Vanjari (caste)

The Vanjari are a community in India; they live spread throughout the country but have a sizeable population in the state of Maharashtra. They are also present in parts of Andhra Pradesh particularly in the districts of Telangana region, which abounded in rich pastures.

A Vanjari or a trader seems to be an occupational description, as it is etymologically identical with Vanijya which means trade or commerce. These tribes were in the past engaged in carrying grains and supplies for armies, before the time of cart-roads and railways.

History

The Vanjaris were grain carriers and traders of commodities including quality cattle which they used to breed. During British rule, due to modernisation, Vanjaris changed their traditional occupations. As a result, many of them settled down as farmers near mountains and hilly regions. As of today, the number of Vanjaris is estimated around 7 million. Almost all vanjaris now are engaged in farm sector and large number of them are highly educated.

Derivation of the term Vanjari

There are several possible sources for the term Vanjari or Vanjara. It may be the corrupt form of "Vanaskara" i.e. roaming in forest, or perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader). Vanjara may be derived from the Persian word "Berinj Arind", means "dealers in rice" (Shakespear's Dictionary). Caran or Cháran also comes from the same root. Vanjara means burners or the inhabitants of woods, while yet others say that the word means an arrow. The true derivation is perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader). There are many sub-types within the Vanjari caste which were distinguished on the basis of the main family members of the top hierarchy of these caste.

Occupation

The caste's business was to load bullocks with wheat and go from place to place to sell it. They went down to Ghats, and to the Konkan districts. Once they used to carry their wares to Surat, Navsariand Kalyan in the west and Namad, Nagpur and Jabalpur in the Northeast, with their bullocks packed and in bands or armies of thousands. With the growth of their trade they began to earn good sum of money and then started settling in Maharashtra,Rajastan and Andhra.They purchased land with whatever money they had . Later on they worked very hard on their farm and became the mainstream farmers in Maharashtra. Vanjari community in Nashik District is economically and socially advanced and has sound standing in cultural arena. The most common surnames of Vanjari are:Palve,Latpate,Nagare,Sanap,Shelke,Munde,Wanve,Hange, Bodke, Ghule,Khade, Khedkar, Kirtane, Kharmate, Karad, Funde, Chaudhar,Sangle, Tandale,Andhale, Nagargoje, Gite,Gholwe/ Gholve Ugalmugale,Kangane,Katkade,Jain,Dhakne, Dhatrak,Darade,Kute,Ghuge, Phad, Chate, Lahane, Garje, Bade, Vare, Bangar, Rakh, Lahane, Badadhe, Targe, Hekre, Murtadak, Bhadange and many more. Vanjari from Thane district have nature related last names such as Wade, Bore, Pimple, and most common Sankhe. Most of the community is very well educated and business minded.

Religion

Vanjaris come under Hindu religion and worship all Brahminic gods, of the regular Hindu fasts they keep only Gokulashtami in August. Their priest is a village Joshi, who conducts their marriages. They make pilgrimage to Jejuri in Pune Pandharpur in Solapur District and Tuljapur in Nizams. Their religious and social customs are similar to the Maratha kundies in Maharashtra. The Vanjaris are very religious and Pandurang of Pandharpur is a major god for this group.

Bhagwangad is the major place of pilgrimage for Vanjaris. Shri saint Bhagwan baba was the prominent saint of the Vanjari community. He was followed by Bhimsinh baba. Currently Namdeo sanap shastri hold the gaddi of Bhagwan baba. Every year around 10 lakh Vanjari gather at bhagwan gad on Dussehara. Shri saint vaman bhau also the prominent saint of Vanjari community and guru of saint bhagwan baba. Pandurang Dada Sanap Tagadgaonkar have tells about the magic and work of sant bhagwan baba and sant vamanbhau.

Goddess Renuka mata (Mahurgarh) and Khandoba Maharaj (Jejuri) are regarded as the kuldevi and kuldaivat of the vanjari samaj. One of the pilgrim place for the Vanjari people is the shrine of holy Avajinath Maharaj at Lohare in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Avajinath Maharaj was a disciple of Shri Kanifnath Maharaj, from the holy Navnaaths. On the occasion of Dashera, every year lakhs of the Vanjari samaj gather at Lohare which marks the Utsav. One event which takes place during Dashera is the "fire walking", or Nikhare walking, in which participants walk barefoot across burning charcoal. This is an expression of gratitude for having their wishes being satisfied by God which is also called as 'Navas'. True devotees are not burnt. Avjinath Maharaj takes care of all.

Notable personalities

• Shri sant Bhagwan Baba maharaj
• Shri sant Vaman Bhau Maharaj
• Gopinath Munde – former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and national general secretary BJP
• Mr.Tukaram Dighole-ex Minister of state for power supply.
• Pralhad(Dada)Karad ([BJP]
• Babanrao Dhakne – former Union minister
• Ranjit Dhakne - Deputy.commissioner of Mumbai municipal corparation
• Sanjay Bangar – Indian test cricketer
• Vishwanath Karad – the president of Maeer's Mit Pune and head of Vishwashanti Kendra Alandi
• Shankarrao Rakh – former Maharashtra cabinet minister
• Pandurang Dada Sanap tagadgaonkar – Varakari of Pandhari
• Padhmashri Dr. Tatyarao Lahane – record breaker eyes operation
• Mangesh Sangale,MLA ,Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
• Pankaja palve - MLA & doughter of Gopinath Munde – former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and national general secretary BJP
• Sanju D Pakhare - Prisident maharashtra Vanjari Yuvk Sanghatana A,nagar
• Mahesh Jaybhaye - Owner of VanjariVishwa Group on Facebook

Reference

• Russell, R.V. The Tribes And Castes of the Central Provinces of India. London: Macmillan and Co.,. ISBN 0559128797.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)