>Marcocapelle at 20:07, 6 July 2021

2021-07-06T20:07:21Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2015}}
{{about|the Indian caste|Beldar Conehead|Coneheads}}
The '''Beldar''' are a historically nomadic [[Caste system in India|caste]], originally from [[Northern India]] and now inhabiting many other parts of that country.<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das, pages 245–248</ref>

==History and origin==
The community are the traditionally natives of North India, and are similar to the Odh communities, who are the natives of west India. They also claim common ancestry with [[Kewat]] community, who similarly refer to themselves as Odhs.<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das, page 268</ref>

In [[Maharashtra]], the Beldar are found mainly in the districts of [[Aurangabad district, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Nasik]], beed,
[[Pune]], [[Amravati]], [[Akola]], [[Yavatmal district|Yawatmal]], [[Ahmednagar]], [[Sholapur]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Sangli]], [[Satara district|Satara]], [[Ratnagiri]] and the city of [[Mumbai]]. The Beldar claim to have immigrated from [[Rajasthan]] some five centuries ago. They still speak [[Beldari Language]] among themselves and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] with outsiders. and also use a Beldari language. The community is strictly [[Endogamy|endogamous]], and consists of a number of exogamous clans. Their main clans are the Chapula, Narora, Davawar, Kharola, Jailwar, Faatara, Horwar, Chhapawar, Tuse, Pannewar, Mahore, Basniwar, Bahr, Jajure, Gorala and Udainwar.<ref name="maharashtra">People of India Maharashtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath, pages 192–197</ref>

==Present circumstances==
The Beldar of [[Uttar Pradesh]] are still mainly involved in their tradition of [[Navvy|navvies]]. They are employed by the state in the constructions of roads. Generally, whole families participate in the construction industry. Many Beldar are [[Nomad|nomadic]], shifting from place to place, looking for work at construction sites. A small number of Beldar are also involved in the selling of fruits and vegetables. The Beldar are a [[Hindu]] community, and are found throughout the state, speaking a number of dialects of [[Hindi]].<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das, page 247</ref>

The traditional occupation of the Beldar in Maharashtra was [[masonry]]. Many are still employed in the construction industry. The community is entirely landless, and was historically nomadic. A considerable number of Beldar are also employed by the various brick kilns.<ref name="maharashtra"/>

The [[2011 Census of India]] for Uttar Pradesh, where they were classified as a [[Scheduled Caste]], showed the Beldar population as 189,614.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/SC_ST/PCA-A10/SC-0900-PCA-A-10-ddw.xlsx |title= A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix – Uttar Pradesh |publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Maharashtra]]

Beldar - Revision history

>Marcocapelle at 20:07, 6 July 2021