Adi Karnataka

Adi Karnataka is a social group in Karnataka, India

This article is about a social category. For the village, see Adi, Karnataka.

History

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) uses the term Adi Karnataka while referring to one group of the Kannadiga aboriginals who are indigenous to the state of Karnataka. In the mid-1830s, a British traveller named Kristopher Fellowman made considerable research on the community which is also called 'Samantha' and 'moola kannadiga kula'.

Edgai---the left hand and Balgai---the right hand

The Samanthas divided their roles and responsibilities into 'Edgai' and 'Balgai' sub-groups, which translated into left and right hands, respectively. While the Balgais comprised monarchs and administrators, the Edgais (<artisan>)were made responsible for work like farming, hunting and state's security.

Colonial period

The Adi Karnataka's strength began to weaken around the middle of the 17th century, due to the political rise of various Kshatriya communities. The British colonists allegedly joined hands with the Patils and Gowdas to defeat the Adi Karnataka, whose population reduced alarmingly. In the early 19th century, the Samanthas were stripped of property rights and driven out of their settlements, being forced to live in caves and forests.

Present day

Several communities continue the practices of the tribe today. The Government of India recognises the socio-economically oppressed status of the Adi Karnataka by classifying them as a Scheduled Caste in modern India's system of positive discrimination

See also

References
    • Bayly, Susan (1999). Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.2277/0521264340. ISBN 978-0-521-26434-1.
    • Béteille, André (1965). Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-02053-7.
    • Ghurye, G. S. (1969) [1932]. Caste and Race in India. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-205-5.
    • Gupta, Dipankar (2000). Interrogating Caste: Understanding hierarchy & difference in Indian society. Penguin books. ISBN 978-0140297065.
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