Ahir (Sanskrit: Abhira)[1] is a caste found in the Indian subcontinent, mainly modern-day India, Nepal and Pakistan.[2][3][4][5] The Ahir clans are spread almost all over country.[6][7] Ahirs are also known as Yadav, a surname they adopted following Sanskritisation in the 20th century.[8][9][10]
Etymology
The word "ahir" is derived from the Sanskrit word "abhira."[11][1]
Clans
Nandvanshi Ahirs
The Nandvanshi Ahirs are a section of Ahirs.[12] Kamarias[13] are also a sub-clan of Nandvanshi Ahirs[14][13][15] in Uttar Pradesh.
Gwalvanshi Ahirs
Gwalvanshi Ahirs have migrated to other parts of Uttar Pradesh from Mathura and they claim descent from gopis and gopas of Krishna's time.[16]
Ghosi
The Ghosi are a division of Ahir community found mainly in North India. The Ghosis are found in both Hindu and Muslim religion.[17][18] They were the zamidars and small rulers of various parts of country.[19]
Phatak
The Phatak Ahirs claim to be descended from Digpal, the Ahir king of Mahaban.[19]
Dauwa
In Bundelkhand, Dauwa Ahirs were allied with Bundela Rajputs and Dauwa women served as wetnurses for Bundela princes as part of a symbolic ritual.[20]
Dhadhor
Dhadhor is a subcaste of Ahirs.[21]
Krishnaut
Krishnaut or Kishnaut are Ahirs that inhabits the state of Bihar.[22][23]
Majhraut
They inhabit the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand.[24][25][26][27]
Sorathia
Sorathia is an Ahir clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. According to B.S Suryavanshi, they are the descendents of chief Rao Navaghana of Junagadh.[28]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: The tribal world in transition{{#if:Shashi|, Shashi}. Anmol Publications(1994). ISBN 978-81-7041-836-8
- ↑ Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: The tribal world in transition{{#if:Shashi|, Shashi}. Anmol Publications(1994). ISBN 978-81-7041-836-8
- ↑ Diversity and Change in Modern India: Economic, Social and Political Approaches{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. OUP/British Academy(2010). ISBN 978-0-19-726451-5
- ↑ Faces of Nepal{{#if:Gurung|, Gurung}. Himal Books(1996). ISBN 978-99933-43-50-9
- ↑ Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan: Millennium 2000{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Research Institute of Historiography, Biography and Philosophy(2001)
- ↑ Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India{{#if:Fox|, Fox}. University of California Press(1971). ISBN 978-0-520-01807-5
- ↑ Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India{{#if:Fox|, Fox}. University of California Press(1971). ISBN 9780520018075
- ↑ Society in India{{#if:Mandelbaum|, Mandelbaum}. University of California Press(1970). ISBN 978-0-520-01623-1
- ↑ India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India{{#if:Jaffrelot|, Jaffrelot}. Columbia University Press(2003). ISBN 978-0-231-12786-8 Quote: "In his typology of low caste movements, (M. S. A.) Rao distinguishes five categories. The first is characterised by 'withdrawal and self-organisation'. ... The second one, illustrated by the Yadavs, is based on the claim of 'higher varna status' and fits with Sanskritisation pattern. ..."
- ↑ People of Maharashtra.
- ↑ Caste in Question{{#if:Gupta|, Gupta}. SAGE Publication(2021). ISBN 9788132103455
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Caste Dimensions in a Village{{#if:Mutatkar|, Mutatkar}. Shubhada-Saraswat(1978)
- ↑ Caste System: Caste commentaries and documentation{{#if:Dass|, Dass}. Dominant Publishers and Distributors(2002). ISBN 978-81-7888-029-7
- ↑ Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?{{#if:Gupta|, Gupta}. SAGE Publications(2004-12-08). ISBN 978-0-7619-3324-3
- ↑ The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India{{#if:Michelutti|, Michelutti}. Taylor & Francis(2020-11-29). ISBN 978-1-000-08400-9
- ↑ The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (Complete){{#if:Russell|, Russell}. Library of Alexandria(2020-09-28). ISBN 978-1-4655-8294-2
- ↑ The Other Lucknow{{#if:Hasnain|, Hasnain}. Vani Prakashan(2016). ISBN 978-93-5229-420-6
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lucia Michelutti, Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town (2002) London School of Economics and Political Science University of London, p.90-98
- ↑ Between History and Legend: Status and Power in Bundelkhand{{#if:Jain|, Jain}. Orient Blackswan Private Limited(2002). ISBN 978-81-250-2194-0
- ↑ India Today{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Aroon Purie for Living Media India Limited(1994)
- ↑ Bihar District Gazetteers: Bhagalpur{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar(1957)
- ↑ The National Geographical Journal of India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. National Geographical Society of India.(1975)
- ↑ Bihar District Gazetteers: Bhagalpur{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar(1957)
- ↑ Clan Settlements in the Saran Plain (Middle Ganga Valley): A Study in Cultural Geography{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. National Geographical Society of India, Banaras Hindu University(1977)
- ↑ Bihar District Gazetteers: Hazaribagh{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar(1962)
- ↑ Inter-caste and Inter-community Relationship: Developing Patterns{{#if:Siddiqui|, Siddiqui}. Commonwealth Publishers(1993). ISBN 978-81-7169-260-6
- ↑ Abhiras their history and culture{{#if:SurvaVanshi|, SurvaVanshi}(1962)