
Satara, Sholapur.
17. Shagar 40,000 Marathi Ahnadnagar, Shaap kaaplng
Aurangabad, Bhir, and wool
Oananabad, Puna, waavlng.
Sholapur.
18. Talangl 5,000 Taiga Mandad, Paxfehanl • Shaap kaaplng
and wool
waavlng.
19* Thailari 7,000 Marathi Obeli*, Jalgaon, Shaap and
Vanik. eattla
kaaplng.
30* Unni- 4,000 Marathi Oananabad, fihaao kaenlna
Ip^nlraii Sholapur. and wool
waavlng.
21* Varhada 1, 50,000 Marathi Akola, Aaraotl, Shaap kaaplng
Bhandara, and cotton
Chanda, Nagpur, waavlng.
Wardha, Taotnal.
22• Sada 15,000 Marathi Chanda, Nagpur, Shaap kaaplng
Mardha, Yaotnal. and wool
waavlng.
23* Banda 80,000 Marathi Kolhapur, Sholapur • Shaap fc Horaa
kMplngi
Total s 157717555
24

1) Tha population «stl»at*s for thaao eastaa ara

basad on fignraa provided Mostly by tha Isadora of thasa

castas* Tha caaas whaza tha population sisas ara lass than

20000 tha astiaatas ara highly zaliabla (ovar 95)0 • Most

of thasa oastas hava thair own associations or sodatias

and thay could provide rallabla figures. But in tha caaa

of castas nunbaring over 1*00*000* tha astiaatas aay not

always ba zaliabla*

2) fart of tha Hatkars in Sangli District* locally

known as Khallaria haws traditionally lalso kept substantial

nuabar of cattla togathar with tha aheap."1*

But Majority of tha Dhangars ara kaaping shay

and cattla* for that purposa thay hava to vandsr fron

placa to placa in search of postura/teoadow* Thus, Majority

of tha Dhangars naaadic in nature* Thasa eonsarvativa

paopla think of Migration as thair religion* Thay nigrata

not only thansalvas but alongwith thair fwilies*

11* Malhotra* K.C# and Gadgil, Madhav * "Tha Ecological

Basis of tha Geographical Distribution of tha Dhangars *

A Pastoral oaata. Clustar of Maharashtra* p. 50*51*
26

In fact, the members of the Mendhe Dhangars are

more backward in Hatkanangale Taluka. Thus, these economi­
cally backward and socially handicapped people of our country
deserve the special attention of the Government and of the
Anthropologists.

2) Methodology and the Held work :

Dhangar is a prominent community belonging to the

O.B.C. group in Maharashtra. Their main occupation is sheep
growing and related work. Because of the very nature of
their work they are partly a nomedic community. Although
many Sociologists and Anthropoligists have made general
studies of Dhangars, there are no in depth studies of
■ar-'

particular subcastes. I decided to make a detailed study

of Mendhe Dhangars in Hatkanangale Taluka, based on personal
interviews with the help of a schedule and participant
observation.

The present work is based on the field-work. I

collected information among the Mendhe Dhangars at Hatkanangale
Taluka and did field work in this area.

3) The Mendhe Dhangars of

Hatkanangale Taluka :

Hatkanangale Taluka is famous for the predominant

population of the Mendhe Dhangars in Kolhapur District.
Specially in two villages e.g. Pattankofloli and Ghunaki, the
population of Mendhe Dhangars is as per the following table s
27

TABLE No. 1

a»g»a«»s»e»g«»g«»s»s»g»g»g.»g«>8»8».88»afg»iat«»8—g

Sr, Name of the Total Population

No. Village of Mendhe Dhangars
SS—SB—*—SB—BS..SB..SB—' s»SoS.saS»K»s»»»>a*B*S»3«S*B

1. Pattankodoli 4,000
2. Ghunaki 2#500

So families of the Mendhe Dhangars from the

Pattankodoli and Ghunaki villages were selected for the
detailed study. Thus a sample of 50 families with a
population 235 souls was selected for an indepth study.
Their break-up is as follows s

TABLE No. 2

SSmm SStm —:

Sr. Name of the Total No. Total Popu­

No. Village of families lation of
Mendhe
Dhangars
SB—SS—

Pattankodoli 25 111
Ghunaki 25 125

Total t 50 235
;«* 8S*» ©•* S5*i‘SS6

The field work carried out is two different

villages, namely# 1) Pattankodoli# 2) Ghunaki. Regarding
the selection of 50 families of the Mendhe Dhangars from
two villages it will not be out of place to mention that
28

since there is a very large population of the Mend he Bhangars

in Hatkanangale Taluka# the selection of families was made on
random basis.

All the two villages under survey are introduced

briefly in the following paragraphs s

1) Pattankodoli t

Pattankodoli is at a distance of nine miles from

Hatkanangale town and 12 miles from Kolhapur. The village
has a mixed population of 11003 persons. The Mendhe Bhangars
are said to be the first settlers in the village and even
today, they are a dominent caste. The Mar at has, the Jainas,
the Harijans, the Chamars, the Kumbhars and the Lohars are
the other castes living in the village. 25 Mendhe Dhangars
families from this village with a population of 111 souls
have been taken for the present study.

The villagers are mostly cultivators. The Mendhe

Bhangars having lands follow the traditional occupation of
tending sheep and goats.

There is a primary and high school very close to

the village. Among the Mendhe Dhangars, a few students have
started going to primary school and high school. In
Pattankodoli village, there is a health centre.
2) Ghunakl t

Ghunakl is situated at a distance o£ 15 miles from

Hatkanangale town and 16 miles from Kolhapur* The village

is situated on the bank of Warana river.

Ghunaki may be regarded as a mixed village of

Hatkanangale Taluka with a total population of 6#500 persons.

Since there are Maratha, Harijans, Kumbhars, Hajams, Lohars,

Jainas and others castes living in the village and each of

them practising its own traditional occupation, economically

they present heterogeneons picture. Some of them are

cultivators and others are engaged as agricultural labourers

and artists. There is a primary school and high school, but

a few Mendhe Dhangar boys go to the primary school and high

school.

After this brief account of the two villages from

where the samples have been drawn, brief ethnographic

description of the Mendhe Dhangars of Hatkanangale Taluka,

is necessary.

The Mendhe Dhangars have the largest population in

Hatkanangale Taluka. They are mostly found in the villages

of Hatkanangale Taluka. In the District of Kolhapur alone

some 69,000 Mendhe Dhangars are found. The Mendhe Dhangars

of Hatkanangale Taluka, are the agricultural labourers,

workers tending the sheep and goats. But economically, they

30

are of low standard. Economically they are very backward

because 28% of them are completely landless and 88% of them
get their subsistance as agricultural labourers. 46% of
there are tending the sheep and goats. 86% of them are
indebted to the villagers.

4} Studies on the Bhangar

Community :

Although not much systematic study has been done on

the Dhangar community. Some fragmentary information on their
life and culture is sporadically recorded in official papers,
census reports, district gazetteers, monographs, village
notes and the reports of the Commissioner for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

To my knowledge, a survey of literature shows that

this vital component at Indian Society has hardly rarely
been studied. Anthropoligical investigations were initiated
in Maharashtra in 1969 from Deccan College, Pune by late
Dr. Irawati Karve and K.c. Malhotra.

Again in 1975-76, a study as a part of forest

ecological investigations was undertaken by the Indian
Institute of science, Bangalore by Madhav Gadgil and K.C.
Malhotra. A little work h&s been published and yet there
is a lot to be published.
31

In brief, we can say that Dhangar community of

Maharashtra has been studied by late Or. Irawati Karve,

Dr. k.c. Malhotra and Dr. Madhav Gadgil, Dr. Vartak, V.D.,

Frof. Gharge, Dhere R.C., Dr. Sarojini Babar etc. from one

point of view or the other.

Practically no serious work has so far been done

on the economic life of the Mendhe Dhangars.

The present work is also a pointer to the fact that

I am out to diagnose the problems of the Mendhe Dhangars and

suggest ways and means to eradicate their ailments.

In addition to the introduction and conclusion and

suggestions the work is divided in the following Chapters s

1) The first chapter is devoted to the historical

background of the Dhangar community. Here an attempt has

been made to discuss the origin and meaning of the Dhangar

community.

2) The second Chapter deals with the social life of

the Mendhe Dhangars of Hatkanangale Taluka. The hierarchical

position of the Mendhe Dhangars, family life, rules of

residence and inheritance, different kinship usages, marriage

and divorce and caste panchayat are some of the important

matters discussed in this Chapter.

32

3) The third chapter is devoted to the economic

life of the Mendhe Dhangars. Here an attempt has been made
not only to discuss their economic problems in general but
also to focus attention on their economic inequality in
general and landlessness, indebtedness, very low per capita
income, very low standard of living, deviation from the
traditional occupation, the problem of unemployment leading
to their seasonal migration, and very low wages given to
agricultural labour, in particular.

4) In the fourth chapter the political life of the

Mendhe Dhangars has been described. Here the traditional
caste Panchayat and modern State sponsored Gram Panchayat
with their composition, powers and functions have been
elaborately discussed. Political consciousness, and the
economic limitations of the Mendhe Dhangars leading to a
tense relationship with the Upper Caste people have also
been dealt with here.

5) The religious life of the Mendhe Dhangars has

been discussed in the fifth Chapter. This Chapter begins
with description of their belief in various gods and spirits.
Thus, the religions heads, their festivals and the impact of
Sanskritifcation on the on the religious life of the Mendhe
Dhangars have been analysed. Religious centres of the Mendhe
Dhangars, Birth and Taboos, period of pollution have also
been deilt with in this very chapter. Needless to mention,
an account of their sacred rites has been given here.
33

6) Socialisation and education forms the source of

materials for the sixth Chapter. Here the role of various
voluntary, agencies and social reform movements to elevate
the position of the Mendhe Dhangar have been discussed. As
evident from the very little of the Chapter, the various
problems related to education have also been analysed here
in this very chapter.

7) Chapter seventh has been devoted exclusively to

the problems of health and sanitation. Here the common
diseases prevalent among them, their prevention and cure
have been analysed. The attitude of the Mendhe Dhangar
towards family planning, child-birth, have also been
discussed here. Government help through Welfare Programmes
in relation to their health and sanitation have also been
included here in this Chapter. It goes without saying
that their concepts of leisure and recreation have also been
studied here.

8) Intergroup relations in general have been

discussed in the eighth chapter. Here the social inter­
action and inter-relations have been analysed, in brief.