2409:4089:1E82:E284:3748:4B8:C0F4:A41E at 14:25, 26 June 2026

2026-06-26T14:25:35Z

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{{short description|Community of Kayasthas in India and Nepal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}

'''Karan Kayastha''' is a community of [[Kayastha]]s that inhabit [[Orissa|Odisha]] and the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]], a region now divided between India and [[Nepal]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryhuAAAAMAAJ |title=Kayasthas in Making of Modern Bihar |date=2003 |publisher=Impression Publication |pages= |language=en}}</ref>

== Origin ==
According to ''[[Manusmriti|Manu]]'', a Hindu scripture, the Karans are regarded as rahmaadSupreme ) [[Kshatriya|iya]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mandal |first=Mahitosh |date=2022 |title=Dalit Resistance during the Bengal Renaissance: Five Anti-Caste Thinkers from Colonial Bengal, India |journal=Caste: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=11–30 |doi=10.26812/caste.v3i1.367 |jstor=48674170 |s2cid=249027627 |issn=2639-4928|doi-access=free }}</ref>{{clarify|reason=why? if this is important to know at all, so must be the reason for such alleged degraded status for human beings.|date=September 2025}}

== Culture and profession ==
The archaeologist B. P. Sinha says that the duty of Karanas was rajaseva and durgantapuraraksha.<ref name=":02" />{{page needed|date=July 2023}}{{clarify|reason=utter gibberish|date=July 2023}}

Epigraphist [[Dineshchandra Sircar]] mentions that several historial edicts and inscriptions have been found in the relevant geographic locations that show that the terms Karana, Karanin, Karaneeka, Karanakas and Karaneegars are used to represent a bureaucratic range from clerks to ministers. Significant among these are Minor Rock Edict No. II, the Kanas plates of Lokavigraha, the Ghugrahati copperplate of Samacharadeva and the Tipper copperplate of Lokanath etc.<ref name=Indica>{{cite book|last=Sircar|first=Dineshchandra|title=Epigraphia Indica- Volume XXXIV|publisher=Archaeological Survey Of India|year=1960–1961|location=Delhi|language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2023}}

== Karn of Mithila ==
The Karna Kayasthas are viewed as a part of the ancient embodiment of Mithila culture along with Maithil Brahmins. They do not fit in four varna system but still became a dominant caste of this region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Roma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJOUDwAAQBAJ |title=Wording the World: Veena Das and Scenes of Inheritance |date=1 December 2014 |publisher=Fordham Univ Press |isbn=978-0-8232-6187-1 |language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2024}}

== Karan of Bengal ==
The Karan caste group can also be found in Bengal region from the mediaeval era([[Bengali Kayastha]]). The post of Karan used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pati |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5seKkk3GkIC&pg=PA116 |title=Family Planning |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-313-0352-8 |language=en}}</ref> They exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governors, military commanders, accountants, record keepers and diwans.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mohanty |first1=Ramesh P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kl66OPnClpoC&pg=PA40 |title=Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal |last2=Biswal |first2=Durgesh Nandini |date=2007 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-199-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sircar |first=D. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ceDuDwAAQBAJ&dq=srikarana&pg=PA375 |title=Indian Epigraphy |date=1 January 2017 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-4103-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mohanty |first=Pramod Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3GzaAAAAMAAJ&q=srikarana |title=Colonialism and South Asia: Cuttack, 1803-1947 |date=2007 |publisher=R.N. Bhattacharya |isbn=978-81-87661-52-8 |language=en}}</ref> {{page needed|date=November 2024}} According to Historian [[Ramesh Chandra Majumdar]] the Karan merged themselves into the Kayastha caste who performed the same profession.<ref>{{Cite book |last=MAJUMDAR |first=R. C. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13287 |title=HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL |date=1971 |publisher=G. BHARADWAJ, CALCUTTA}}</ref>

===Notable people===
*[[Jyoti Basu]]
*[[Bidhan Chandra Roy]]
* [[Sukanta Majumdar]], Central Union Minister in [[Council of Ministers of India]].

== Karana of Odisha ==
{{Main|Karan (caste)}}

Karanas in [[Odisha]] are referred to as members of writer caste community, they are a prosperous and influential community of Odisha and rank next to [[Utkala Brahmin|Brahmins]] in the social hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pati |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5seKkk3GkIC&dq=karan+rank+next+to+brahmin&pg=PA116 |title=Family Planning |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-313-0352-8 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas received land grants in mediaeval period and held feudatory status in Odisha.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panda |first=Shishir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zC1uAAAAMAAJ&q=karanas+received+land+grants |title=New Perspectives on the History and Culture of Orissa |date=2000 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |isbn=978-81-86791-23-3 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas also held high positions in government during mediaeval period.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakraborty |first=Rabindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PItbvfAvVggC&dq=karana+kayastha&pg=PA122 |title=National Integration in Historical Perspective: A Cultural Regeneration in Eastern India |date=1985 |publisher=Mittal Publications |language=en}}</ref> As per Sircar the Bhajas inscription, mentions a list of individuals involved in land records and contains a phrase 'Brahmana-Karana-Puroga-Nivasi' which is a good indication of their social status.<ref name="Indica" /> Historian RS Sharma has also mentioned that Loknatha, a Karana, was also referred to as a Brahmin in inscriptions, even in current scenario they hold good political power in Odisha including several Chief Ministers in recent years.<ref name=Singh>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Pradeep|title=Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems|publisher=Elsevier Science|year=2020|language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2024}} Karanas consider themselves as a separate group distinct from Kayasthas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Institute |first=West Bengal (India) Cultural Research |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQhuAAAAMAAJ&q=members+of+karan+caste+strongly+oppose |title=Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute |date=1980 |publisher=Cultural Research Institute |language=en}}</ref> Karanas had also developed their own unique "[[Karani script|Karani]]" script named after their community to write documents in Odisha.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Joanna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZeXeEAAAQBAJ&dq=karani+script&pg=PR56 |title=The Two-Headed Deer: Illustrations of the Ramayana in Orissa |date=22 December 2023 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-32182-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmqADwAAQBAJ&dq=karani+script&pg=PA15 |title=Orissa Society of Americas 25th Annual Convention Souvenir: For Annual Convention Held in 1994 at Pamona, New Jersey |publisher=Odisha Society of the Americas |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSduAAAAMAAJ&q=karani+script |title=The Orissa Historical Research Journal |date=2004 |publisher=Superintendent of Research and Museum |language=en}}</ref> Additionally Karanas are also mentioned as "Grama Karana" and "Mandala Karana" in [[Eastern Ganga dynasty|Ganga]] and [[Gajapati dynasty|Gajapati]] records having authority over a large number of villages, similarly the "Chamu Karana" and "Deula Karana" of Gajapati period were the private secretary of the king and the chief administrator of [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Temple]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Biswarup |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfYdAAAAMAAJ&q=Karana+caste |title=Orissa: Social, Cultural, and Religious Aspects |date=1985 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan |pages=50 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas emerged as a significant social group in [[Eastern Ganga dynasty]] as evident from early Ganga records, they occupied various important positions in the Ganga administration, from that of a village headman and accountant to that of a prime minister and army general.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dr. Manas Kumar Das |title=HISTORY OF ODISHA (FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 1434 A.D.) |url=https://ddceutkal.ac.in/Syllabus/MA_history/Paper-16.pdf |journal=History of Odisha (From Earliest Times to 1434 A.d.) |pages=125 |via=ddceutkal.ac.in UTKAL UNIVERSITY}}</ref> An important official under Narasimha Deva 4 of Ganga dynasty named “Srikarana Pattanaik Viswanatha Mahasenapati” was the governor and army general of four Dandapatas or regions in Eastern Ganga dynasty, he was known to be the “'''Chaturadikha Danda Parikha”''' of Eastern Ganga Dynasty or “Governor General” of all the four directions north, south, east and west as evident from Ganga inscriptions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahtab |first=Harekrushna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSj8395b_WMC&q=srikarana+mahasenapati |title=The History of Orissa |date=1959 |publisher=Prajatantra Prachar Samity |pages=256 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pāḍhī |first=Ekādaśī |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2EduAAAAMAAJ&q=srikarana+mahasenapati |title=The Cultural Heritage of Jajpur: The Ancient Capital of Orissa |date=2004 |publisher=Nijaswa Prakashan |isbn=978-81-902056-0-3 |pages=143 |language=en}}</ref> A military general named Srikaran Patnaik of [[Athagada Patna]] Kingdom of [[Ganjam district]] under the ruler Govindchandra is said to have led a successful expedition against the [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja]] ruler and defeated him, the victorious army under his command had captured the Bhanja fort of Kakarsali and built a new fort named Mandaragad, Srikaran Patnaik had placed 300 soldiers to guard the captured fort.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4IoPV2Rr4cC&q=Patnaik |title=The Indian Historical Quarterly |date=1931 |publisher=Calcutta Oriental Press |pages=35–36 |language=en}}</ref> Similarly [[Ramananda Ray]] and his brother Gopinatha Badajena were governors in [[Gajapati Empire]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bakshi |first=Shiri Ram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0luAAAAMAAJ&q=ramananda+raya |title=Struggle for Independence: Indian Freedom Fighters. Hare Krushna Mahtab |date=1993 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-715-6 |pages=75 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=PANIGRAHI |first=KRISHNA CHANDRA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0mkEAAAQBAJ&dq=ramananda+raya&pg=RA6-PA8 |title=History of Orissa: (HINDU PERIOD) |date=5 January 2023 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-68586-798-0 |language=en}}</ref> Karanas emerged from the community of [[Kshatriya]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Das |first=Biswarup |date=1980 |title=Kayasthas and Karanas in Orissa—a Study on Inscriptions— |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141924 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=41 |pages=940–944 |jstor=44141924 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref> Karanas were the major landholders of Odisha, however post [[Orissa famine of 1866]], the percentage of landholdings for some Karana Landlords declined.<ref>https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/addodh36.pdf National Commission for Backward Classes, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA report, page no 239</ref> An official named Trilochan Patnaik of the [[Karan (caste)|Karan]] Community who was in charge of collection of revenue during the Maratha Rule of Odisha had managed to acquire the zamindari of “Kotdesh” from the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] by paying a large amount of nazarana (money) in 1775, Trilochan Patnaik had made himself known in the Maratha administration through his intelligence and skills, he became the founder of one of the largest [[Zamindar]]i estates of Odisha. Trilochan Patnaik was succeeded by his son Narayan Chotrai in 1792, Narayan Chotrai was the Zamindar of Kotdesh during the [[British Raj|British]] conquest of Odisha, “KOTDESH” was one of the 7 great zamindaris of Odisha at the time of British conquest. The zamindari was later auctioned off by the British government in 1896 due to arrears of revenue and debt of the estate.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Orissa (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0S9uAAAAMAAJ&q=kotdesh+trilochan+patnaik |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Puri |date=1966 |publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bengal (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThQmAQAAIAAJ&dq=kotdesh+trilochan+patnaik&pg=PA284 |title=Bengal District Gazetteers |date=1908 |publisher=Bengal Secretariat Book Depot |language=en}}</ref>

===Notable people===
*[[Naveen Patnaik]]
*[[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]]
*[[Biju Patnaik]]
*[[Janaki Ballabh Patnaik]]
*[[Biren Mitra]]
*[[Madhusudan Das]]
*[[Laxmikanta Mohapatra]]
*[[Radhanath Ray]]
*[[Gourishankar Ray]]
*[[Achyutananda Dasa]]
*[[Balarama Dasa]]
*[[Ananta Dasa]]
*[[Bisara Mohanty]]
*[[Ramananda Ray]]
*[[Birakishore Das]]
*[[Nityanand Kanungo]]
*[[Sarala Devi]]
*[[Ramadevi Choudhury]]
*[[Bira Kishore Ray]]
*[[Sukanta Kishore Ray]]
*[[Ananga Kumar Patnaik]]
*[[Braja Sundar Das]]
*[[Jagabandhu Patnaik|Jagu Dewan]]
*[[Banamali Dasa]]
*[[Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka]]
*[[Kalicharan Pattnaik]]
*[[Gopinath Mohanty]]
*[[Akshaya Mohanty]]
*[[Prana Krushna Parija]]
*[[Gopal Ballav Pattanaik]]
*[[Nikhil Mohan Pattnaik]]
*[[Chandi Prasad Mohanty]]
*[[Sarat Pattanayak]]
*[[Bijoy Mohapatra]]
*[[Uttam Mohanty]]

== Karanam or Sistakarnam of Andhra and Telangana ==
{{Main|Karanam}}

'''Karanam''' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]: కరణం) or '''Karnam''' was an office and title native to the Indian states of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes.<ref name=":03">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VO4eAQAAMAAJ |title=Community Development and Panchayati Raj Digest, Volumes 3-5 |publisher=National Institute of Community Development |year=1971 |page=334 |quote=Patwari / Karanam shall be the additional secretary to the gram panchayat for keeping the record concerning lands}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiULAQAAIAAJ&q=karanam |title=Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers |date=2000 |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |pages=185, 186 |language=en}}</ref> Sircar mentions that they mostly dealt with accounting, bureaucracy, teaching etc.<ref name="Indica" />

==Karuneegar of Tamil Nadu and Kerala==

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]
[[Category:Kayastha]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]

Karan Kayastha - Revision history

2409:4089:1E82:E284:3748:4B8:C0F4:A41E at 14:25, 26 June 2026