DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0069
CASTE, SUBCASTE, AND MARRIAGE
the Gaurs. The Gaur group was subdivided into (a) the
true Gaurs, who were not concerned in this embroglio;
(b) the Gaurs who had eaten with the Bhatnagars; (c)
those who had eaten with the Budaun Brahmans; and
(d) those who re-admitted to caste rights the woman who
took refuge with the Brahman.1
Changes due to increased prosperity are not very com-
mon. The Sainthwar subcaste of Kurmis
28. Changes due pas jately become a separate caste, chiefly
prosperity because of the rise ot lts leadmg tamily
(of Padrauna in Gorakhpur) : it has also
given up widow-marriage. The prosperous Kalwar of
the present day insists on calling himself a Mahajan—
merely, it seems, because it sounds better. But a pros-
perous caste usually takes a different line. It endeavours
to push itself into the ranks of a higher class, such as the
Kshatriya. Kayasthas claim to be ‘Chitraguptabansi’
Kshatriyas; Kurmis generally, Mair and Tank Sonars,
Gadariyas and Karnwals, all claim the same exalted lin-
eage. Kalwars, Kandus, and Halwais strive to affiliate
themselves to the Vaisyas; whilst Darzis and Bharbhun-
jas are beginning to set up a general claim to be Kayas-
thas. These are all new instances : there are many older
ones.
Naturally quarrels occurred in many of the ‘splits’
mentioned above, and it is unnecessary to
2Q. Formation of £ive manY examples. One, however,
subcastes due to which is of relatively recent date, may be
quarrels given. The facts are instructive in many
ways, and show how trivial the dissensions
can be which lead to the formation of subcastes.
In Lucknow2 there was a subcaste of Khatiks con-
sisting of three ghols, or groups, known as Manikpur,
Jaiswala and Dalmau. They intermarried, ate together,
and met together in panchayat under the presidency of
1 See appendix to this chapter, where the story is told in full detail.
The facts were reported in a form which left much unexplained.
To avoid obscurity I have stated them as it seems to me they
probably occurred. The original statement and my reasons for interpret-
ing it as above will be found in Census Report, U.P., 1911, pp. 345-6.
55
the Gaurs. The Gaur group was subdivided into (a) the
true Gaurs, who were not concerned in this embroglio;
(b) the Gaurs who had eaten with the Bhatnagars; (c)
those who had eaten with the Budaun Brahmans; and
(d) those who re-admitted to caste rights the woman who
took refuge with the Brahman.1
Changes due to increased prosperity are not very com-
mon. The Sainthwar subcaste of Kurmis
28. Changes due pas jately become a separate caste, chiefly
prosperity because of the rise ot lts leadmg tamily
(of Padrauna in Gorakhpur) : it has also
given up widow-marriage. The prosperous Kalwar of
the present day insists on calling himself a Mahajan—
merely, it seems, because it sounds better. But a pros-
perous caste usually takes a different line. It endeavours
to push itself into the ranks of a higher class, such as the
Kshatriya. Kayasthas claim to be ‘Chitraguptabansi’
Kshatriyas; Kurmis generally, Mair and Tank Sonars,
Gadariyas and Karnwals, all claim the same exalted lin-
eage. Kalwars, Kandus, and Halwais strive to affiliate
themselves to the Vaisyas; whilst Darzis and Bharbhun-
jas are beginning to set up a general claim to be Kayas-
thas. These are all new instances : there are many older
ones.
Naturally quarrels occurred in many of the ‘splits’
mentioned above, and it is unnecessary to
2Q. Formation of £ive manY examples. One, however,
subcastes due to which is of relatively recent date, may be
quarrels given. The facts are instructive in many
ways, and show how trivial the dissensions
can be which lead to the formation of subcastes.
In Lucknow2 there was a subcaste of Khatiks con-
sisting of three ghols, or groups, known as Manikpur,
Jaiswala and Dalmau. They intermarried, ate together,
and met together in panchayat under the presidency of
1 See appendix to this chapter, where the story is told in full detail.
The facts were reported in a form which left much unexplained.
To avoid obscurity I have stated them as it seems to me they
probably occurred. The original statement and my reasons for interpret-
ing it as above will be found in Census Report, U.P., 1911, pp. 345-6.
55