Karan (caste)

Last updated

Karan
Religions Hinduism
Languages Odia
Populated states Odisha
SubdivisionsKaran, Karan Vaishnav
Related groups Brahmin
Status Forward caste

The Karan or Karana is a community of scribes [1] found in the state of Odisha in India. The post of Karana used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate members of the lower as well as the higher castes. [2] They also held Karanam post in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, where they speak Odia [3] and played the similar role in Odisha as that of the Kayasthas of West Bengal and Bihar. Traditionally they were the official record-keepers in the royal courts of the Odia princely states historically (Orissa Tributary States). [4] Today they are a politically dominant community and have reigned over the politics of Odisha for 40 years. [5]

Contents

History

Mediaeval Period

The frequent admission of land grants to princes, Brahmins and various officials gave rise to a new class of scribes. They were recruited from lower as well as higher castes. However the Karanas crystallized into a distinct caste only in the 10th or 11th century AD owing to social mobility. Any mention of the term prior to that period simply denotes its functional aspect rather than a caste affiliation. [2]

Social Status

The Karanas are a forward caste of Odisha. [6] In mediaeval Odisha, Karanas climbed the social ladder by supplying brides to the ruling dynasties. An example of this can be found in the Arasavali copper plate of the Eastern Ganga monarch Vajrahasta III. [2] During the British colonial era, many Karanas of Odisha had received zamindaris. [7] In recent post-Independence era India, they have also played a dominant role in politics. Such is their prominence in politics that many members from the Karan community have been elected as the Chief Ministers of Odisha, hence they are also dubbed as the political caste of Odisha. [8]

Surnames

Prominent surnames of the Karan community include Patnaik, Mohanty, Das etc. [9] [10]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odia language</span> Indic language

Odia is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the official language in Odisha, where native speakers make up 82% of the population, and it is also spoken in parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Odia is one of the many official languages of India; it is the official language of Odisha and the second official language of Jharkhand. The language is also spoken by 700,000 people in Chhattisgarh.

Patnaik/ Pattnaik/ Pattanayak/ Pattanaik / Pattnayak is a native Odia surname native to Odisha, northeastern districts of Andhra Pradesh and southern districts of West Bengal in India. This surname mainly found among the Karan caste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayastha</span> Community of India

Kayastha denotes a cluster of disparate Indian communities broadly categorised by the regions of the Indian subcontinent in which they were traditionally located—the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas of North India, the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus of Maharashtra, the Bengali Kayasthas of Bengal and Karanas of Odisha. All of them were traditionally considered "writing castes", who had historically served the ruling powers as administrators, ministers and record-keepers.

Das is a common last name in South Asia, among adherents of Hinduism and Sikhism, as well as those who converted to Islam or Christianity. It is a derived from the Sanskrit word Dasa meaning servant, devotee, or votary. "Das" may be inferred to be one who has surrendered to God. The surname is often used by those in the Vaishnav community.

The Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ), formerly spelled Oriya, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group native to the Indian state of Odisha who speak the Odia language. They constitute a majority in the eastern coastal state, with significant minority populations existing in the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabakrushna Choudhuri</span>

Nabakrushna Choudhuri was an Indian politician and activist. He served as Chief Minister of the Indian state of Odisha. He was a freedom fighter who participated in the Non-cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience movement, and the Peasants movement.

The Madala Panji is a chronicle of the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, India. It describes the historical events of Odisha related to Lord Jagannath and the Jagannath Temple. The Madala Panji dates from the 12th century.

Odia literature is literature written in the Odia language, mostly from the Indian state of Odisha. The modern Odia language is mostly formed from Tadbhava words with significant Sanskrit (Tatsama) influences, along with loanwords from Desaja, English, Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu), Persian, and Arabic. Its earliest written texts date from around 1000 CE. The earliest Odia newspaper was Utkala Deepika, first published on August 4, 1866.

Khandayat, also spelled Khandait, is a cultivating caste, as well as a peasant militia or landed militia caste from Odisha, East India. Some of them had earlier served as feudal chiefs as well as zamindars apart from being land holders and agriculturalists. Numerically they are the largest caste of the state. During British raj, they ruled many tributary states in odisha including Khordha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enduri pitha</span>

Enduri pitha, also known as Haldi patra pitha, is a variety of pitha made in the Indian state of Odisha mostly in the northern, eastern and central region. Ingredients are turmeric leaves, black gram, rice flour, coconut or Chhena, jaggery, black pepper. Enduri is mostly prepared during Prathamastami and Manabasa Gurubara. It is a light snack and has laxative effect because of the turmeric leaves that are used to wrap the pitha. Traditionally, enduri used to be made by steaming in large earthen pots. Enduri is one of the many other pithas offered to Jagannath in the Jagannath Temple, Puri for "Sakala dhupa" (breakfast).

Kansabanik or Kansari is a Hindu caste found from West Bengal, Odisha and Assam state of India. Who are traditionally braziers and coppersmiths by profession. They are one of the fourteen castes belonging to 'Nabasakh' group in Bengal. Kanshabaniks are recognized as Other Backward Class by the Government of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee</span> Indian political party

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee is the unit of the Indian National Congress for the state of Odisha. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting candidates for local, state, and national elections in Odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali Kayastha</span> Bengali Hindu of the Kayastha caste

Bengali Kayastha is a Bengali Hindu caste, and is one of the main subgroups of the Kayastha community. The historical caste occupation of Kayasthas throughout India has been that of scribes, administrators, ministers and record-keepers; the Kayasthas in Bengal, along with Brahmins and Baidyas, are regarded among the three traditional higher castes that comprise the "upper layer of Hindu society." During the British Raj, the Bhadraloks of Bengal were drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from these three castes, who continue to maintain a collective hegemony in West Bengal.

Karan Kayastha is a community of Kayastha that inhabit Orissa and Mithila region, a region now divided between India and Nepal.

Chasa is a community from the Indian state of Odisha. Chasas were traditionally cultivators but are now engaged in several professions. The Odia word chasa means farmer. They are third largest caste by population in Odisha.

Kanhu Charan Mohanty was an Indian Odia language novelist who wrote fifty-six novels in a career spanning over six decades from 1930 to 1985. He is considered "one of the most popular and celebrated novelists of Odisa". Mohanty was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958 for his novel, Kaa, published in 1956, and was one of the fellows of the Sahitya Akademi. Mohanty died on 6 April 1994 at the age of 87.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagabati Charan Panigrahi</span> Indian Odia writer and politician

Bhagabati Charan Panigrahi was an Indian Odia writer and India’s freedom struggle revolutionary/ martyr. He was a founding member of Netaji's Forward Bloc. He was the founding secretary of Communist Party of India in Odisha. He wrote around a dozen short stories before he was mysteriously murdered while under arrest of British India Police in 1943. He was a close associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Behera is a popular Odia title. Anciently, "Dala-Behera" or "Behera" was an honorific title reserved for the leader of a group of soldiers. It is an honorific title of Gopal (Yadav) caste.

Panikhia Jati also known as Panichhuan Jati of Odisha. Which is a group of dominant and high rank castes. Which water and foods are acceptable for deities and also for Brahmins, includes: Karan, Khandayat, Gopal, Chasa and Gudia caste. There is good social relation and communication among them. They are very strict for their social status or prestige, they do not take water and foods from lower communities. But occasionally they are allowing Barika and Mali peoples to participate in their festivals and other ritual works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka</span> 18th-century Odissi musician, poet and composer

Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka (1784–1862) was an Odia poet & composer of Odissi music. His Odissi songs in various traditional ragas and talas are widely sung across the state, as well as other allied traditional artforms of Odisha, such as pala. The 20th-century Odissi musician, vocalist & binākara Apanna Panigrahi, also from the poet's hometown, was well-known for his renditions of Gopalakrusna's lyrics. Some of the most iconic Odissi songs, such as Syamaku Juhara Tara Premaku Juhara Ma, Jala Ani Jai Kali Kalindasutaku, Sangini Re Rasarangini Re, Kadamba Bane Bansi Bajila Re, Uthilu Ede Begi Kahinkire, Ki Nadare Prana Sangini, Manasija Mana Mohana are creations of Gopalakrusna. Many of his songs are popular abhinaya items in Odissi dance.

References

  1. ↑ Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 116–. ISBN   978-81-313-0352-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Raut, L.N. (2004). "Jati Formation in Early Medieval Orissa: Reflection on Karana (Kayastha Caste)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 65: 304–308. JSTOR   44144743.
  3. ↑ M. Kodanda Rao (1990). Cultural and Structural Dimensions of Family: A Study of Jalari Fishermen. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 34–. ISBN   978-81-7022-270-5.
  4. ↑ Mohanty, Ramesh P.; Biswal, Durgesh Nandini (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. p. 40. ISBN   978-81-8324-199-1.
  5. 1 2 Pradhan, Ashok (2019-04-13). "Reign of Patnaiks: 40 years and counting - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  6. ↑ Aila-Leena Matthies; Kati Närhi (4 October 2016). The Ecosocial Transition of Societies: The contribution of social work and social policy. Taylor & Francis. pp. 110–. ISBN   978-1-317-03460-5.
  7. ↑ "sg.inflibnet.ac.in" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Pramit Verma; Pardeep Singh (14 July 2020). Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems. Elsevier Science. pp. 83–. ISBN   978-0-12-820731-4.
  9. ↑ "shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in" (PDF).
  10. ↑ Pattanaik, Devdutt (2018-02-18). "Devdutt Pattanaik: Descendants of Chitragupta". mid-day. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  11. ↑ "rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa". Rediff.com. 2000-02-14. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.