Kathi caste

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The Kathi (Gujarati: કાઠી) are a Darbar caste of Saurashtra found in the state of Gujarat in India.[1] Kathi are popularly referred as Kathi Darbar.[2]

History and origin

The Kathi are said to have given their name to the Kathiawar region. They are said to be descended from the Sura, an ancient race of sun worshipers found in western India. According to their traditions, they are descended from Kush, the son of the Hindu God Ram.[citation needed] Colonial British historians consider the Kathi to be a Scythian tribe that settled in the Kathiawar region in the second century B.C.[3]

Present circumstances

The Kathi have two divisions, the Sankhyavat and Auratia. These divisions are hierarchical in nature, with the former considered royalty. There are three clans found among the Sankhyavat, namely the Vala, Khachar and Khuman. These clans are further divided into smaller lineages called attaks. Strict exogamy is maintained between the Auratia and Sankhyavat. They are found in both Kathiawar and Kutch divisions of Gujarat.[4]

People

A person from Kathiawar is called a "Kathiawadi". Kathis migrated from the Rajastan to Kutchh and then to Saurashtra and made treaty with the Wala rajputs of Suarastra and started matrimonial relations with the local rajputs, most probably the Walas, thus today's Kathi community is a mix of Kathis from Rajasthan and the pre-existing rajputs of Saurashtra. The list of Kahiawadis include the Savji community which is present in current day Maharastra and Gujarat, the Katwe khsatriyas of Gujarat and the Katwa or Katwe (from the name Kathiawadi)in Maharastra.

Kathis were the ones from whom Marathas experienced the strongest opposition.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Folk Tales Of Gujarat By Alaka Shankar Page 23
  2. ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen page 614 Folk art and culture of Gujarat: guide to the collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat
  3. ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 614-619
  4. ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 614-619
  5. ↑ Wilberforce-Bell, Capt. H. The History of Kathiawad from the earliest times. p. 1. 
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