Kapol community (also known as Kapol Samaj or Kapole or Kapol Vania) is a subgroup of the larger Vaishya/Bania [1] merchant community, historically connected with the Saurashtra (Kathiawar) peninsula of Gujarat, India. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
The origins of the Kapol community are linked to the Saurashtra (Kathiawar) peninsula. [7] Their name is believed to derive from the Sanskrit word kapola, though accounts regarding its meaning differ within community traditions. Historically, Kapol families lived in towns such as Rajula, Sihor, Mahuva, Amreli, Lathi, Jafrabad, and Savarkundla. [8] [9] [10] [11]
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, many Kapol merchants migrated to Bombay (now Mumbai). Over time, the community established temples, hostels, and charitable institutions in the city, contributing to its social and commercial networks. [12]
Scholarly and journalistic sources describe the Kapol or Kapol Bania as a Hindu Vaishya/Bania subcaste originating in Saurashtra (Kathiawar) whose members became prominent merchant-bankers in western India and the wider Indian Ocean trade network. [13] [14] [15] Early modern records identify Bhimji Parekh, a Kapol Bania textile dealer, as one of the first Indian merchants to respond to British invitations to settle in Bombay, and note other Kapol Bania figures such as Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai and Karsandas Mulji in the city's commercial and social life. [16] [17] [18] Modern surveys of Bombay's social history and state gazetteers similarly list Kapol as a distinct division of the Bania trading communities active in the city's development. [19]
Kapols are predominantly followers of Pustimargiya Vaishnavism. [20] [21] A significant section adheres to the Pushtimarg tradition founded by Vallabhacharya. [22] Social values commonly emphasised within the community include non-violence, family cohesion, and community service, in alignment with broader Vaishya cultural practices. [23] [24] [25]
Historically, the community was governed by a caste council or Panchayat led by a titular head often referred to as the Sheth. This leader acted as an intermediary between the community and the colonial government. In the late 19th century, Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai held this position, utilising his influence to advocate for social reforms and educational initiatives within the Hindu community of Bombay. [26]
The community has played a role in establishing cooperative, educational, and healthcare institutions.
Historically, several individuals from the Kapol community have held roles in business, social reform, and public life. [32] [33] Notable figures mentioned in published records include: [34] [35] [36] [37]