The Hindu Ghosi or Ghosi Thakur[1] are Zamindars [1]or Land owning community of Mainly of Braj region and a part of Ahir community in India.[2] They are divided into various sections and lineages.[3] The Ghosis have a system of panches and hereditary Chaudharis. If one of the latter's line fail, his widow may adopt a son to succeed him, or, failing such adoption, the panch elects a fit person.[3]
The Hindu Ghosi claim descent from Nanda the foster father of Krishna.[3]
They also claim their importance saying that the sacred texts have mentioned them under the name of Ghosas.[4] The term Ghosa refers to a settlement of the Abhira people[5] or a temporary encampment of cowherds, which was the occupation of those people.[6]
Colonial description
The largest subdivisions of Ahir in Braj region are the Ghosis, Kamarias, Phataks, Gwalvanshis and Nandvanshis. However today they all recognise themselves to be Yaduvanshi Ahirs.[7][8][9]
In the Braj region, the Ghosi and other subdivisions of Ahirs were gradually absorbed into the Yaduvanshi category of landlords and into the Gwalvanshi subdivision as a consequence of British so-called "official" ethnographies and racial theories.[10] The landlords liked the Yaduvanshi title because they considered it to be prestigious.[11][8][12]
Distribution
In the Braj area, the Ghosis are among the largest subdivisions of Ahirs along with the Kamarias, Phataks, Gwalvanshis and Nandvanshis.[13][8]
↑ Lucia, Michelutti (2002). Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav(PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. p.96. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
Michelutti, Lucia (2008). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste, and Religion in India. Routledge. ISBN978-0-41546-732-2.
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