Gwalvanshi Ahir
Gwalvanshi Ahir[1] is a dominant subdivison[2] of Ahirs.[3][4] They are populated in North-Western Provinces[5] and in Oudh (Awadh).[6]
Origin[edit]
The Gwalvanshi Ahirs claim their descent from the Gopis of Braj.[7][8]
History[edit]
Mirzapur[edit]
According to Ain-i-Akbari, they were zamindars of the Ahirwara pargana (present Ahraura) in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.[9]
Varanasi[edit]
They also made Warren Hastings fled from Varanasi.[10]
Basti[edit]
Due to extensive land-holdings they were called Bhumidar in the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh.[11]
Ayodhya[edit]
Them in the Faizadad pargana (in today's Ayodhya district) as landlords claimed to be descended from an Ahir raja of Berat. Another account is, that they were settled there by Raja Chandra Sen.[12]
Military History[edit]
From the United Provinces, they were also ones who were recruited in the First World War.[13]
Physical Appearance[edit]
Carleton S. Coon once stated about Ahirs of Senapur (a village in Jaunpur which is predominated by Gwalvanshi Ahirs)[14] that: Ahirs are, in average, quite light in skin color and pride themselves on their physical superiorty to other groups. Their robustness is usually attributed to the active, outdoor life they lead, but undoubtedly the greater amount of dairy products that they have at their disposal has some influence. The Ahirs are the athletes of Senapur. They excel at wrestling, at fencing with staves, at jumping, and at acrobatics of all kinds.[15]
Present circumstances[edit]
They were farmers and land-holders in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. At the turn of the century, they took up other occupations, including business in a big way.[16][17]
Notable people[edit]
- Sandeep Tulsi Yadav, first ever medalist in Greco-Roman category from India
- Nar Singh Yadav
- Ravindrapal Singh Yadav[18]
- Sardar Bachau Yadav[19]
- Jivaram Ahir[20]
- Kishun Ahir[20]
- Ram Naresh Yadav
- Roop Nath Singh Yadav
- Shyam Singh Yadav
- Paras Nath Yadav
- Ramakant Yadav
- Rajaram Yadav
- Ahir zamindar of Lonhada, Kada Manikpur, Kaushambi[21]
- Ahir zamindars of Jaunpur
- Khedan Ahir[22]
Culture[edit]
They sing Loriki and Birahas.[23] They have started the Ramleela at Chaukaghat (Nati Imli) in Varanasi.[24] They also actively participate in the Bharat Milaap done in the Ramleela.[24] They are great devotee of Radha-Krishna.[25] Most of the Ahir Birs (deities who died gloriously) in Eastern Uttar Pradesh were Gwalvanshi Ahirs only.[19][14]
Kuldevi[edit]
Their clan deity (Kuldevi) is Mata Vindhyavasini Jogmaya.[25]
References[edit]
- ^ Ames Library Pamphlet Collection: consists of extracts from the Journal of the United Service Institution of India, v.1-12, 1871-1883. 1764.
- ^ Maurya, Sahab Deen (1989). Population and Housing Problems in India. Chugh Publications. ISBN 978-81-85076-77-5.
- ^ Maheshwari, Anil (20 January 2022). Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022: More than a State At Stake (UP Elections). Om Books International. ISBN 978-93-91258-48-1.
- ^ Singh, Bhrigupati (6 April 2015). Poverty and the Quest for Life: Spiritual and Material Striving in Rural India. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-19454-7.
- ^ Risley, Sir Herbert Hope (1892). The Tribes and Castes of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal secretariat Press.
- ^ Crooke, William (1890). An Ethnographical Hand-book for the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh. North-Western provinces and Oudh government Press.
- ^ Ibbetson, Sir Denzil; Maclagan (1990). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0505-3.
- ^ Michelutti, Lucia (29 November 2020). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-08400-9.
- ^ Contemporary Social Sciences. Research Foundation of India. 1978.
- ^ "Historical episodes that PM spoke about in Kashi - Civilsdaily". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Desai, Akshayakumar Ramanlal (1986). Agrarian Struggles in India After Independence. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-561681-1.
- ^ Sherring, Matthew Atmore (1872). Hindu Tribes and Castes. Thacker, Spink & Company.
- ^ Roy, Kaushik (29 June 2018). Indian Army and the First World War: 1914–18. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909367-0.
- ^ a b Coccari, Diane Marjorie (1986). The Bir Babas of Banaras: An Analysis of a Folk Deity in North Indian Hinduism. University of Wisconsin--Madison.
- ^ a reader in general anthropology. 1948.
- ^ Ratan Mani Lal (11 May 2014). "Azamgarh: Why Mulayam cannot take Yadav votes for granted"
- ^ Lucia Michelutti, Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town (2002) London School of Economics and Political Science University of London, p.90-98
- ^ "Moscow Olympic gold medallist former hockey player Ravinder Pal Singh succumbs to COVID". The Times of India. 8 May 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b Comar, Savitri (7 September 2018). "Bir Babas Of Banaras Diane Marjori Cocarie ( Thesis)". Bir Babas Of Banaras. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ a b Division, Publications. WHO'S WHO OF INDIAN MARTYRS Vol 3. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 978-81-230-2182-9.
- ^ "मिला तेज से तेज- Mila Tej se Tej | Exotic India Art". www.exoticindiaart.com. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ भारतीय शहीदों का परिचय (in Hindi). प्रकाशन विभाग, सूचना और प्रसारण मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार. 2009. ISBN 978-81-230-1511-8.
- ^ Beissinger, Margaret; Tylus, Jane; Wofford, Susanne Lindgren (31 March 1999). Epic Traditions in the Contemporary World: The Poetics of Community. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-21038-7.
- ^ a b Arya, Banarasi Lal (1975). Mahārāja Balavanta Siṃha aura Kāśī kā atīta (in Hindi). Āryā.
- ^ a b Saraswati, Baidyanath (2000). Bhoga-moksha samabhava: Kaśī kā sāmājika-sāṃskr̥tika svarūpa (in Hindi). Ḍī Ke. Prinṭavarlḍa. ISBN 978-81-246-0151-8.