DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27740#0095
BHAMPTAS
Kind of crime.—(1) Robbery. (2) Burglary. (3) Cheating.
(4) Railway thefts. (5) Pilfering. (6) Pocket picking.
Composition of gang.—Travel with women and children
without pack animals and live in hired houses. The party numbers
eight to twelve persons.
Become very friendly with village Patels.
Ostensible occupation.—(1) Begging. (2) Dealing in cattle.
(3) Mending of grinding stones.
Residence.—Bombay Presidency and Nizam's Dominions.
A few families in Nagpur, Nimar, Wardha, Yeotmal, and Amraoti
districts of the Central Provinces.
Language.—Telugu amongst themselves and Hindustani or
Marathi in the presence of others.
Castes assumed.—Maratha Kumhars, Rajput Bhats, Bhat
fortune-tellers, Brahmin mendicants, (and as such keep with them a
bag of ashes, 'tM^' beads, Yfa/a, religious books, Ganges
water, idols, sacred threads, and Bairagis, Gosains,
Beldars, and Kamatees.
General appearance.—They look like Kunbis but favour the
Maratha style of costume.
Bhamptas are Hindus by religion. They originally belonged to General.
Telangana, but have settled now in various districts of Bombay
Presidency and H. E. H. the Nizam's Dominions. When at home
they cultivate land.
The Bhampta is not a specialist. He is ready to commit every
class of crime except murder. He easily changes his
and adapts himself to circumstances.
They roam all over India. They meet at some centre and make
their plans in consultation with their leaders called "Telangas".
They visit certain fairs and markets in parties, and meet at selected
villages to commit thefts. When they are out on a criminal expedi-
tion, they generally choose a small out-of-the-way village to live in.
They supply the village patels with shoes, utensils, and clothes gratis
to gain their goodwill. They move about in groups of five to six
persons. They do not stay in one place for long, but move on after
a halt of a few days.
They look like Kunbis, but prefer being regarded as Marathas
and favour the Maratha style of costume. Some of the men are
extremely well dressed in order to give the appearance of wealthy
travellers.
Kind of crime.—(1) Robbery. (2) Burglary. (3) Cheating.
(4) Railway thefts. (5) Pilfering. (6) Pocket picking.
Composition of gang.—Travel with women and children
without pack animals and live in hired houses. The party numbers
eight to twelve persons.
Become very friendly with village Patels.
Ostensible occupation.—(1) Begging. (2) Dealing in cattle.
(3) Mending of grinding stones.
Residence.—Bombay Presidency and Nizam's Dominions.
A few families in Nagpur, Nimar, Wardha, Yeotmal, and Amraoti
districts of the Central Provinces.
Language.—Telugu amongst themselves and Hindustani or
Marathi in the presence of others.
Castes assumed.—Maratha Kumhars, Rajput Bhats, Bhat
fortune-tellers, Brahmin mendicants, (and as such keep with them a
bag of ashes, 'tM^' beads, Yfa/a, religious books, Ganges
water, idols, sacred threads, and Bairagis, Gosains,
Beldars, and Kamatees.
General appearance.—They look like Kunbis but favour the
Maratha style of costume.
Bhamptas are Hindus by religion. They originally belonged to General.
Telangana, but have settled now in various districts of Bombay
Presidency and H. E. H. the Nizam's Dominions. When at home
they cultivate land.
The Bhampta is not a specialist. He is ready to commit every
class of crime except murder. He easily changes his
and adapts himself to circumstances.
They roam all over India. They meet at some centre and make
their plans in consultation with their leaders called "Telangas".
They visit certain fairs and markets in parties, and meet at selected
villages to commit thefts. When they are out on a criminal expedi-
tion, they generally choose a small out-of-the-way village to live in.
They supply the village patels with shoes, utensils, and clothes gratis
to gain their goodwill. They move about in groups of five to six
persons. They do not stay in one place for long, but move on after
a halt of a few days.
They look like Kunbis, but prefer being regarded as Marathas
and favour the Maratha style of costume. Some of the men are
extremely well dressed in order to give the appearance of wealthy
travellers.