Bara Balutedar

The Bara Balutedar system was a hereditary village servant system of twelve trades that was found in regions of what is now the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was formally abolished by statute in 1958. The Bara Balutedar included Sunar (goldsmith), Gurav (temple servants), Nhawi (barbers), Parit (washers), Kumbhar (potters), Sutar (carpenters), Lohar (blacksmiths), Chambhar (cobblers), Dhor (makers of ornaments for cattle), Koli (water carriers), Chougula, and Mang and Mahar (Village watchman,messengers,sweepers and land arbitrators)[1].

Under the baluta system, the balutedars had certain rights and privileges at ceremonies, etc.Their services were remunerated by the cultivators in the shape of an annual payment in sheaves of corn and a few seers of other grain grown in the field[2]. , such as wheat, hulga, gram, Tur, groundnut, etc. For special services rendered on ceremonial occasions payments were made in cash, corn or clothes. Sometimes food was given.

The barber, as a balutedar, does many duties not connected with his profession. At the time of a marriage ceremony, when the bridegroom goes to the temple to pray, he holds his horse and receives a turban as present. At village festivals or marriage ceremonies he sometimes acts as a cook. He also serves food and water to the guests on such ceremonies. It is his privilege to act as a messenger at marriage ceremonies and call the invitees for the function. He does massage to persons of distinction at the village. He plays on the pipe and tambour at weddings and on other festive occasions.

The water-carrier not only supplies water to the villages but also keeps watch during floods in the case of villages situated on river banks. He is also useful to the villagers to take them across the river with the help of a sangad (floats joined together).

The castes whose work was considered less important by the farmers were known as alutedar.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jaffrelot, Christopher (2005). Dr. Ambedkar and untouchability : fighting the Indian caste system. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. pp. 10, 20. ISBN 9780231136020.
  2. ↑ Jaffrelot, Christopher (2005). Dr. Ambedkar and untouchability : fighting the Indian caste system. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. p. 20. ISBN 9780231136020.
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