>UndercutIndian at 18:07, 13 May 2021

2021-05-13T18:07:23Z

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The '''Kaikadi''' are a community found in the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]]. Traditionally they were nomadic, mainly wandering in the [[Vidarbha]] region of the state, but most have now settled down. They face significant oppression and were once called a Criminal Tribe, and so were placed on the list of Denotified Tribes (DNTs) after independence. They speak [[Kaikadi language|Kaikadi]], a [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian language]] closely related to [[Tamil language|Tamil]] with significant Indo-Aryan admixture. Colonial scholars had a significant disdain for the community, with [[Robert Vane Russell]] calling them "disreputable" and with "bad morals." Russell claimed their name derived from {{Transl|kep|kai}} (meaning "hand") and {{Transl|kep|kade}} (meaning "basket"), while the community derives its name from {{Transl|kep|kai}} (a stand-in for a name) and {{Transl|kep|kadi}} (a type of twig). Russell recorded their occupation as basket-making.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Russell|first=Robert Vane|title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India|publisher=Gutenberg|year=1916|isbn=9781517408183}}</ref> Colonial scholars claimed the community arrived from [[Telangana]] and they were related to the [[Yerukala people|Yerukala]].

The community has several endogamous septs: 9 recorded in Vidarbha. They also have a set of exogamous clans: {{Transl|kep|Jadhao Gaikwad}}, {{Transl|kep|Patke}}, {{Transl|kep|Mule}} and {{Transl|kep|Mane}}. Marriage within the clan is forbidden, as is marriage outside a sept. Kaikadi men can't marry maternal aunt's daughter, although maternal uncle's children are allowed like in most of South India.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58037479|title=People of India. Maharashtra|date=2004|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|others=Singh, K. S., 1935-2006., Mehta, B. V., 1931-, Anthropological Survey of India.|isbn=81-7991-100-4|location=[Calcutta]|oclc=58037479}}</ref>

Their social status is considered very low. Their touch supposedly "polluted" communities above the Kunbi in the caste hierarchy and they are barred from entering village temples although they can live inside. They are classified as a Denotified Tribe for purposes of Reservation, although in much of Vidharbha they are classified as Scheduled Caste. They have few dietary restrictions barring beef, and in some areas the animal must be killed by Muslims as per Islamic dietary laws.

The Kaikadis mainly worship Nagas, mainly on [[Naga Panchami|Nag Panchami]], but also pay reverence to [[Khandoba]]. They practice the puberty function like other Tamil communities.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Culture of Maharashtra]]

Kaikadi people - Revision history

>UndercutIndian at 18:07, 13 May 2021