Kadia Kumbhar are a minority Hindu community found in Gujarat State of India. They generally speak Gujarati language. They are one the Backward Classes of Gujarat. Their total population is estimated to be only 11,000.[1][2]
These are originally a group of Kshatriya[3] warriors, who were specialized in Masonry work of building Forts & Buildings. Some of them who took the profession mainly of pottery works ( as potter ) & additionally as agricultural labor ( as farmer ) during 13th & 14th Century AD, during Muslim Rule in Gujarat, when the Kshatriya & Rajput soldiers & casts were either forcibly converted to Islam or killed. Kumbhars were not persecuted by Muslim Rulers.[3]To avoid persecution many Kshatriya converted to Kumbhar and took pottery as profession. Those who converted to Islam were given jobs in Sultan's army others were detained or killed. Although, they later also started to work again as a Mason, their original profession. They are cut-off branch of original Kadia Community of Gujarat, who also took pottery work as their livelihood profession. As such they call themselves Kadia and Kumbhar both hence the name Kadia Kumbhar.[3]
In Gujarat State of India there are two kinds of Kadia Kumbhars :-
(1) Some Kadia Kumbhar are also known by name of Vataliya Prajapati.[2] Vataliya in Gujarati means converted.[4] They are those group of Kshatriyas, who converted to Kumbhar cast a.k.a Prajapati cast to avoid persecution during Musilm Rule in Gujarat in 13th & 14th century AD. It must be noted here that in Hindu cast hierarchy Kumbhar are lower cast than Kshatriya. These are minority group found in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
(2) Other Kadia Kumbhar are those, who took the profession of Kumbhar but maintained their core identity as Kshatriya, although remaining low-profile during 13th & 14th century AD. These are minority group found in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, who prefer to identify themselves as Kadia Kumbhar Kshatriyas.[4]