Gangwar
Encyclopedia
Gangwar, or Ganguar is a Hindu
Subcaste within the Kurmi
caste
.
Gangwars are mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in Northern India. In the districts of Rampur, Bareilly, Pillibhit & Farukhabad, they were mercenaries in the army of Shiva Ji and later settled around Ganga in Uttar Pradesh hence the surname seems of Maratha origin. They are mainly speakers of the Hindi language. Gangwars are well cultured, civilized people and followers of Sanatan Dharma. The Gangwars are primary involved in agriculture, and also the service industry, academics,technology and politics. Gangwars are originally from Kannauj
and people of this clan are found in the Rohilkhand
or ancient Panchala
region of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
. Specially in the districts of Rampur
, Bareilly
, Pilibhit
and Farukhabad.
Kshatraps; from known historical facts it is found that they originally belonged to Gaharwar family ruling Kannauj
before the invasion of Gori in last decade of 13th Century. After this turmoil Gaharwars settled themselves in Swargdwari
in the Ganga basin and Marwar
. Gaharwars ruled Swargdwari
till King Kunwar Rai Singh, better known as Khor
left this place and set up a new Gorakha Kingdom in Gorakhpur
in Terai region in 1210 A.D. Khor
was a disciple of Guru Gorakhnath and lost war against Samsuddin, subedar of Badaun under Qutubuddin Aibak. Gangwars returned back to region with the joint army Sindhias Holkar
s in 1751 defeating Afghans
and Pathan
s. After this great victory over Rohilkhand
Gangwars decided to settle in this region. Gangwars are often cited as some of the most prominent people in the ancient Indian history and they are Suryavanshi Kshatriyas, the great rulers of ancient India under the Emperor Chandragupta Maurya
and Ashoka the Great.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Subcaste within the Kurmi
Kurmi
The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
.
Gangwars are mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in Northern India. In the districts of Rampur, Bareilly, Pillibhit & Farukhabad, they were mercenaries in the army of Shiva Ji and later settled around Ganga in Uttar Pradesh hence the surname seems of Maratha origin. They are mainly speakers of the Hindi language. Gangwars are well cultured, civilized people and followers of Sanatan Dharma. The Gangwars are primary involved in agriculture, and also the service industry, academics,technology and politics. Gangwars are originally from Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
and people of this clan are found in the Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
or ancient Panchala
Panchala
Panchala is an ancient region of northern India, which corresponds to the geographical area around the Ganges River and Yamuna River, the upper Gangetic plain in particular. This would encompass the modern-day states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. During the ancient times, it was home to a...
region of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Specially in the districts of Rampur
Rampur District
Rampur district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Rampur town is the district headquarters. Rampur district is a part of Moradabad division. The district occupies an area of 2,367 km²...
, Bareilly
Bareilly
Bareilly is a prominent city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of the Bareilly division and the geographical region Rohilkhand...
, Pilibhit
Pilibhit
Pilibhit |Hafizabad]]) is a city and a municipal board in the Pilibhit district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Pilibhit is the north-eastern most district of Bareilly division, situated in the Rohilkhand region of the sub-Himalayan Plateau belt on the boundary of Nepal, known for the origin...
and Farukhabad.
| Kshatriya clan: Gangwar (गंगवार) | |
| Vansh | Kurmi Kurmi The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra... |
| Descended from: | Kannauj Kannauj Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital... (Gaharwar) |
| Language: | Kannauji Kannauji Kannauji language is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh... |
Tracing History
In the medieval history this clan is found to be mercenaries in the army of Shivaji and other MarathaMaratha
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;...
Kshatraps; from known historical facts it is found that they originally belonged to Gaharwar family ruling Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
before the invasion of Gori in last decade of 13th Century. After this turmoil Gaharwars settled themselves in Swargdwari
Swargdwari
-Historical town of Swargdwari:Swargdwari was the Capital town of Gaharwars and was located in Kaimganj Tehsil of District Farrukhabad in Northern state Uttar Pradesh of India....
in the Ganga basin and Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
. Gaharwars ruled Swargdwari
Swargdwari
-Historical town of Swargdwari:Swargdwari was the Capital town of Gaharwars and was located in Kaimganj Tehsil of District Farrukhabad in Northern state Uttar Pradesh of India....
till King Kunwar Rai Singh, better known as Khor
Khor
Khor is an ancient region located in the south of ancient Syria, probably around modern Lebanon. It has long been an outpost of ancient Egypt....
left this place and set up a new Gorakha Kingdom in Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, near the border with Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division. Gorakhpur is one of the proposed capitals of the Purvanchal state which is yet to be formed...
in Terai region in 1210 A.D. Khor
Khor
Khor is an ancient region located in the south of ancient Syria, probably around modern Lebanon. It has long been an outpost of ancient Egypt....
was a disciple of Guru Gorakhnath and lost war against Samsuddin, subedar of Badaun under Qutubuddin Aibak. Gangwars returned back to region with the joint army Sindhias Holkar
Holkar
The Holkar dynasty , whose earliest known clan-man was Malhar Rao, who joined the service of the Peshwa in 1721, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar...
s in 1751 defeating Afghans
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
and Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
s. After this great victory over Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
Gangwars decided to settle in this region. Gangwars are often cited as some of the most prominent people in the ancient Indian history and they are Suryavanshi Kshatriyas, the great rulers of ancient India under the Emperor Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
and Ashoka the Great.