The Gazetteers Department

Regarding the Hindu population of Kolaba District (comprising five sub-divisions, Alibag, Pen, Nagothana, Roha, Manganv and Mahad or a total of 1,064 villages), the old District Gazetteer (Vol. XI) has given a caste-wise enumeration as ascertained from the census of 1871. The following (pp. 149-154) is a summary of these details including some pertinent observations made by the Gazetteer about some of the important castes in the district.

For descriptive purposes, Hindus may be brought under thirteen heads, namely, Brahmans, Writers, Merchants, Cultivators, Craftsmen, Musicians, Servants, Shepherds, Fishers and Sailors, Labourers, Unsettled Tribes, Depressed Classes, and Beggars.

With a strength of 11,338 (m. 7.356; f. 3,982) the Brahmans who formed 3.80 per cent of the Hindu population, had thirteen divisions, of which the Citpavans numbered 8,337 (m. 4,355; f. 3,982), Karhadas 1,133 (m. 601; f. 532), Palshes 56 (m. 24; f. 32) and Shenavis 1,075 (m. 554; f. 521). Of Writers there were two classes, viz., Kavastha Prabhus and Patane Prabhus, who numbered 4,182 (m. 2,059; f. 2,123) and 60 (m. 26; f. 34), respectively. Merchants, Traders, and Shopkeepers with a strength of 8,206 included five classes of which the Vanis numbered 8,151 (m. 4,711; f. 3,440). The Husbandmen with a strength of 218,522 (m. 109.074; f. 109,448) consisted of three classes, namely, Agris 44,191 (m. 22.120; f. 22.071); Kunbis 159,336 (m. 79,349; f. 79,987); and Malis 14,995 (m. 7,605; f. 7,390). There were 22,952 (m. 11,699; f. 11,254) Craftsmen with twenty-two classes, of which 1,466 (m. 699; f. 767) were Bangad Kasars; 6,248 (m. 3,215; f. 3,003) Cambhars; 3,732 (m. 1,826; f. 1,906) Kumbhars; 1,637 (ra. 856; f. 781) Shimpis; and 5,229 (m. 2,689;f. 2,540) Sonars. Of Servants there were two classes, namely, Nhavis or Barbers 3,153 (m. 1,642; f. 1,511) and Parks or Washermen 1,566 (m. 7,83; f. 783). Of Shepherds there were two classes with a strength of 10,875 (m. 5,400; f. 5,475) of which 3,543 (m. 1,862; f. 1,681) were Dhangars, and 7,332 (m. 3,538; f. 3,794) Gavalis. Of Fishers and Sailors there were four classes Bhois, Gabits, Kharvas and Kolis with a strength of 16,633 (m. 8,331; f. 8,302) or 4.60 per cent of Hindu population. Of these the Kolis numbered 14,963 (m. 7,468; f. 7,495). Ten classes, namely, Bhandaris, Ghisadis, Kalals, Kalans, Kamathis, Khatiks, Pardesis, Ramosis, Sarekaris, and Shindes numbered together 7,676 (m. 4,016; f. 3,660). Five classes with a strength of 14,814 (m. 7,528; f. 7,286) or 4.10 per cent of the Hindu population belonged to Unsettled Tribes. Of these 10 (m. 7; f. 3) were Bhils; 10,292 (m. 5,100; f. 5,192) Katkaris; 3,629 (m. 1,916; f. 1,713) Thakurs; 232 (m. 106; f. 126) Vadars; and 651 (m. 399; f. 252) Vanjaris. Of Depressed classes there were three with a strength of 34,876 (m. 17,097; f. 17,770). Of these 29 (m. 15; f. 14) were Bhangis; 34,477 (m. 16,898; f. 17,579) Mahars; and 370 (m. 184; f. 186) Mangs. Of the eleven classes of Beggars with a strength of 3,232 (m. 1,672; f. 1,560), Gondhalis numbered 271 (m. 172; f. 99); Gosavis 1,154 (m. 593; f. 561); Jangaras 1,375 (m. 693 f. 682); and Kolhatis 133 (m. 72; f. 61).

Brahmans.

Of Brahmans, the Citpavans were found in most part of the district. They are said to have been settled where they now are for several generations, and probably came to Kolaba during the time of the Pesva's supremacy. They are about the middle size, fair, and their women graceful. Marathi is their mother-tongue, and they are clean, neat, thrifty and orderly. A few are traders. but most ate landlords, Government servants, and religious beggars. In religion they are Smartas and as a class well-to-do. The Alibag Desasthas who are Rgvedis are said to have come from the Deccan about a hundred years ago. They are Government servants, traders, husbandmen, and religious beggars. Devrukhas found over the whole district except Roha are mostly husbandmen and as a class are rather badly off, but are gradually rising. Golaks who are more like Citpavans than Desasthas are as a class well-to-do, gathering alms enough to support them in fair comfort. Gujarat Brahmans who are said to have come to Alibag as priests to Gujarat Varus since the beginning of British rule are as a class well off, their patrons being careful to keep them from want. Javals who take their name from the village of Javalkhor in Ratnagiri are also known as khots or village farmers. None of them are priests; all are laymen. Other Brahmans neither eat nor marry with them. Karhadas who in speech, dress, food and customs differ little from Desastha Brahmans are a rising class. Many are priests, astrologers, and husbandmen, but their chief occupation is Government service. Kramavants or Veda-reciters are erroneously called Kirvants. They generally marry with Desasthas and sometimes with Citpavans and occasionally with Karhadas. Marwar Brahmans who have come as priests to Marwar Varus are as a class fairly well-to-do. Palshes who probably take their name from the village Palsavli in Thana are found only in Alibag. Senvis except a few who are Senvis proper belong to the sub-division who take their name from the village Bhalaval in the Rajapur sub-division of Ratnagiri. They formerly employed Konkanastha priests, but within the last few years they have begun to make use of priests of their own class. Tailangs who are natives of the Madras Presidency, after staying for a year or two begging and selling sacred threads, return to their homes.

Writers.

Of Writers there were two classes: Kayastha Prabhus and Patane Prabhus. Kayastha Prabhus are returned as found over the whole district. "So strong is the rivalry between Kayastha Prabhus and Brahmans that the Brahmans have put out of caste the priests who officiate for the Prabhus. In Pen no Brahman is allowed to take alms from a Prabhu's house on pain of a fine and excommunication, and no Prabhu is allowed to enter the Mahadev Temple". This was not only true of Pen but also of Nagothana, 20 miles away from Pen, but no such differences between the two communities now exist. They have free social intercourse and even interdining is coming into vogue. In Mahad, such estranged relations never existed between the two communities. Patane Prabhus are returned from the whole district except Pen. "Heavy marriage expenses have reduced many families to straitened circumstances, and day by day the old residents of Ceul, Pen, and other places are selling their houses and lands and leaving the district to live in Bombay".

Traders.

Of Merchants, Traders and Shopkeepers there were five classes: Bhansali, Bhatias, Joharis, Komtis, and Varus. Bhansalis who are found in Alibag only have Marathi as their home tongue; their priests are Gujarat Brahmans and their chief holiday is Silasap-tami, which falls on seventh of Sravana. Bhatias who are found in small numhers in Alibag, Mahad, and Pen, are said to have come about hundred years ago as Traders from Mandvi and Cutch. They go to their native country on marriage occasions. Joharis came from Poona and they trade by hawking brass pots and vessels, which they carry in baskets and exchange chiefly for old clothes and sometimes for money. Komtis live like Brahmans and wear the sacred thread. They beg and also sell basil plant beads, sacred threads, and gopicandana pills.

Vanis.

Vanis are of four divisions; Gujarat, Marvar, Lingayat, and Maratha.

Gujarat Varus of five sub-divisions, Kapol, Srimali, Khadait, Sorathiya and Desaval are found over the whole district and are well-to-do. The Kapols are divided into two endogamous divisions, Delvadias and Ghogaris, and Srimalis into Jains and Vaisnavas; Khadaits, Sorathiyas and Desavals have no further divisions. They generally speak Marathi out-of-doors and Gujarati at home. The men usually dress like upper class Marathas, and the women like Gujarat Vani women. They are Vaisnavas by religion, and though settled permanently, occasionally go to Gujarat on marriage occasions.

Marvar Vanis are of three main divisions, Porvals, Osvals, and Mesris. They are well-to-do, many of them rich, all the money having been made since they came into the district. Of late, though most keep some connection with Marvar, they are practically settled in Kolaba and have become more anxious to gain full or part proprietary rights in land. They are Vaisnavas in religion, rub sandal on their brow and wear a necklace of basil plant beads.

Most of the Lingayat Vanis came from above the Sahyadris as traders twenty-five years ago. Some of them are priests and others are husbandmen, but most are village grocers. Both men and women wear a ling hanging in a case from their necks. Their priests are Jangams. All their ceremonies take place on Mondays, which they hold specially sacred and well-omened. Their marriage differs from a Brahman marriage in having no cloth drawn between the bride and the bridegroom at the time of the ceremony. With them death is a subject for rejoicing, as the dead Lingayat goes straight to Siva's heaven. When a death takes place, they call their relations in and hold a feast. The body is worshipped, seated on a shrine-like bier, and buried sitting, still wearing the ling,

Maratha Vanis, probably the oldest class of traders in the district have three sub-divisions, viz., Kudali from Kudal in Savant-vadi, Sangamesvari from Sangamesvar in Ratnagiri, and Patane said to be from Patan in Satara. The three divisions may now cat together but do not intermarry. Among them the Kudalis claim superiority wearing the sacred thread and forbidding widow marriage.

Agris.

Of Husbandmen the Agris, literally gardeners, cheifly found along the creek banks in Alibag and Pen are divided into Mithagris, salt makers and tillers of salt rice-land, and Dholagris, called so from beating the drum, dhol. The Dholagris eat from the Mithagris but do not intermarry. Among Mithagris the cofnmonest surnames are Mhatre, Thakur and More, and among Dholagris, Thakur, Kotval, and Patil. Their small size and dark colour, their belief in devs or un-Brahman gods are almost marked enough to make them rank as a local or early Tribe. They speak incorrect Marathi, using several peculiar words and phrases. The establishment of schools, their contract with Brahmans and other correct speaking people, and their reading of sacred books, pothi, have of late improved the Agris' Marathi. They arc active, intelligent, honest, hospitable and cheerful workers. Some are makers of salt and a few are sailors, but most grow salt-land' rice. No class of husbandmen, in Kolaba have greater or even equal skill in salt-land tillage. Of late they have become more careful observers of rules of Brahmanic religion. Formerly there were no temples in small villages, but of late several temples have been raised to Maruti and Devi. They now keep religious books in their houses and read them to their wives and children or go to hear them read and explained by Brahmans. They have taken to chanting verses in their temples, accompanied by music, and perform bhajan saptahas, that is loud public prayers, which last for seven days.

Since the Gazetteer was published the Agris have made tremendous strides in social and educational fields. It is no longer a backward community. It boasts of scores of university gradutes, lawyers, doctors, journalists, trade union workers and members of legislatures.

Kunbis.

Kunbis are found over the whole district. They are considered pure Shudras sprung from the feet of Brahma. They are dark and slightly made and speak Marathi. Most of them are husbandmen, and, as a class, are hardworking, orderly, contented, hospitable, and well behaved. Besides as husbandmen some serve as labourers, and others as household servants, messengers and soldiers. Their women work in the fields or as labourers. They worship the odinary Hindu gods. But the chief objects of their worship are local or demon-gods, whose displeasure they greatly fear and take every care to avoid. They hold in high respect the Brahmans who are their priests. They keep all Hindu fasts and feasts. Social disputes are settled at meetings of the men of the caste, whose authority has, of late, grown weaker.

Malis.

Malis besides by this name are known as Pancakalsis Sutars, and Marathas and are found over the whole district. They earn their living as husbandmen, gardeners, carpenters, and day-labourers, and a few as writers. Some are village headmen, but most are. cultivators. The wives of husbandmen, and gardeners help their husbands by selling vegetables, butter and milk. They wear the sacred thread, and do not forbid widow marriage.

Craftsmen.

Of craftsmen the Bangad Kasars make lac bracelets and help women in putting on lac and glass bracelets. Beldars or stone masons are hardworking orderly people, and live by making bamboo baskets, mats, fans, and blinds, the women doing as much work as men. Cambhars who are leather-dressers and shoe and sandal makers are found over the whole district, but especially in Mangan and Mahad. jingars or saddle-makers now earn their living as copper-smiths, blacksmiths, bookbinders, umbrella menders, and painters. Kataris or wood-turners are returned as found in Pen. Khatris who claim to be of Kshatriya origin state that they were originally settled at Ceul, as silk weavers, but on account of pestilence they shifted to Revadanda and thence to Alibag. Finding silk weaving a declining trade they have taken to pawn-broking. Kostis who are also known as Sails find their handloom weaving trade depressed by the competition of European and Bombay machine made goods. Kumbhars or potters are returned as found over the whole district. Lohars or blacksmiths are found in all large villages. Patharvats make hand-mills, grind-stones, and rolling-pins, and work as stone masons and carvers. Sangars weave and sell blankets. Both men and women weave blankets, and the men go about hawking them.

Sonars or makers of gold and silver ornaments are found over the whole district. Formerly they allowed widow marriages. They claim to be Brahmans, calling themselves Daivadnya Brahman, and asserting that they have sprung from God's mouth, mukhvasi, and are higher than Citpavans or any other Brahmans. Tambats or copper-smiths are divided into Mumbaikars, Deccanis and Kon-kanis. They wear the sacred thread and a silk waist-cloth while dining.

Dhangars.

Of the two classes among shepherds, i.e., Dhangars and Gavlis, the Dhangars are found over the whole district. Mhaskes, who rear and tend buffaloes; Khikris, shepherds and goatherds; Utegars; blanket weavers; and the half caste Khatiks, sheep and goat butchers, are the 'three and half sub-divisions among them. Dhangars proper of the Kolaba district are all Mhaskes or buffalo-rearing Dhangars. They are found in the uplands of Pen, Roha, Mahad, and Manganv, where they live in small hamlets in large droves of cattle. They are easy going and without enterprise, but thrifty, honest, hospitable, and free from crime. They are cattle breeders, generally rearing buffaloes rather than cows. Several have of late settled as husbandmen or begun to serve as labourers. Gavalis or cow-keepers are found over the whole district. Some cultivate and others keep cows and she-buffaloes, and sell milk and curds. They have no headman and settle social disputes at a meeting of the men of the caste.

Kolis.

Of the Fishers and Sailors, Kolis are found over the whole district, some in towns and inland villages but mostly along the coast. Except a few hill Kolis in the inland parts, almost all are coastmen belonging to the tribe (caste) of Son-Kolis, a larger-boned and sturdier class than the hill or Mahadev-Kolis. They are found in considerable numbers north as far as Bassein, and south to Ratnagiri. But Alibag seems to be their chief settlement and is the headquarters of the Sar Patil or leader of the tribe. Son-Kolis are strongly made and vary in colour from dark to brown. The younger women are healthy and fresh-looking, and some of them fair and handsome.

Labourers.

Of labourers, the Bhandaris or palm-juice drawers, are found in most sea-coast villages. Ghisadis who arc found in Roha and Mahad are wandering blacksmiths and tinkers. Kalals or distillers found only in Pen are fairly off. Kalans found in Alibag, Manganv and Pen were formerly palm-juice drawers, distillers and liquor-sellers; most of them serve as day labourers and field workers. Khatiks, or butchers of Deccan origin are found in small numbers in most parts of the district. Pardesis who take service either with Government or with private persons as messengers and watchmen come in increasing numbers since travelling has been made so easy. Very few of them are married. Some settle in the district, and others desert their wives and families and go back to their native country. Ramoshis are occasionally found as private watchmen. Sarekaris or palm-juice drawers have become labourers as their craft has declined. Sindes are said to be the offsprings of female slaves, who in former times were kept in all Maratha families. The caste has always been and still is recruited from the illegitimate children of upper class Hindus.

What has gone before is a summary of the conditions as they obtained once among the various castes and communities. During the 75 or 80 years that followed have seen enormous progress among all of them and the descriptions have become out of date. They now have only historical value. The rigidity of caste is defitheir craft has declined. Sindes are said to be the offsprings of sub-castes by free interdining and inter-marriage. This is throwing up a composite culture that will be the heritage of generations to come.

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