Shenva

The Shenva are a Hindu scheduled caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are also known as Sindhwa and Chenva.^[1]

History and origin

According to some of their traditions, the community was born out of the union of Rajput men and tribal women. There are also other traditions which refer to the Shenva being descended from Rajputs who fled into the forests fleeing Muslim invaders. They are found throughout Gujarat, with their main concentrations are in the districts of Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Kaira, Rajkot, and Jamnagar. The community have scheduled caste status. They speak Gujarati with no particular dialect.^[1]

Present circumstances

The Shenva community consists of several clans, each of whom is exogamous. Their main clans are the Vatukia, Gangadia, Morakia, Zalia, Vaghela, Solanki, Makwana, Parmar, Chauhan and Rathore. The Shenva are traditionally agricultural labourers. Some of them are engaged in the manufacturing of brooms and mats. Like other scheduled caste communities, they suffer from social and economic disabilities.^[1]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1283-1286

Gujarati people

Brahmin communities	Anavil Brahmin Audichaya Brahmins Bardai Brahmins Jesthi Brahmins Khedaval Brahmin Modh Brahmins Nandwana Brahmins Nagar Brahmins Sompura Brahmins Sompura Salats

Kshatriya communities	Yaduvanshi Ahirs Babaria Bhatti Chavda Chauhan Chudasama Devda Dodiya Garasia Kapadi Karadiya Khant Gohil Jadeja Jethwa Jhala Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Mahyavanshi Makwana Parmar Puvar Rathor Rajputs of Gujarat Sarvaiya Sagar Solanki Thakore Vala Vaghela

Vaishya communities	Bania Soni Modh Bania

Farming communities	Kurmi (Patel Kunbi Patidar Koli) Anjana Chaudhari

Genealogist communities	Barot Charan Gadhvi

Artisan communities	Bhambi Khalpa Bhambi Rohit Bhambi Sindhi Mochi Bhavsar Brahma Kshatri Gihara Gurjar Kshatriya Kadia Kadia Koshti Mistry Mestri Panchal Gurjar Suthar Prajapati Shenva Sompura Salat Vankar Vanzha Valand

Tribal communities	Agri Bamcha Bharwad Bhil Bhil Dungri Garasia Bhil Vasava Bhoi Chaudhari Damor Dangi Dhanka Dhodia Dubla Gamit Godha Kharwa Kolis Mangela Kolis Meghwal Naikda Padhar Padharia Patanwadia Pateliya Rathodia Rathwa Sathwara Siddi Tirgar Thori Vagri Warli

Muslim communities	Alavi Bohra Ansari Baloch Bhadala Chhipa Chundrigar Dawoodi Bohra Halaypotra Hingorja Hingora Jats of Kutch Juneja Kadia Kagzi Ker Khaskheli Khoja Machiyar Makrani Malik of Gujarat Mandali Mansoori Memon Meta Qureshi Miyana Molesalam Momna Multani Multani Lohar Mutwa Nagori Nayak Node Panar Patani Bohra Patni Jamat Pathans of Gujarat Salaat Samma Sandhai Muslims Shaikhs of Gujarat Shaikhda Sayyid of Gujarat Siddi Sipahi Soomra Sulaymani Bohra Sunni Bohra Tai Turk Jamat Vora Patel Vyapari Wagher

Jain communities	Navnat

Shenva

History and origin

Present circumstances

See also

References