Bhandari
Encyclopedia
For other uses, see Bhandari (disambiguation).
Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana
in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India. Along with Himachal Pradesh (Shimla)
, Maharashtra
, Goa
, parts of Karnataka
like Karwar
; they can be found in significant numbers in Nepal
, Rajasthan
, parts of Central India, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
, Kumaon
and Garhwal
of Uttarakhand
, India
.
Sub communities include Kitte, Hetkari, Kshatriya, Thale, Chaudhary, Devkar, Sheshwanshi (Shinde) and Morey, Gawad (Bhandari) mainly from Thane district
and the entire Konkan
Region on the Western coast up to Kerala
.In Nepal all bhandaris are hindu especially bhandaris in Kathmandu and hilly areas surrounding kathmandu
They are a similar community from the state of Goa and same social responsibilities . They also speak Marathi though culturally similar to Similar race of North Karnataka.Bhandaris are found densely in Karwar , They Speak Malvani Marathi- Konkani, The main office is situated in Panjim, Goa at Patto above Hotel Ruchi. Eminent political leaders from Goa belong to this cast, like Shri. Ravi Naik - Home Minister for Goa state, Shri Sripad Naik - M.P. North Goa. Population wise they have a major share in Goa. The newly appointed President for Bardez taluka is Shri Pradip Amonkar Ghadi. Along with Shri. Sangam GOvind Divkar as Vice President for Bardez in Calangute.
, Kadamba, Maurya etc. . They established many kingdoms and established themselves as warriors in many Kshatriya
kingdoms of that era. Maurya (More) Bhandaris arrived in present day Thane
when Mauryas invaded the region.
, who established his base in Mumbai in 13th Century. During his reign he is also supposed to have brought Pathare Prabhu
s, Palshis, Pachkalshis, Vadvals, Bhois, Agris and Brahmins to Mumbai. Kitte Bhandaris evolved from Kirtik Bhattars (warriors) in the Konkan region. Bhandaris established smaller kingdoms around present day Mumbai
.
(Water Leader), who was a Bhandari from Rajapur
and Daria Sarang (Sea Captain) - a Muslim. Bhandari community was actively involved in formation of Maratha Empire
under Shivaji Maharaj. In 1670, according to an East India Company
report, some 60 or 70 of Shivaji's vessels were at the mouth of Bombay Port.
Haraji Bhatkar, Maynaik Hatkar
, Santaji Bole, Raiji Gadde, Bapuji Naik were some of the famous warriors of the era. Bhandaris were instrumental in building the Maratha
Navy along with the Agris
. Raut, Bhatkars, Jaokar, Sarang were involved in conflicts with Siddi
Jauhar and Portuguese
.
Up to the Peshwa
period, Bhandaris played a great role in the Maratha Navy. Subsequently, when the navy of Peshwas disintegrated after the decline of the Maratha power, they turned to other occupations.
The Maratha Navy are considered as the forerunners of India's present-day Coast Guard.
. He was employed by Shivaji who conferred the title Mai Nayak, Water Leader- (Mayya in Arabic language
means Water). A memorial has been built to Ram Nayak Bhandari, the first great admiral of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Bhatye Village close to Ratnagiri
town.
In April 1672, Shivaji had an eye upon the rocky Island of Underi
and Khanderi
are two sister rock-islands a little about 11 miles south of Bombay and 30 miles north of Janjira. They were known as Hennery-Kennery respectively. On 15 September, 150 men under Mai Nayak sailed towards Khanderi
. The Deputy governor of Bombay asked Mai Nayak to leave the place as it belonged to Bombay. The Marathas paid no heed to the English demand. The English decided to oppose the Maratha navy under Daulat Khan if it tried to protect the fortifications. Both, the English and the Siddi
, appearing there with their fleets, Shivaji stopped the fortification.
But, later on, in August 1679, Shivaji renewed that project and, on 15 September, his admiral, known as the Mai Nayak, took possession of the Khanderi
island with 4 small guns and commenced fortifying it in August 1679. So a sea-battle was fought on 18 October 1679 between Shivaji's fleet and the English fleet. Though the huge English fleet were victorious also with the assistance of Siddhi Johar whose fleet joined and helped the English in bombarding Kennery, they withdrew with a view that Shivaji's occupation would hamper the Portuguese presence in Bassein.
Some Jain Bhandaris emigrated from Rajasthan to nearby places such as Nepal & Madhya Pradesh. Bhandaris in this region have an illustrious history. Various Bhandari families have risen to prominence in Madhya Pradesh. Both Lal Bhandari was the Mahapanchayat of Rampura, Madhya Pradesh, India. Rampura is home to two temples dedicated to Bhandari ancestry including a temple in the mountains of Rampura. Indore, MP, India is also home to many prominent Bhandaris.
was from this community.
, Konkan
Gomantak (Goa) up to Kerala
. One can find large number of Bhandari population especially in Ratnagiri
, Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg
, Goa
, Karwar
. Most of them trace their ancestry from this region though they have migrated to many places their Kuldevta
and Kuldevi temples are in and around Goa
and Konkan
.
There are many Bhandaris who today are part of the East Indian
Catholic Christian community from Mumbai region.
Sheshwanshi Kshatriya Bhandaris were forciabely converted to Christianity by Portuguese in 16th century after they gained Mumbai & Salcette islands. Villages like Uran, Uttan, Bhayandar, Gorai, Madh,Charkop, Poinsur, in Borivli taluka were converted in entirety. Local residents of Navghar, Dahisar,Kandivli, Marve,Akshi, Eksar,Babhai opposed. In Kandivli only Mahars were converted. Versova opposed but Juhu, Kalina,Kurla, Kirol,Vakola, Chumbai,Bandra, Khar,Danda gave up partially. Except Girgaon, Parel, rest of villagers surrendered & accepted new religion.thane, Utalsar,Majiwade got partially converted but Bhandup, Nahur,Chembur, Govandi & Ghatla did not respond at all. Popular surnames are Fernandes, Miranda,Pimenta, Soares,Creado. Many have retained surnames as Patils etc.
, and have played a significant role in its development. Significant populations of Bhandaris can still be found in Mumbai.
in India. They are found in Kumaon
as well as in Garhwal
region. Most of the Bhandaris in Uttarakhand are Rajputs and there Kuldevta
is Narsingh- along with Bhairav and Kuldevi is Bhavani. They are also famous as Kala Bhandari.
, Valsad
, Umargam) & Dahanu Road
, Kelva, Palghar
of Maharashtra, They have a great union of 12 Villages (Kolak, Nargol, Navatalav, Saronda, Dehari, Dahanu Agar, Dahanu Rai, Dahanu Dandi, Wasgaon, Bahada pokhran, Chinchni, Kelva)
They have a Union in Surat
including the seven sub-villages of Gorat, Adajan, Bhatha-Ichchhapore, Rander, Sangrampura, Dindoli and Magdalla.
. It is common surname in the Northern State of Punjab
.Bhandari's in Punjab are Khatris. They are from a village of Amritsar. Some Bhandari
Khatri
s are Ramgarhia
s, Bahunjayee
s and Kamboj
s.
s of Karnataka
, the Gaud Bhandaris from Andhra Pradesh
, and the Gomantak Bhandaris from Goa
and Konkan
Ratnagiri
, Thane
etc.
Karwar
is densely Populated by the Bhandaris and worship Samadevi as their deity.
Ganesh Bhadnari
Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India. Along with Himachal Pradesh (Shimla)
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, parts of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
like Karwar
Karwar
Karwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka–Goa border and 519 km north-west...
; they can be found in significant numbers in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, parts of Central India, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
and Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Sub communities include Kitte, Hetkari, Kshatriya, Thale, Chaudhary, Devkar, Sheshwanshi (Shinde) and Morey, Gawad (Bhandari) mainly from Thane district
Thane District
Thane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
and the entire Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
Region on the Western coast up to Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.In Nepal all bhandaris are hindu especially bhandaris in Kathmandu and hilly areas surrounding kathmandu
They are a similar community from the state of Goa and same social responsibilities . They also speak Marathi though culturally similar to Similar race of North Karnataka.Bhandaris are found densely in Karwar , They Speak Malvani Marathi- Konkani, The main office is situated in Panjim, Goa at Patto above Hotel Ruchi. Eminent political leaders from Goa belong to this cast, like Shri. Ravi Naik - Home Minister for Goa state, Shri Sripad Naik - M.P. North Goa. Population wise they have a major share in Goa. The newly appointed President for Bardez taluka is Shri Pradip Amonkar Ghadi. Along with Shri. Sangam GOvind Divkar as Vice President for Bardez in Calangute.
Early history
In ancient times Bhandaris were warriors amongst some of whom manufactured naval vessels and lead the army in naval warfare against many Kingdoms at different times e.g.: ShilaharaShilahara
The Shilahara Dynasty was a feudal clan that established itself in northern and southern Konkan and southern Maharashtra during the Rashtrakuta period...
, Kadamba, Maurya etc. . They established many kingdoms and established themselves as warriors in many Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
kingdoms of that era. Maurya (More) Bhandaris arrived in present day Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
when Mauryas invaded the region.
Under rule of Raja Bhimdev (13th century)
Sheshwanshi Bhandaris arrived with King BhimdevRaja Bhimdev
Bhimdev II or Raja Bhimdev also known as Raja Bimba was a 11th century king who had his capital in Mahikawati, the present-day Mahim, in Mumbai, India....
, who established his base in Mumbai in 13th Century. During his reign he is also supposed to have brought Pathare Prabhu
Pathare prabhu
Pathare Prabhu is one of the Hindu communities in the city of Mumbai . These people are among earliest settlers in the city. They are known to have one of the oldest academic traditions amongst Hindus on par with Brahmins. They were amongst the first of the Hindus to adopt to British educational...
s, Palshis, Pachkalshis, Vadvals, Bhois, Agris and Brahmins to Mumbai. Kitte Bhandaris evolved from Kirtik Bhattars (warriors) in the Konkan region. Bhandaris established smaller kingdoms around present day Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
Under rule of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj (17th Century)
During the rule of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the naval fleet which constituted a fleet of 200 ships, was commanded by two admirals who bore the titles of Mai NayakMai Nayak Bhandari
During the rule of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the naval fleet which constituted a fleet of 200 ships, was commanded by two admirals who bore the titles of Mai Nayak, who was a Bhandari from Rajapur and Daria Sarang - a Muslim.The Bhandari community was actively involved in formation of Maratha...
(Water Leader), who was a Bhandari from Rajapur
Rajapur
Rajapur is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Rajapur is located at . It has an average elevation of 72 metres .-Demographics:...
and Daria Sarang (Sea Captain) - a Muslim. Bhandari community was actively involved in formation of Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
under Shivaji Maharaj. In 1670, according to an East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
report, some 60 or 70 of Shivaji's vessels were at the mouth of Bombay Port.
Haraji Bhatkar, Maynaik Hatkar
Hatkar
-History:A British commentator, Captain Fitzgerald, once an assistant commissioner in Berar Division, made the following observation:...
, Santaji Bole, Raiji Gadde, Bapuji Naik were some of the famous warriors of the era. Bhandaris were instrumental in building the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
Navy along with the Agris
Agri (Maharashtra)
The Agris are an ethnic community native to Mumbai. They had migrated to Mumbai during the 13th century during the reign of Raja Bhimdev....
. Raut, Bhatkars, Jaokar, Sarang were involved in conflicts with Siddi
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
Jauhar and Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Up to the Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
period, Bhandaris played a great role in the Maratha Navy. Subsequently, when the navy of Peshwas disintegrated after the decline of the Maratha power, they turned to other occupations.
The Maratha Navy are considered as the forerunners of India's present-day Coast Guard.
Mai Nayak
Ram Nayak was a Bhandari from RajapurRajapur
Rajapur is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Rajapur is located at . It has an average elevation of 72 metres .-Demographics:...
. He was employed by Shivaji who conferred the title Mai Nayak, Water Leader- (Mayya in Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
means Water). A memorial has been built to Ram Nayak Bhandari, the first great admiral of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Bhatye Village close to Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
town.
In April 1672, Shivaji had an eye upon the rocky Island of Underi
Underi
Underi is a fortified island near the mouth of Mumbai harbour south of Prong's Lighthouse. It is a companion fort to Khanderi and currently lies in Raigad district, Maharashtra. These islands of Khanderi and Underi served as one of the landmarks for ships entering Mumbai harbour...
and Khanderi
Khanderi
Khanderi is a fortified island 20 km off the coast of Mumbai. This along with its sister fort Underi formed the major fortification along the Mumbai coast. This was built by Shivaji in 1660 CE...
are two sister rock-islands a little about 11 miles south of Bombay and 30 miles north of Janjira. They were known as Hennery-Kennery respectively. On 15 September, 150 men under Mai Nayak sailed towards Khanderi
Khanderi
Khanderi is a fortified island 20 km off the coast of Mumbai. This along with its sister fort Underi formed the major fortification along the Mumbai coast. This was built by Shivaji in 1660 CE...
. The Deputy governor of Bombay asked Mai Nayak to leave the place as it belonged to Bombay. The Marathas paid no heed to the English demand. The English decided to oppose the Maratha navy under Daulat Khan if it tried to protect the fortifications. Both, the English and the Siddi
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
, appearing there with their fleets, Shivaji stopped the fortification.
But, later on, in August 1679, Shivaji renewed that project and, on 15 September, his admiral, known as the Mai Nayak, took possession of the Khanderi
Khanderi
Khanderi is a fortified island 20 km off the coast of Mumbai. This along with its sister fort Underi formed the major fortification along the Mumbai coast. This was built by Shivaji in 1660 CE...
island with 4 small guns and commenced fortifying it in August 1679. So a sea-battle was fought on 18 October 1679 between Shivaji's fleet and the English fleet. Though the huge English fleet were victorious also with the assistance of Siddhi Johar whose fleet joined and helped the English in bombarding Kennery, they withdrew with a view that Shivaji's occupation would hamper the Portuguese presence in Bassein.
Bhandaris from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
'Bhandari' is a common last name found amongst Oswals hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Many different sects of Oswals had changed their name to Bhandari over the course of Marwar history. Oswals are originally from Marwar, Rajasthan and are referred to as Marwari. The Bhandari Oswals were initially Rajput but later many adopted Jainism. There are many sects of Bhandari in Jodhpur alone, much like Mehta or Jain surname. Some have emigrated from Madhya Pradesh and some are of Rajput ancestry from Marwar from Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur.Some Jain Bhandaris emigrated from Rajasthan to nearby places such as Nepal & Madhya Pradesh. Bhandaris in this region have an illustrious history. Various Bhandari families have risen to prominence in Madhya Pradesh. Both Lal Bhandari was the Mahapanchayat of Rampura, Madhya Pradesh, India. Rampura is home to two temples dedicated to Bhandari ancestry including a temple in the mountains of Rampura. Indore, MP, India is also home to many prominent Bhandaris.
Other kingdoms
Ratan Singh Bhandari, the Hindu king of AhmedabadAhmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
was from this community.
Bhandaris in Konkan Region, India
On the west coast of India from ThaneThane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
, Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
Gomantak (Goa) up to Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. One can find large number of Bhandari population especially in Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
, Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg
Sindhudurg
Sindhudurg is a fortress which occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai.-History:Sindhudurg was built by the great Maratha...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, Karwar
Karwar
Karwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka–Goa border and 519 km north-west...
. Most of them trace their ancestry from this region though they have migrated to many places their Kuldevta
Kuldevta
Kuladevata or Kuladevi, also known as Kuladev and Kŭladaiwat, stands for "family deity, that is either a god or a goddess" within Hinduism, as distinct from personal ishta-devata and village deities...
and Kuldevi temples are in and around Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
.
There are many Bhandaris who today are part of the East Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
Catholic Christian community from Mumbai region.
Sheshwanshi Kshatriya Bhandaris were forciabely converted to Christianity by Portuguese in 16th century after they gained Mumbai & Salcette islands. Villages like Uran, Uttan, Bhayandar, Gorai, Madh,Charkop, Poinsur, in Borivli taluka were converted in entirety. Local residents of Navghar, Dahisar,Kandivli, Marve,Akshi, Eksar,Babhai opposed. In Kandivli only Mahars were converted. Versova opposed but Juhu, Kalina,Kurla, Kirol,Vakola, Chumbai,Bandra, Khar,Danda gave up partially. Except Girgaon, Parel, rest of villagers surrendered & accepted new religion.thane, Utalsar,Majiwade got partially converted but Bhandup, Nahur,Chembur, Govandi & Ghatla did not respond at all. Popular surnames are Fernandes, Miranda,Pimenta, Soares,Creado. Many have retained surnames as Patils etc.
Bhandaris in Mumbai
Bhandaris are one of the oldest communities in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and have played a significant role in its development. Significant populations of Bhandaris can still be found in Mumbai.
Contributions
- The Bhandari MilitiaBhandari MilitiaBhandari Militia was the first police establishment in Mumbai during the time of British East India Company. In Bombay, Governor Aungier formed a militia of local Bhandari youth to deal with organized street-level gangs that robbed sailors in 1669...
was the first Police establishment in Mumbai (then Bombay) during British India. - Marine Police Force- After the setting up of the British East India CompanyBritish East India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in Bombay, the Middle Ground Coastal BatteryMiddle Ground Coastal BatteryThe Middle Ground Coastal Battery is an islet off the coast of Mumbai , India. The isle, situated a few hundred metres away from the Gateway of India, lies in the Thane Creek...
island (situated a few hundred metres away from the Gateway of IndiaGateway of IndiaIts design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles, the arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are in Hindu style. The Gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. The stone was locally obtained, and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.The...
), was fortified in 1682 to curb the piracyPiracyPiracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
in the area. Later a marine police force, composed of Bhandaris, were stationed there to keep an eye on the pirates who used to board ships. The Bhandaris were chosen for their loyalty, honesty and local knowledge. With their yellow turbans and blue trousers, the police were a formidable sight. After piracy moved to the South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, about two hundred years ago, the police were disbanded and the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
gained control of the rock. - Ganpat Krishnaji (1800–61)- a talented Bhandari, was the first native commercial printer-publisher in Marathi. Ganpat Krishnaji Press (Ganpat Krishnaji Chapkhana) printed magazines like Prabhakar & Digdarshan along with many religious, epic and reformist texts.
- Kitte Bhandari Ekyawardak Mandal was established in 1890 to unite the community and work for its welfare. It has its headquarters at DadarDadarDadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
, Mumbai. - Gawad Bhandari Utkarsha Mandal was established 50 years ago for the welfare of the Gawad bhandari community in entire Mumbai and western suburbs in Vasai, Palghar and Dahanu takulas. It functions from Virar.
- Bhandari Street located in (South MumbaiSouth MumbaiSouth Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
) was named by the British after the high presence of the Bhandari community who resided there, some who possessed residence over there and were reckoned among the old residents. Others came to Mumbai from MalvanMalvanMalvan is a town in Sindhudurg District, the southernmost district of Maharashtra. This culturally and historically important town is a Taluka place in Sindhudurg District...
, VengurlaVengurlaUnder the Köppen climate classification, Vengurla features a tropical monsoon climate. The highest temperature in summer reaches 42°C while in winter, temperature drops up to 10°C. The annual precipitation is .-Demographics:...
and other places, and settled in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. - Bhandari Samaj Karwar Has many Sanghs, notably Karwar Taluka Bhandari Unnati Sangh & Karwar Zilla Bhandari Sangh.
- Anant Chaitanya (Kodibag-Karwar) Fine artist who has painted enormous paintings, especially portraits
- Murari Datta Patrekar A Great Fine Art & Icon Artist - The recipient of the Worlds prestigious Clio AwardClio AwardsThe Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
.bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication.
Bhandaris from Uttarakhand, India
'Bhandari' is a common last name in UttarakhandUttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
in India. They are found in Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
as well as in Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
region. Most of the Bhandaris in Uttarakhand are Rajputs and there Kuldevta
Kuldevta
Kuladevata or Kuladevi, also known as Kuladev and Kŭladaiwat, stands for "family deity, that is either a god or a goddess" within Hinduism, as distinct from personal ishta-devata and village deities...
is Narsingh- along with Bhairav and Kuldevi is Bhavani. They are also famous as Kala Bhandari.
Bhandaris in Surat
There are many Bhandari Mandal at South Gujarat (SuratSurat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, Valsad
Valsad
Valsad , formerly known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality in the Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison...
, Umargam) & Dahanu Road
Dahanu Road
-Location:Dahanu is located 65 km north of Virar on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Railway. It can be reached from National Highway NH-8, 20 km off from Charoti Naka. It is 22 km North of Boisar on the Western Railway line. It has nice and beautiful beaches. There is...
, Kelva, Palghar
Palghar
Palghar is a town and a Municipal Council in Thane district in Maharashtra. Situated about 87 kilometres from Mumbai, it is a part of the Mumbai Suburban Rail network which extends up to Dahanu and lies on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail route...
of Maharashtra, They have a great union of 12 Villages (Kolak, Nargol, Navatalav, Saronda, Dehari, Dahanu Agar, Dahanu Rai, Dahanu Dandi, Wasgaon, Bahada pokhran, Chinchni, Kelva)
They have a Union in Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
including the seven sub-villages of Gorat, Adajan, Bhatha-Ichchhapore, Rander, Sangrampura, Dindoli and Magdalla.
Khatris and Sikh/Punjab
"Bhandari" is also last name found in the Khatris of Sikh Rajput, Muslim Rajput and Mair Rajput sub-grouping and Jatt caste found in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is common surname in the Northern State of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
.Bhandari's in Punjab are Khatris. They are from a village of Amritsar. Some Bhandari
Bhandari
For other uses, see Bhandari .Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India...
Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
s are Ramgarhia
Ramgarhia
The Ramgarhia community is an Indo Aryan ethnic tribe of the Punjab region in South Asia. They are named after Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia who was the leader of the Ramgarhia Misl...
s, Bahunjayee
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
s and Kamboj
Kamboj
The Kambojs , also Kamboh, are an ethnic community of the Punjab region. They may relate to the Kambojas, an Iranian tribe known to the people of Iron Age India and mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and epigraphy. Kamboj is frequently used as a surname in lieu of the sub-caste or the gotra name...
s.
Other regions, India
There is a sizeable presence of Bhandaris all over Western and South India Bhandari in Kerala has its own name (famous for martial art of Kalaripayattu, from which Kung Fu originated), the BillavaBillava
The Billava, or Ilava people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod district...
s of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, the Gaud Bhandaris from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, and the Gomantak Bhandaris from Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
, Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
etc.
Karwar
Karwar
Karwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka–Goa border and 519 km north-west...
is densely Populated by the Bhandaris and worship Samadevi as their deity.
Prominent Bhandaris
- Daulat Mal BhandariDaulat Mal BhandariDaulat Mal Bhandari was Chief Justice of High Court of Rajasthan in India, a member of the first Lok Sabha and a freedom fighter .He was member of Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1955 representing the Jaipur parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan....
- Dr Naresh Bhandari, MPH
- Surjan Singh BhandariSurjan Singh BhandariSurjan Singh Bhandari was a commando of the elite National Security Guards of the Indian armed forces. Bhandari hailed from Gochar, North Indian state of Uttarakhand...
- Madan Kumar BhandariMadan Kumar BhandariMadan Kumar Bhandari was a Nepali politician and communist leader.Bhandari was born in Taplejung. He studied in Varanasi, India and in 1972 was named central committee member of the Janabadi Sanskritik Morcha , a student's movement launched by Pushpa Lal Shrestha...
- Nar Bahadur BhandariNar Bahadur BhandariNar Bahadur Bhandari is a former chief minister of the state of Sikkim in India who governed the state from 1979 to 1994. He was the founder leader of Sikkim Sangram Parishad party.-Personal life:...
- R. Bhandari, Indian Foreign SecretaryIndian Foreign SecretaryAn Indian Foreign Secretary is the top diplomat for Indian Foreign Relations, who is appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs Office. Foreign Secretaries are experienced IFS officers, who are ambassadors to foreign nations....
(1985–1986)
See also
- Bhandari Militia - First Mumbai Police EstablishmentBhandari MilitiaBhandari Militia was the first police establishment in Mumbai during the time of British East India Company. In Bombay, Governor Aungier formed a militia of local Bhandari youth to deal with organized street-level gangs that robbed sailors in 1669...
- History of Bombay under British ruleHistory of Bombay under British ruleThe History of Bombay under British rule recounts the development of Bombay into a modern port and city.-Struggle with native powers :...
- Kumauni peopleKumauni peopleKumauni or Kumaoni are people from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India.They include all those who speak the Kumaoni language or any of its numerous dialects, living in the Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital,Bijnor,Udham Singh Nagar,Moradabad, districts of Uttarakhand,...
- Mai Nayak BhandariMai Nayak BhandariDuring the rule of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the naval fleet which constituted a fleet of 200 ships, was commanded by two admirals who bore the titles of Mai Nayak, who was a Bhandari from Rajapur and Daria Sarang - a Muslim.The Bhandari community was actively involved in formation of Maratha...
Ganesh Bhadnari