Hatkar

Hatkar is a caste found in Deccan region of India.

Etymology

S. B. Joshi traced the origin of the name to the word "Hatakara", meaning cattle herder and a synonym of Dhangar.^[1]

History

S. B. Joshi traced the ancestry of Hatkars (Hattikaras) to the "Patti-Jana" people who were settled to the south of Narmada river in the middle ages. He also traced the etymology of the word "Maratha" to "Mara-hatta", and theorized that the region was originally known as "Hatta-desa".^[1]

The Ain-i-Akbari mentions a Hatkar force of 1,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry. ^[2]

In 1819, the Hatkar leader Novsaji Naik rebelled against the Nizam's rule in the Nanded district.^[3] Also known as Naosaji, he held the forts of Nowah and Umerkhed, where he assembled a large number of Arab mercenary soldiers. The British-trained Nizam's contingent was called in to put down the rebellion.^[4]

Culture

There is an expression, "Dhangar's ram and Hatkar's flag". Meaning, the one who tends to ram and sheep is Dhangar, while one with a flag is Hatkar. The flag is sparrowtailed and is bi-coloured. The upper-half is yellow, and the second half is red.^[5]

Traditionally, the Hatkars are distinguished from other Dhangar by wearing a red turban, earring and a coarse blanket and carrying staff. Their women wear a considerable number of rings, necklaces, nose rings and ankle bangles.^[6]

References

1 2 Joshi, S. B.. (1952). Etymology of place names paṭṭi-haṭṭi: Some observations on the History of Mahārāṣṭra & Karṇāṭaka. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 33(1/4), 41–56.
↑ Ghulam Yazdani (1961). The Early History of the Deccan. Oxford University Press. p. 25.
↑ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Osmanabad District. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery, and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1971. p. 72.
↑ P. V. Kate (1987). Marathwada Under the Nizams, 1724-1948. Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7099-017-8.
↑ Parbhani Gazetteer
↑ David J. Phillips (1 January 2001). Peoples on the Move: Introducing the Nomads of the World. William Carey Library. pp. 369–. ISBN 978-0-87808-352-7. Retrieved 23 June 2013.

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[SBJ_1952-1] 1 2 Joshi, S. B.. (1952). Etymology of place names paṭṭi-haṭṭi: Some observations on the History of Mahārāṣṭra & Karṇāṭaka. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 33(1/4), 41–56.

[2] Ghulam Yazdani (1961). The Early History of the Deccan. Oxford University Press. p. 25.

[3] Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Osmanabad District. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery, and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1971. p. 72.

[4] P. V. Kate (1987). Marathwada Under the Nizams, 1724-1948. Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7099-017-8.

[5] Parbhani Gazetteer

[Phillips2001-6] David J. Phillips (1 January 2001). Peoples on the Move: Introducing the Nomads of the World. William Carey Library. pp. 369–. ISBN 978-0-87808-352-7. Retrieved 23 June 2013.