Mali / Saini community of Maharashtra

Mali / Saini community of Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a province of Indian republic situated in Western region of Indian peninsula and is a bridge state between the North and the South and is the third largest state in poulation and area. Most of the public has a belief that Maharashtra is a part of South India, but that is not true, it is a part of Western India. Maharashtra came into existance in 1960 when Bombay state was divided into Maharashtra and Gujrat on languge concerns. Capital city of this province is Bombay now renamed by nationalists as Mumbai, the original name few centuries ago. Mumbai is the financial capitol of India. It is the centre of second largest film industry in world after Hollywood and is called as Bollywood. Maharashtra derives its name from desire of Maharastrians of Shiva ji times to create a single united big nation. Maha= Large or big and Rashtra means country or nation. The other theory is that it derives its name from its single largest caste known as Mahars who constitute 14% of the state poulation alone. Geographically Maharashtra can be divided into 4 parts- Western Ghats or Konkan, Northern Khandesh , Soth West Marathwada and North East as Vidharba. Maharastra has a total of 32 districts. Pune city is the cultural capital of Maharashtra.



1) Konkan region –is formed the hill tracts of Sahyadaris range or Western Ghats. Raigarh, Sindhudurg, Thane and Ratnagiri and Bombay are the districts of this region. Konkani is the language of this region.

2) Khandesh—comprises the northern districts of Nasik, Dhulia,Nandurbar, Jalgaon and some regions of Malwa likeBurhanpur and Nepanagar which are part of Madhya Pradesh. Khandesh region overlaps with the northern districts of Marathwada

3) Marathwada--- includes the south west districts of Aurangabad, Beed,Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Parbhani, Sangli, Nanded, Osmanabad, Sholapur, Satara, Kolhapur and Pune etc.

4) Vidharba—region has 11 districts which are Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Gadichiroli, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Wardha, Nagpur and Bhandara etc. Vidarbha is comparatively backward and is seeking separate statehood.



Marathi speaking population is also present in neighbouring Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, some area of Madhya Pradesh like Indore of Malwa, In Karnatka and Gujrat.



History History of Maharashtra dates back to 7th BC when farming communities from North started moving to river valleys of Deccan plateau. Centres of earlier farming settlements are found in Prakash near Dhule, Daimabad in Aurangabad and Imamgaon in Pune district. At that time this region was known as Dandakarayna means great forest which was populated by tribals. Vidharba was part of Ashmaka, one of the 16 Aryan janapadas. Archeological site of Nanaghat gives evidence that Vaishnavism(Krishna Bhakti -Krisna ancestor of Mali/Saini and Yadav and other Yadu tribes) prevailed in the region before Ashoka introduced Budhism in this region. Mauryas were the first to control the Konkan region and control the local feudatories and trade. Ashoka established his edicts in Konkan region and established Budhism, casteless society and prakrit language. With inclusion of konkan and plateau region in Mauryan empire regular communication to North started. After the death of Ashoka local feudals established Satvahana kingdom which was followed by Vakatakas,Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas etc. and the last hindu dynaty of Yadavas of Deogiri of Nasik in 13th century which was destroyed by Khalzi’s. Yadavas were responsible for establishing the Marathi language and gave full patronage and made it their court language. Their defeat lead to Muslim rule in this region untill the 18th century to the rise of hindu mararha nation by Shivaji. Maharashtra has a long history of conflict between Brahmins and Non Brahmins. During the 500 years of muslim rule Brahmins allied with Muslims and Rajputs destroyed the Kshatrya status of these Vedic aryan peasant castes who regained this status under the banner of Shivaji and through sectarian model ie.Bhakti Movement Poet-Saints shown them the ethos to gain their self esteem. Shivaji established Rayatwari system and so lead to economic betterment of peasant class. After Shivaji, Peshwa Brahmins again captured the power with their advisory role to Maratha army and divided the society into castes. Shivaji’s ancestors from Satara and Kolhapur states as well as Maratha Sardars who established their own kingdoms outside Maharashtra and Pune always kept distance from Peshwas. At the end of 19th century Maharaj Shahu and Mahatama Phule started a movement against Brahmin Peshwas and shown the path of social reforms and education to peasant communities and tried to allign the farming class with untouchables instead of Brahmins to get rid the society from Brahmin dominance.

Social structure of Maharashtrian society

Population of Maharashtra based on Varna Theory consist of three classes or varnas-- Priest/administrative class, Working/Middle class and Dalit or Untouchables. There is no existance of Rajput class between the Upper Varna and Middle Varna. Chitpavan Brahmins constitute the upper class and are not a minority caste in Maharashtra as compare to the Brahmins in North who constitute only 3% of population in North and have to seek assistance of Rajputs or ruling class to maintain their dominance in the society over other castes. In Maharashtra they are in great numbers and are also involved in agriculture and military occopations.They are the dominant caste of Westerm Konkan region. Middle Castes Include all the Cultivator castes of Maharashtra ie. Kunbi, Maratha, Mali, Ahir,Lingayat, Dhangar, Lodhis, Kirars, Raghvis and some Banjaras. They were grouped in middle castes as Brahmins can take water from them. All these cultivator castes are now grouped into OBC group. Artisian castes like Nais,Chimpis(Darji) , Telis , Dhimar( Fisherman), Sutars(Lohar), Weavers, Kumbhars and Badhai(carpenter) also exist. Badhai include 2 sub groups called as Parvasi/Jat Badhai and Teli Badhai based on their origin. Most of these artisians are also included in OBC list. Untouchables or Harijans include Matangs,Mahars,Mangs, Ramoshis, Chambhars(Chamars),Churahas etc. Aborriginals or Dravidian speaking tribals are like Gonds, Bhils, Kolis, Warlis, Maadeos . Kolis are a tribe of western konkan region involved in fishing and agriculture and were notified as criminal caste. Shetties are a buisness community. Jain , Budhist, Jewish and Zorashtrian or Parsi communities are also present in Maharashtra.



MALI’S OF MAHARASHTRA

Name of this community is dervied from Maloi or Malavi or Malli which were the peaople of Malwa region ( Central India) who migrated down to Khandesh and Godavri and Bhima Valleys. They have descended from Mathura’s Surasena kingdom. Mallis were the people of Malwa who fought with Alexander The Great near Multan. Both Mali’s and Kunbi’s claim their movement to southward in ancient times from Multan area to Malwa. Mali caste constitute the third largest cultivator caste of Maharashtra peasant castes after Maratha and Kunbi caste. Mali’s are 7 % of the total poulation of Maharashtra. They are the specialist cultivators involved in the cultivation of Flowers, Vegetables and fruits, Sugarcane, Cotton, Tamarind, Cumin/Jira, Ginger and Haldi/Turmeric alongwith foodgrains and also combines the skill of professional gardening. While Kunbi was considered a general tiller of the land involved with only cultivation of staple food.



Their language, customs, traditions, beliefs, religion, culture and social status and geographical distribution is same to Kunbi- Maratha castes. They do not marry in the same gotra and with first and second cousins. Widow marriage and divorce are permitted. Their dead bodies are creamated. Earlier girls were married before puberty but not now. Mali community is follower of Hinduism and follow the Varkari sect and Vaishnavism. They also follow Lingayat sect in small proportion. Devi is their principal deity and marriages are performed in front of the deity. Devi is local incarnation of Maha Kali and represents the dreaded disease of smallpox and goats are sacrificed to please the Devi. They employ Brahmin priests for marriage ceremony and other hindu rituals. Pandharpur is a sacred place for the community and Abhang kirtana is part of their spirtual life. They have established Sant Swata Mali temples allover the state. Mali community is also a part of Gosain/Gosavi sect and Yogi castes of Nath Sampardaya.. Their language is Marathi and speak all the dialects of this language like Ahirani, Manedeshi etc. based on region. In the bordering areas they also speak Gujrati, Kannad, Telugu and Hindustani.



Their dress includes Maharashtrian style Dhoti called Dhotar and Sadara (Kurta) and freshly folded pagri/turban. For everyday use they wear Mundassa as head dress and wear red turban on special occasions like marriage and birth and other festivals. In daily life shoulder cloth (Uparne) is also a part of Mali men’s attire.They also use gandhi topi and Bandi (short coat) and countrymade Joda (shoes). Women wear traditional 9 yard saree called Lugade and girls wear Parkar (peticoat) and Palka (blouse). They also use Ghagra and embroidered Choli and equally graceful Dupatta. They wear trditiona jewellry like Nath(Nose ring), Besar,Choker, Tanmani(short necklace) and bajuband(the amulet). Nath and Besar are worne by married women. Rice, Jowar and Arhar is their staple food and use a lot of coconut and peanut in food. They perform a dance and song form based on incarnation of Lord Krishna known as Vasudev particularly in districts of Jalgaon and Dhule and perform Dindi dance when they join the procession to temple of Vithal . Lavni is performed by women .They celebrate festivals like Holi, Gudhi Padwa, Makar sakranti, Rakhi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dushehra and Diwali, Gokul Ashtami and POLA their harvest festival.

Main crops produced by Mali farmers are Turmeric, onions, vegetables, mango, grapes, flowers, cotton, jowar, sugarcane, groundnut, sunflower, soyabean, rice , papayas, oranges, bananas, pulses and cumin. Tanks, wells and canals are the main source of irrigation. They raise Killari breed of Cows and Oxen to use them for milk, ploughing and cart racing. They worship their oxen and during Pola celebrationsin rainy season take their bullocks in procession..

Mali’s were a part of Maratha army regiments during Peshwa and British rule and also provide a large no.of recruits to State Police Force and Indian army as per theirYadu Kshatrya traditions. During British rule Brahmins and Rajputs lobbyed to exclude them from Maratha regiments of Bombay presidency but they were failed in doing so by the combined efforts of Mahatama Phule and Rajas of Kolhapur, Baroda and Indore. During British rule Mali’s entered into Bacward class alongwith Maratha-Kunbi’s to gain the profit of reservation of assembly seats for them in Bombay Council as they fought for British in the first world war.



Distribution -- Malis are widely distributed in all parts of Maharashtra except Konkan region. They are the second largest community of political influence in Vidharba, Marathwada and Khandesh regions of Maharashtra. They have strong presense in 36 assembly constituencies out of total 288. Mali community has influence on 15 Parliament and 100 Assembly seats.

1) Khandesh—Mali’s are the leading cultivating caste of this region og Satpura foothills and are found in large numbers in Dhule, Nasik and Jalgaon districts. Nasik was once the centre of Yadava kingdom who belong to their sister caste. Nasik is one of the great pilgrimage centre of Hindus and a Kumbh Mela is organised here every 12 years. Sh.Chaggan Bhujbal Ex.Deputy Chief Minister belongs to this dsitrict. Mali community constructed Mali kund in Nasik in 1870 AD. Mali are majority community in Dhule and Jalgaon. Shirpur in Dhlue is stronghold of Mali’s, Smt.Parvati Bai Dalpatrao Mali College is situated in Shirpur. Dr.R. S.Mali is ex VC of North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon.

2) Marathwada- Mali community is wide spread in whole of Marathwada region and is the dominant caste of central Marathwada districts of Parbhani, Aurangabad and Jalna etc. Smt. Savitri Bai Phule belonged to Satara district. Saint Swata Mali Ji were from Aran in Sholapur District. Sh. N. S. Pharande is a big Mali leader of BJP party from Ahmednagar. Freedom Fighters like Sh. Shivaji Mnaji Mali of Satara and Sh. Dhondiram Mali of Kupwad from Satara district are also from this region. Mahatama Phule belonged to the Gorhe family of Pune. Kacchu Malis of Sholapur are involved in the famous cotton industry. Sh.Vithal Thamaji Mali is a Mali politician from Kopargaon in Ahmednagar and is Vice President of Kopargaon co-operative society. Mr.Chandukaka Jagtap is MLA from Pune. Bala Sahib Shivarkar is an eminent political leader from Mali caste of Pune, He is 3 times ex MLA and ex Cabinet minister. Mali community of Sholapur district was the the first in Maharashtra to start farmers co-operative movement for water irrigation and sugar mill in Maharashtra. Sangol, Malinagar and Mohal in Sholapur are strongholds. Mali’s are found in large no.’s in Nanded,Latur, Beed and Sangli districts.

3) Vidharba—Mali’s constitute the largest OBC group of Vidharba region along with Teli’s. They are 4%of the population in tribal dominated areas of Vidarbha like Yavatmal, Chandrapur and are one of the dominant caste in Akola, Amravati division and Nagpur. Eg. Mr.Krishan rao Ingle is ex MLA from Buldhana and Mr.Vinayakrao Korde is MLA from Achalpur in Amravati.

Subcastes of Mali community of Maharashtra



Depending on the type of specialized cultivation Mali’s are grouped in different subcastes like Phul Mali- Cultivation of flowers and vegetables and professional gardening and temple services like supply of garlands and mukuts and maintainance of Palaces and Govt.buildings, this subcaste was mostly concentrated in and around the cities due to easy market access to their products eg Elite Phul Mali Families from all over Maharashtra were invited to settle in and around Pune by Peshwas , Jire Mali- Cumin cultivation, Halde Mali- Turmeric cultivation, Kacchu Mali – Cotton cultivation, Saini, Ghase Mali, Kase Mali, Chaukalsa Mali, Panchkalsa Mali etc. With times these subdivisions have been almost vanished and are only regarded as surnames. But now a days all the farming castes of Maharashtra are involved in production of these agricultural products and Mali’s are also involved with cash crops, as now farming has changed to more intensive and integrated industry and demand based products, so based on type of cultivation there is no distinction between Mali’s and other peasant castes.



Surnames of Mali community of Maharahtra

A) Aavchar, Ambekar, Adilinge/Adlinge, Adhao, Akalkar, Aanap, Aagarkar, Ahire, Abhang, Avasare

B) Bhagwat, Baravkar, Bhujbal, Bhaskar, Burade, Bugade, Bodhke, Bele(=Bhele),Bhopale, Borse, Bhagat, Bhongle, Birmal, Bhakre, Borate, Bonsade, Bhale(=Bhela), Bali, Bharvirkar, Bidvai, Bagul, Boravke, Bunage, Bhamre, Baviskar, Bahalkar, Bhadke, Bhone, Bhong, Bankar, Bachav, Bhumkar, Bhanavase, Balsarf, Bhosal , Badade

C) Chipade, Chovde, Chawre(Chere), Chilpe, Chandne(=Chandan), Charpe, Chaudhary, Chakane

D) Dongre, Dhule, Darshne, Dale, Dalvi, Devare, Dudhe, Dhanwat(=Dhanauta), Dongche, Dhanumali, Dholepatil, Dagade, Doke(=Dulku/Dhorka), Dhole(=Dhole), Dedage, Date, Dhat, Dangle Dandge, Deshmukh

E) Ethate, Elave

F) Farande, Fulzade

G) Gidhe(=Gidha), Gholap, Girme, Ghanwat, Ghasemali, Godekar, Gavali/Gawali, Ghadge/Gadage, Gawde, Ghumatkar, Gudhe, Gaikwad, Galhar(=Galhe), Garudkar, Gore/Gorhe(=Gaare)/Phule, Garde, Gharte, Gavandi, Ghodekar, Gangurde, Gavnde, Ghogre, Ghotal, Gadade

H) Hazare, Hivse, Hingane/Hingne, Hegde, Herkal, Hagir, Hiwarkar, Haldemali, Hudekar

I) Inamdar, Ingle/Ingale

J) Jungare, Jambhale, Jhodge, Jhagde, Jiremali, Javle/Jawale, Jagtap, Jambhulkar, Jejurkar, Jamdade, Jagdale, Jadhekar, Jembe, Jadhav, Jaytal

K) Khaire, Kasemali, Kachre, Kamod, Kamodkar, Karande, Keadre, Khamkar, Khalane, Kodre, Kurhe, Kubade, Kharpude, Karpe, Khurpe, Kolhe, Kandpile, Khandalkar, Kundle, Kavi, Khirsagar, Kore, Korde, Kanade, Kacchumali, Kudale, Khairnar, Karne, Khedkar, Kalmkar, Kukade, Kathale, Karankar, Kherde, Kale, Kalukhe

L) Londhe, Lohane, Lokhande, Lothe, Lashkare

M) Makh, Mahale, Madankar, Masne/Masane, Manekar, Mane, Memane, Magre, Mohite, Mhetre, Masurkar, More, Mandalik, Mahajan, Mokal, Malkar

N) Namde, Nanavare, Nawle, Nandan, Narke, Nayakwadi, Newse, Nahire, Naik, Nagre, Naikude, Navade

O)

P) Pawar. Pandhare/Pandhre, Pathade/Pathare, Parahde, Pharande, Phulor, Patil, Parekh, Patkari, Pise, Pange, Pharate, Pingle/Pingale(=Panglia), Pashankar, Pable(=Pabla), Pigale, Pund, Prandwal

Q)

R) Rasve, Raul, Raut, Rajankar, Rahate, Ranmalkar, Raskar, Ratnakar, Ramane, Rakhonde, Rokade, Rajkule

S) Survanshi, Sawant, Sabale, Sangole, Shewate, Sante, Shete, Shevkar, Sulokar, Shevte, Salunkhe/Salunke, Satav, Shevale, Samose, Shivarkar, Sapkal, Shelar, Saudane, Shinde, Sinalkar/ Shinalkar, Sinnarkar, Shiraskar, Sasane, Sonavane, Sarang, Sinlikar, Surse, Sonsale, Saini, Shegaonkar, Sapate

T) Tisge, Tamhane, Tilekar, Tamalurkar, Tambe, Thorat, Telekar, Tarte, TaydeTodkar, Tajne

U) Umale

V) Vavhl, Vankhede, Vaghhale, Vagule, Vazare, Varnekar, Vavahare, Vithal, Vibhute, Vidhate, Varahdi

W) Walke, Warule, Warulekar, Waghmare, Wagh, Waghule, Wenere



Note—Why these surnames are different from Mali’s/Saini’s of North west---- Because when castes or communities settle into new lands , with time they evolve new language, customs, beliefs and gotras. New gotras are acquired to memorise their ancestors who took initiative to get established in new settlements and are also based on name of new villages or on flaura and fauna of region etc. eg. Wagh mean Tiger. Also in case of Brahmins of Maharashtra, their Gotras like Tendulkar, Gokhale, Joglekar etc. are totally different from the Brahmins of Punjab and their customs , language and culture is also different But they are of Brahmin caste. So this is true for all castes and not only for Saini or Mali community.

Who are Marathas --- Marathas were armymen or warriors of 18th century who dominated the political scene of central India and Maharashtra. In those times many sardars or jagirdars belonging to different peasant castes were working as administraotors of different areas or tehsils for Bahmani sultanate of Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Deccan who were mobilised by Brahmin advisors to create a Hindu nation. As in Maharashtian society there was no existance of a separate rajput caste or class. So these Marathi speaking peasant castes/ middle castes who were inspired by the Bhakti Movement to maintain their self esteem like Kunbi, Mali ,Ahir, Dhangars, Lingayats, Kolis and Gawalas formed army along with untouchables like Mahars, Mangs and Ramoshis and created a separate Hindu state. Their war cry was also Har Har Mahadev reflecting the combination of Vedic aryans and dravidian beliefs as compared to Jai Bhawani of Rajputs. Shiva ji in Gujrat and Maratha Sardars who conquered Rajputana were responsible for genocide of half of the Rajput population of those times. Once muslims were thrown out of power Brahmins administrators controlled the state and became the De Facto rulers under the name of Peshwas which means Prime Minister. Eg. Shiva ji was a Kunbi and his mother was a Yadav/ Ahir. From elite peasant clans Brahmins carved a new caste under Maratha name to divide the society and to control the social order of the society with help of this new caste group as they have done in North with help of Mughals and Rajputs. This Maratha caste later degenrated into a class like Rajputs. During Peshwa times they further grouped this new caste into 96 clans. This is the reason that Maratha as a separate caste has no clear cut subcaste and gotra system. They are so amorphous that it is hard to tell in some cases whether a gotra is maratha or of its allied caste Kunbi or Mali or Ahir or Dhangar. So creation of Maratha is equal to creation of Sikh who also belonged to different castes of Panjab. So in a comprehensive way all Marathi speaking people are reffered as Marathas.

Eg. Scindhias of Gawalier were Kunbis, Gaikwads of Baroda were Gawalas or Cowherders and Holkars of Indore were Dhangars ie. Sheperds. This amorphous arrangement facilitated incorporation of all peasant castes into Maratha race. Even today all these groups –Maratha, Kunbi, Mali, Ahir, Lingayat and Dhangar have same social status and all are regarded as OBC class of Maharashtra.



Following is a list of commomnly shared clan names among Malis and Marathas and Kunbis, Ahirs and Dhangars Etc.

Lokhande, Mhetre,Ingale,Mahale,Salunkhe, Pandhare, Sonavane, Nawle, Vyavhare, Jawle, Khairnar, Pawar, Shinde, Sawant, Shelar, Gaikwad,Kachre, Jagtap, Thorat, Dalvi, Khaire, Raut, Wagh, Bhagwat, Pingle, More, Ahire, Yadav, Jadhav, Mohite, Borade, Bhosale, Deshmukh, Lohane, Thorat, Hazare, Kale, Patil and Mane