Gomantak Maratha Samaj
Encyclopedia
Gomantak Maratha Samaj is a Konkani
speaking community found in Indian state of Goa
.They are known as Naik Maratha Samaj
and Nutan Maratha Samaj Karwar
in Karnataka and Sindhudurg
district of Maharashtra respectively.
or Dev meaning God. So Devalis are those who were dedicated or devoted to the temple or to God.Devli males (Jyotkar) lit the temple lamps and mashal(torch) and held Devdanda and acted as attendants (Katkars). Played on ritual musical instruments like Mahavadya,Panchavadya,Ranavadya etc.
prostitution.The system of Devadasi was prevelent in Goa since times immemorial and is thought to have been introduced by the Sumerians,though they held high status in the society then.It founds references throughout Goan history.It is said that the widows of Marathas and sometimes even other castes sought shelter in the temples as they were forced to follow the Sati
tradition.
Portuguese colonial rulers called them "balladares"(singers). Whereas in Sindhudurg British and Dutch called them Devalis (Devali means who comes from temple.) Later, with the religious intolerance of the Portuguese rulers, the temples shifted and lost their glory.
People fled to the neighboring Bombay province, where they had joined the music gharanas to perfect their art and talent. They began organizing themselves after the post- 1910 liberal period of Portuguese rule. In 1910 Rajaram Painginikar started Movement from Paingini Village of Goa. In 1917 Maratha Gayan Samaj (Maratha Singers Society) was formed in Kakode. In 1937 In the leadership of Rajaram Panginikar Gomantak Maratha Samaj, Mumbai's Goa Branch started. This community being educated has a large number of doctors,actors,engineers etc.
At present all the above mentioned once exogamous divisions of the community have become united under Gomantak Maratha Samaj.The main functions of the society were as follows:
The community is noted for excellence in music and dance.While worshiping deities in the temples they played the ritual music.They play classical Indian musical instruments besides the temple instruments.
People include top artists, surgeons, educationalists, politicians and others from Goa,Maharshtra and Karnataka.
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
speaking community found in Indian state of 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...
.They are known as Naik Maratha Samaj
Naik Maratha Samaj
Naik Marathais a Malvani which is dialect of Konkani, speaking community found in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and Neighboring Pernem.-Etymology:...
and Nutan Maratha Samaj 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...
in Karnataka and 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...
district of Maharashtra respectively.
Origin
Gomantak Marathas is relatively a new ameliorative name (coined in late 20th century)given to the group of temple service personnels,for uniting and emancipating them. They originally were following temple related groups:Bhavin,Kalavantini,Kulambini
- Those who participated in music and singing were known as Kalavantini, literally meaning an artist,they always enjoyed a higher position in this community.
- Those who kept the temple lamps,Palanquin,and hold Chamara(Chavar in Konkani) were known as Bhavins,literally a pious lady.
Devli
Etymologically Devli, the word Devli is derived from the word DevulHindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
or Dev meaning God. So Devalis are those who were dedicated or devoted to the temple or to God.Devli males (Jyotkar) lit the temple lamps and mashal(torch) and held Devdanda and acted as attendants (Katkars). Played on ritual musical instruments like Mahavadya,Panchavadya,Ranavadya etc.
Chedvaan,Chede,Bandi,Naik,Farjand
They were not always connected to the temple but with the landlords(Bhatkars),at whose residence they attended all type of household work.Perni
Their main occupation was acrobatics.They used to play Jagar(a form of their play) and it was main source of their livelihood,and held a lower status in their community.History
Goa and neighboring Sindhudurg and Uttar kannada had a system of temple-artists which degenerated intoprostitution.The system of Devadasi was prevelent in Goa since times immemorial and is thought to have been introduced by the Sumerians,though they held high status in the society then.It founds references throughout Goan history.It is said that the widows of Marathas and sometimes even other castes sought shelter in the temples as they were forced to follow the Sati
Sati
Sati may refer to:*An alternative name for Hindu goddess Dakshayani, Shiva's first wife*Sati , an ancient Indian tradition of the immolation of a widow on her husband's funeral pyre, now illegal*Mindfulness...
tradition.
Portuguese colonial rulers called them "balladares"(singers). Whereas in Sindhudurg British and Dutch called them Devalis (Devali means who comes from temple.) Later, with the religious intolerance of the Portuguese rulers, the temples shifted and lost their glory.
People fled to the neighboring Bombay province, where they had joined the music gharanas to perfect their art and talent. They began organizing themselves after the post- 1910 liberal period of Portuguese rule. In 1910 Rajaram Painginikar started Movement from Paingini Village of Goa. In 1917 Maratha Gayan Samaj (Maratha Singers Society) was formed in Kakode. In 1937 In the leadership of Rajaram Panginikar Gomantak Maratha Samaj, Mumbai's Goa Branch started. This community being educated has a large number of doctors,actors,engineers etc.
At present all the above mentioned once exogamous divisions of the community have become united under Gomantak Maratha Samaj.The main functions of the society were as follows:
- To promote their education.
- To take precautionary measures to stop Devadasi system.
- To arrange marriages of their daughters.
- Other community welfare activities for their community.
Demography
- They are concentrated in different parts of Konkan region,viz.Goa,Karwar,Sindhudurga,Mangalore.
- They speak Konkani and use Marathi for correspondence.
- They belong to ShudraShudraShudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
Varna,and are not included in the Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes list. - Bio-anthropological information about this community is not available.Most of them have fair complexion and are good looking.
- Rice and fish is their staple food.They partake flesh of goat and sheep but do not eat beef and pork.
Marriage and divorce
Marriage was not prevalent amongst many in the past.In the present era,all the old customs have been banned.They marry according the Hindu riots.Marriage is prohibited amongst members of community bearing the same surname as they are believed to belong to the same Kul or clan.Cross-cousin marriages are prevalent and they follow customs followed by other Hindus.Earlier a bride-price was prevalent.Widow marriage is permitted and divorce is not so commonOccupational activities
Some of them now own lands and are engaged in agriculture(cashewnuts,coconuts).Many are engaged in white color jobs.Most of them are economically sound and educated.Some of them have earned reputation as politicians.Religion and culture
As Hindus they follow all Gods and Goddesses.They revere their clan deities and celebrate most of the Hindu festivals.The community is noted for excellence in music and dance.While worshiping deities in the temples they played the ritual music.They play classical Indian musical instruments besides the temple instruments.
Prominent members of the community
People of this community are well known for their intelligence and success in the fields of art, education and science.People include top artists, surgeons, educationalists, politicians and others from Goa,Maharshtra and Karnataka.
Classical Singers and Playback Singers
- Lata MangeshkarLata MangeshkarLata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, Singer - Asha BhosleAsha BhosleAsha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
, Singer - Usha MangeshkarUsha MangeshkarUsha Mangeshkar is an Indian singer who has recorded many Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati songs soundtracks.She is daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar & Shevanti . She is the younger sister of singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle and elder to her music-director brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar...
, Singer - Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Music Director,Singer
- Meena Mangeshkar Hardikar, Singer
- Kishori AmonkarKishori AmonkarKishori AmonkarN- is an Indian singer who performs in the classical genre khyal and the light classical genres thumri and bhajan. Amonkar trained under her mother, classical singer Mogubai Kurdikar of the Jaipur gharana , but experimented with a variety of vocal styles in her career...
, Classical Singer - Kesarbai Kerkar, Classical Singer
- Hirabai BadodekarHirabai BadodekarHirābai Barodekar was a renowned Indian Hindustāni classical music singer, of Kirana gharana. She also sang along with her younger sister, Saraswati Rane, whom she also trained, in jugalbandi style.-Early life and background:...
, Classical Singer - Anjanibai Malpekar, Classical Singer
- Jyotsna Bhole, Singer
Politicians
- Dayanand BandodkarDayanand BandodkarDayanand Bandodkar was the first Chief Minister of Goa after the territory was returned to India by Portugal. A wealthy mine owner, he sought to merge the territory with the state of Maharashtra...
, First CM of Goa - Shashikala KakodkarShashikala KakodkarShashikala Kakodkar is a prominent leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party , a political party based in Goa, India, that espouses the cause of the Bahujan Samaj .-Second chief minister of post-1961 Goa:She is the daughter of Goa's first chief minister...
, Former CM and Minister of Goa
Film Actors and Actresses
- Kimi KatkarKimi KatkarKimi Katkar was a successful model and popular actress of Bollywood from the 1980s to the early 1990s.-Career:Kimi Katkar made her acting debut in the 1985 film, Patthar Dil as a supporting actress. Later that year, she starred in Tarzan , where she played the lead opposite Hemant Birje...
, Hindi Actress - Namrata ShirodkarNamrata Shirodkar- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
, Hindi Actress - Shilpa ShirodkarShilpa ShirodkarShilpa Shirodkar is an Indian actress who enjoyed a period of popularity in the 1990s.-Early life:Shirodkar is the elder sister of actress and former Miss India Namrata Shirodkar. Shilpa and Namrata started their careers together, but Shilpa started with films and Namrata with modeling; and by the...
, Marathi Actress - Meenakshi Shirodkar, Marathi Actress
- Indumati Paingankar (Kanan Kaushal)
- Lalan Sarang, Marathi Stage Actress
- Kamlakar Sarang, Marathi Stage Actor/Director
- Ashalata Wabgaonkar, Marathi Actress
Royal Military, India Army Officers
- Raysaheb Dr. Ramaji Dhondaji Khanolkar, Royal British Army Officer
- Major G.Captain Vikram Khanolkar, 5/11th Sikh Regiment
- Savitri Khanolkar, Designer of Paramveer Chakra
- Subhedar Vishnu Sakharam Parulekar, (Royal British Army)
Drama Actors and Actress
- Dinanath MangeshkarDinanath MangeshkarDinanath Mangeshkar was a well-known Marathi theatre actor, a renowned Natya Sangeet musician and an exceptional Hindustani classical vocalist....
, Marathi theater actor - Master Mama Mochemadkar, Dashavtar Actor
Educators, Institute Founders
- Raysaheb Dr. Ramaji Dhondaji Khanolkar, Royal Military Official, Founder of RDK Highschool in Vengurla and Primary School.
- R.N.Welingkar
- Dr Shyamrao Moolgaonkar
- Narayan Rao Walawalkar, The Great Royal Circus First Owner
- Mr.Pratap Walawalkar, Proprietor of The Great Royal Circus
Musicians,Lyricist,Writers, Novelists,Directors,Producers
- Hirabai Pednekar, Well known Marathi Drama Write (Sawantwadi)
- Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Musician
- Bhalji PendharkarBhalji PendharkarBhalji Pendharkar was a film personality in India, and recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious award in the field....
,recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award - Baburao Pendharkar
- Master Vinayak
- Prabhakar Pendharkar
Engineer's,Doctors,Scientist and Lawyers
- A. B. Walawalkar (Railway Engineer,Father of Konkan Railway)
- Dr.V. R. KhanolkarV. R. KhanolkarVasant Ramji Khanolkar M.D. better known as V. R. Khanolkar was an eminent Indian Pathologist.He made major contributions to the epidemiology and understanding of cancer, blood groups, and leprosy...
was the first pathologist in India, Father of pathology and medical research in India - Dr.Raghunath Anant MashelkarRaghunath Anant MashelkarRaghunath Anant Mashelkar is also known as Ramesh Mashelkar. He is the former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research , a chain of 38 publicly funded industrial research and development institutions in India....
, Scientist
See also
- List of Surnames of Gomantak Maratha and Naik Maratha
- Naik Maratha SamajNaik Maratha SamajNaik Marathais a Malvani which is dialect of Konkani, speaking community found in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and Neighboring Pernem.-Etymology:...
- Nutan Maratha Samaj
- KonkanKonkanThe Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
- Konkani peopleKonkani peopleKonkani people , form a group of people mainly found in the Konkan Coast of western India whose mother-tongue is the Konkani language....
- MalvaniMalvaniMalvani is a dialect of Konkani with significant Marathi influences and loanwords. Some define it as a Creole between Konkani and Marathi. Though Malvani does not have a unique script, scripts of the other languages native to the regions its speakers inhabit are used. Devanagari is used by most of...
- Konkani