Thakur (Indian title)

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THAKOOReng,[1] also thākur, Thacur (ठाकुर)hin, thākura (ঠাকুর) ben are the words derived from the Sanskrit word thakkura (ठक्कुर)san means idol, deity. Thakur 96 kuli maratha in maharashtra (Sindhudurg). Family preceptor.[2] Rājpūt nobles & chieftains are called Thakur. Brahman priest who recites mythological stories and explains them.[3] Used in term of respect – chief, lord, master.[2] Thakur is also a Bengali surname; sometimes anglicised as Tagore.[1]

Usage

The title was used by rulers of the princely states of Ambliara, Bakrol Limbdi Malia, Sayala, Bhavnagar, Lakhtar, Miyagam, Manadar, Dhrol, Rajkot, Virpur, Sathamba, Morbi, Varsoda, Vala, Gad Boriad, Gadhka, Gabat, Kankarwa, Rajpur, Gondal, Kotda Sangani, Shahpur, Deesa, Kotharia, Lodhika Senior, Lodhika Junior, Gavridad, Rajpara, Jaola, Dundlod, Ghanerao, Tana, Gana, in addition to others.[4] Thakur is the "Royal Caste of Rajput" and "Thakur Sahib" was the feudal title used by the rulers of many princely states in India. "Thakur" can be written in front of a male or female's name (male = Thakur/female = Thakurani)—that is, "Thakur Vijay Singh"—but in some states, the "Thakur" must be written after the name and only the eldest member of the family can use "Thakur" in front of his/her name; for example, "Thakur Sher Singh Rana" (the first word contain the title "Thakur"; "Sher" is the name of the person; "Singh" is the middle name of the person; and the last name reflects the clan (or "kulas") of the person.[citation needed]

  • In Uttar Pradesh, the title Thakur is usually adopted by Kshatriyas, such as Thakurela Jats,branch of Kakran vansh and Rajput *
  • In the census report of Punjab 1883 by denzil ibbetson sulehria a major tribe of Thakur settled in border area of jamu,kashmir
  • In Bihar land owning brahmins like Maithil Brahmins and Bhumihar Brahmins use Thakur surname.
  • Thakur families that belong to the Maratha Kshatriya caste exist in Maharashtra and Goa.[5]
  • In the Bihari language, "Thakur Ji" is also the name of a Hindi god Vishnu.

The greatest number of people from the Thakur caste is present in the states of, Rajastahn, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.[citation needed]

Bengal

See also: Thakur (Bengali surname)

Thakur (ঠাকুর) is a Bengali surname derived from 'Thakurmashai' (holy sir) for any Bengali brahmins and also for someone of high spiritual esteem. Thakur can also be known as a title of respect for any member of the Kayastha caste[citation needed]. The surname was given out of respect for any Brahmin family earlier who used to hold a different title (surname) like Kushari,[6][7][8][9][10] Banerjee, Bhattacharya etc. In English, it was Anglicized to "Tāgore". Thakur is also an Indian feudal and colonial title in Hindi.

Kashmir

A prominent Ahmadi Muslim Thakur family resides in Kotli, Kashmir.[5]

Princely ruler titles

Since feudal times, Thakur, meaning "Lord," was the Hindi title (below Raja) for the hereditary ruler of a princely state who was usually born of the bloodlines of the Rajput clan; this is particularly the case in western India.[citation needed]

Thakur is the usual rendition of "Thakore" 'Thakar' in northern and central parts of India. The Bengali form, Tāgore, is a derived surname.[citation needed]

Nominal thakur

The following non-salute states (and probably several others) were ruled by a Thakur; in some cases, a later promotion (to a higher rank) occurred—this is done on either a personal basis or an official basis, whereby a permanent upgrade of status is deemed by the state:

Compound titles

Thakar Sahibs ("Sir Lord") was a loftier title, and was used until the establishment of an independent Indian nation—sovereignty was achieved through a process of accession by the rulers of the following four salute states (the official elite among the British Crown's Indian vassals):

In the following salute state, a higher title was assumed prior to India's independence:

  • Bhavnagar (in Gujarat and preceded by the states Sejakpur, Umrala and Sihor, until the founding of the eponymous capital in 1722; Maharaja Rao was then promoted in 1918)

The following non-salute states have been ruled by a Thakar sahib or Thakur sahib until India's independence (list probably incomplete):

  • Ambliara
  • Bhadarwa
  • Jambughoda
  • Khirasra (founded by a scion of Dhrol—see above; originally styled as "Thakur")
  • Lakhtar
  • Vala (Vallabhipur)
  • Wadhwan

Other Thakore sahibs (holder or master) were those in Amod, Gogha, Gondar, Kharia (in Jaisalmer), Kerwada and Khadal, Khirasra, Kotda-Sangani, Lakhtar, Mahlog, Malia, Mansa, Mengni (in Rajkot), Muliby, Ranapur, Ranpur, Sejakpur, Vala, Vanod (now in Gujarat) and Virpur.

Thakur Shri (with the politically meaningless suffix Shri) was used in the following non-salute states:

  • Chuda
  • Gondal
  • Ranasan (Thakur was the title until 1914)

In southern-India(deccan region and other dynasities) had Thakoor.They were considered to be brave kshatriyas,some even ruled dynasties.They worshipped the Lord of skunda.They as rulers of south India established a strong kingdom.As their titles they were fearless and non-dependent.

Other uses

  • Thakur is not a caste or religion, but rather an identity; the word is self-assigned by wealthy members in villages, such as landlords, and is placed before an individual's name—such individuals hold a high standing in their villages (this position is in terms of ensuring that justice is served on behalf of their people). These individuals claim to be descendants from a good Kshtriya family, such as the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty of the Kushan Empire in the north-west. The word is derived from the blessings that farmers would pass onto the owners of the land that they used, who were grateful to be able to feed their families—land owners were like "God" to the farmers, so they applied the term "Thakur".[citation needed]
  • In Gujarat Many Lower Caste Koli / Thakarda etc. Use of Kshatriya Thakor Word. Actual He is Labourer Caste
  • As a formal title, Thakur was also often used for non-ruling noblemen (either with an estate or merely honorary).
  • In Jodhpur (in Rajasthan), until the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singhji, the title of Maharaj was inheritable by all legitimate males for three generations; this later became seven generations to conform with Rajput marriage customs—the sons' titles are stylised as "Rajkumar" during their father's lifetime, and "Maharaj" afterwards. Those members of the eighth generation, and beyond, inherit.
  • In Tripura, members of the royal family were known as "Thakurs".[11]
  • Thakurdas - stands for thakur das (means Disciple of God Thakur/Lord Krishna) - is a title carried by the followers of deity Krishna, hence its "Thakurdas". The Peshwa gave this title as a family name (see, the leading cotton industrialist Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas).

Equivalents

In Kerala, the term "Thakore" was not used and Madampi, Eshmanan and Thirumukom were used instead. These titles were often affixed to people of the highest ranking Nair subcastes, such as Pillai, Nayanar, Nambiar and Unnithan, who were feudal landlords or jenmis.

Related terms

  • A "Thikana" is the state or estate of a Thakur.
  • A "Thakurani" is the title for a Thakur's wife.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Page 915, Yule, Henry. Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases... London: J. Murray, 1903.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Retrieved on 2013-09-21 from Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit by Klaus Glashoff.
  3. ↑ Page 160, 253, 350 - Biswas, Sailendra. Samsada Bangala abhidhana. 7th ed. Calcutta, Sahitya Samsad, 2004. - Digital Dictionaries of South Asia..
  4. ↑ Christopher Buyers (2001–2008). "India – Salute States". salute. Christopher Buyers. Retrieved 16 March 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 {{cite b
    • In the census report of Punjab 1883 by denzil ibbetson the sulehria is a Thakur tribe.
    | last =Sherring | authorlink =M.A. Sherring | title =Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras | publisher =Asian Educational Services | location =6A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi-110049, India | year =First ed 1872, new ed 2008 | isbn =978-81-206-2036-0 }}
  6. ↑ Tagore, Rathindranath (New edition (December 1978)). On the edges of time. Greenwood Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0313207600. 
  7. ↑ Mukherjee, Mani Shankar (May 2010). "Timeless Genius". Pravasi Bharatiya: 89, 90. 
  8. ↑ Banerjee, Hiranmay (1995). Tagores of Jorasanko. Gyan Publishing House. 
  9. ↑ RoyChowdhury, Sumitra (1982). The Gurudev and the Mahatma. Subhada-Saraswata Publications. p. 29. 
  10. ↑ Aruna Chakravarti, Sunil Gangopadhyaya. Those Days. pp. 97–98. ISBN 9780140268522. 
  11. ↑ Sociological perspectives on globalisation By Ajaya Kumar Sahoo p.128

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