Caste system in Goa

This article is about the Caste System in Goa, and describes the various Jātis or sub-castes to be found among Hindus belonging to the four varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra), as well as those outside of them. The traditional Hindu caste system was also retained by the Goan Catholic community, and as such, their castes are mentioned here in this article.

Hindu caste system

According to the Gazetteer of India, Union Territory: Goa, Daman and Diu, Part I which looks at Goa (published in 1979) the "chief castes" found in Goa are:

The Brahminical communities

The following castes are generally referred to as the high castes, and follow Brahminical religion. Almost all of them claim higher status than others and dispute the social status of the others. Brahmins are considered religious aristocracy amongst the Hindus of Goa.[1]

  • Pancha Gowda Brahmins
    • Gaud Saraswat Brahmins popularly known as GSBs. They are landowning though most were engaged in clerical jobs, trade, priests and landlords. They played an important role in politics and other administrative jobs for many centuries, also were one of the first classes to have modern education.[2]
    • Kudaldeshkar Gaud Brahman were landowning class generally associated with agriculture and trade.
    • Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin were associated with trade, priests and played important role in politics.
    • Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins Also known as Bhalavalikar Saraswat Brahmins.
  • Pancha Dravida Brahmins
    • The two sub-castes was known as the Padye Brahmins and Bhatt Prabhus, popularly known as Bhatt and Prabhu respectively, they generally associate themselves with Karhade Brahmins. They are landowning castes and were engaged as temples priests and in agriculture, some into money landing.[2]
    • Chitpavan Brahmins known as Konkanastha and have migrated to Goa from Northern Konkan in ancient times, mostly were employed as priests, astrologers and are well-known horticulturists.[2]
    • Kramavanta Joshi or Kriyavant Joshi, they were a class of priests who officiated Hindu funeral ceremony and were looked down upon by the above-mentioned castes.
  • Daivadnya popularly known as Shett who are traditional jewellers and mercantile caste.They come next to Brahmins in social status [3] [4][2] [5]

The intermediate castes

The following castes are generally referred to as intermediate castes :

Konkani Maratha

Konkani Marathas historically belonged to different groups and popularly called as chardo. Now all these sub-groups identify themselves as Maratha. They were farmers in general but some families were into trade. Most of them have been erstwhile gentry. They are commonly known as “Chardos” in different parts of Goa.[2]

Bhandari/Bhavaguna

Bhandari originally were also called as (Bhavaguna's) form the largest caste group in the state of Goa, reportedly being over approximately 30% of that state's Hindu population. They consider themselves as the Kshatriyas in the Hindu varna system, but are categorized as Other Backward Class as majority of the families are economically backward.[6]

Vani

Vaishya/Vaishya Vani: are the traditional community of traders, and are commonly known as Vanis.

Others

The rest of the castes are generally referred to as the Bahujan samaj or the masses.[7] Almost all of them follow Folk Hinduism. These include:

Kalavants

Commonly known as Kalavants and now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj is a group of various sub-castes who served the temples and the aristocrats in the olden days. Gomantak Maratha is relatively a new ameliorative name (coined in the late 20th century[8]) given to these groups for uniting and emancipating them.[9]

Kharvi

Konkani Kharvi: They term themselves as Kharvis are largely involved in fisheries. Though they are presently a fishing community.

Artisan castes

These include Charis, Chitaris who call themselves Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmin, Sutars and Kasars. They are included in the Other Backward Class list of the Government of India.

Rest of castes generally referred to as Shudras or Sudirs in Konkani do not really follow the four-fold varna system, but have recently started claiming higher status. Most of them have been practicing different occupations historically and now are categorized as Other Backward Class by Govt of Goa, these include Madval (Rajak, Dhobi), Gosavi, Shimpi, Khumbar, Teli, Nathjogi, this list also includes Roman Catholic counterparts of few Hindu castes too].[2][10]

Scheduled Castes of Goa

Following castes are commonly known as Dalits.

Scheduled Tribes of Goa
  • Dhodia (Halpati, Naikda (Nayaka), Siddi, Varli Kunbi, Gavda, Velip.

The Gauda and Kunbi are considered as aboriginals by some historians though this claim is disputed.

Dhangars

Dhangar, also referred as Gouly or Gavli, is the state’s only ancient pastoral community. In Goa under colonialism, the community shied away from the rest of society as they wanted to escape grazing tax and ban on Kumeri introduced by the Portuguese Empire. Dhangar leaders claim that they had fled to remote hilly and forested areas to avoid religious persecution. They were not part of the Comunidade anywhere in Goa. It is claimed that throughout the Portuguese rule in Goa they were so insulated that not a single Dhangar got converted to Christianity. A study carried out by Government of Goa in 2013 stated that the community had a unique identity, low literacy rate (approximately half the state average) and are known for their martial prowess.[11][12]

Dhangars regard themselves as belonging to the Kshatriya varna and to support this they give the example of the role played by the Holkar dynasty in the Maratha Empire.[13][14] In Goa, they are classified as Other Backward Classes category in India's system of reservation.[15]

Other religions

In Goa, mass conversions were carried out by Portuguese Latin missionaries from the 16th century onwards. The Hindu converts retained their caste practices. The continued maintenance of the caste system among the Christians in Goa is attributed to the nature of mass conversions of entire villages, as a result of which existing social stratification was not affected. The Portuguese colonists, even during the Goan Inquisition, did not do anything to change the caste system. Thus, the original Hindu Brahmins in Goa now became Christian Bamonns and the Kshatriya became Christian noblemen called Chardos. The Christian clergy became almost exclusively Bamonn. Vaishyas who converted to Christianity became Gauddos, and Shudras became Sudirs. Finally, the Dalits or "Untouchables" who converted to Christianity became Maharas and Chamars (an appellation of the anti-Dalit ethnic slur Chamaar).

See also

References
  1. Pereira, A. B. de Bragnanca (14 May 2008). Ethnography of Goa, Daman and Diu. Penguin UK. ISBN 9789351182085 – via Google Books.
  2. Gomes Pereira, Rui (1978). Goa: Hindu temples and deities (translated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto). Pereira, 1978. pp. 1–231.
  3. Rajendran, S. Survey Report on Village: Goa, Daman & Diu. Director of Census Operations,functions Goa,for Daman & Diu: CPublications. p. 10.
  4. Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1969). Caste and Race in India. Popular library of Indian sociology and social thought. Popular Prakashan. pp. 449. ISBN 9788171542055.
  5. Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1969). Caste and Race in India. Popular library of Indian sociology and social thought. Popular Prakashan. pp. 449. ISBN 9788171542055.
  6. "Treasurers of yore, now key to political fortune". The Times Of India. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  7. Pinto, Jerry (2006). Reflected in Water: Writings on Goa (illustrated ed.). Penguin Books India. p. 152. ISBN 9780143100812.
  8. "Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti" by B.D. Satoskar.
  9. Gracias, Fatima da Silva. Kaleidoscope of women in Goa, 1510-1961. p. 80.
  10. "Central list of other backward classes". Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  11. Kerkar, Rajendra (11 January 2019). "Tribal tag for Dhangars long pending". Goa. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020.
  12. Herald, Team (24 October 2013). "Dhangars-Gouly treated like outsiders, says report". Goa. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020.
  13. Draxe, M. J. (1987). The dange dhangars of Kolhapur district: A sociological study (PDF) (PhD). Shivaji University. p. 71.
  14. Singh, L. K. (2008). Indian Cultural Heritage Perspective For Tourism. Asian Educational Services. p. 57. ISBN 9788182054752.
  15. Central Commission for Backward Classes (20 October 2020). Central List of OBCs Goa (Report). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020.

Further reading
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