Panchkalshi

The Pachkalshi (or Panchkalshi) are an ethnic upper caste community of Hindu society in Maharashtra, India. Hari Keshavji,a 19th-century scholar after studying some ancient text declared that panchkalashi were Somvanshi Kshatriya Pathare (SKP) and since then the community has used this name to describe themselves.[1]

History

They are one of the original communities, who migrated to Mumbai in 13th century AD along with Yaduvanshi king, Raja Bhimdev [2] According to tradition, the Panchkalshis derive their name from the fact that their former headman used to sit on a canopied throne surmounted by five kalashas.[3] A census from 1780 of Mahim and Bombay fort showed Panchkashi to be 8% and 4% of the population of these two localities respectively.[4] During the British era in Mumbai, they community took to carpentry, contract work and architecture.[5] Pachkalshi as well Chaukalshi tribe are found living along the coastal belt of Mumbai & Goa. Panchkalshi consider themselves one notch above Chaukalshis[6]

Surnames

Being natives of Mumbai, many families in the community use surnames derived by adding the suffix -kar to names of the old Mumbai suburbs such as Chembur, Dadar, Mahim, Parel and Worli. Other surnames used by the community include Chaudhari, Chogle, Churi, Desai,Pathare, Devare,Gharat, Kathe, Mali, Mantri, Mhatre, Patil, Patke, Purav,Raut, Sawe, Thakur, Save,Talpade,Virkud and Vartak.

Culture

Panchkalshis have founded at least three Hindu temples in Mumbai like Malkeshwar temple in Parel and also Mahadev temple named after famous Parli Vaijnath temple is said to have been built by them. Another temple built by them is of their Kuldevi Vajreshwari devi.[7][8] The community celebrates a unique festival.On Pithori Amavasya,(last date in Lunar Shaka month of Shravan) the women in the family pray to 64 yoginis for the well-being of the children.The women make offerings to figurines of the 64 deities made of flour.The eldest woman in the family holds the figurines on her head and the children surround her.It signifies that the deities will keep a watch on the children.[9]

The community is often confused with the Pathare Prabhus because during the British era both communities were recorded as the same in the census.Although the culture of both communities may be similar, the two are in fact separate communities.[10]

Notables

  • Dr Sakharam Arjun (1839-1885)-Physician and a founding member of the Bombay Natural History Society[11][12].Step-father of the pioneering woman physician Rukhmabai
  • Dr Rukhmabai (1864-1955) - One of the first Indian lady doctors.[13]
  • Sanjay Raut - a journalist, politician and a member of Indian Parliament representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha.
  • Bharatkumar Raut - a journalist and a former member of Indian Parliament representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha.
  • Vishvamitra - Brahmarishi, and the Chandravanshi (Somavanshi) King of Kanyakubja.

References

  1. ↑ Govinda Nārāyaṇa Māḍagã̄vakara (2009). Govind Narayan's Mumbai: An Urban Biography from 1863. Anthem Press. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-1-84331-305-2.
  2. ↑ Da Cunha, Joseph Gerson (2004). The origin of Bombay. New Delhi: Asian Educational service. p. 42.
  3. ↑ Bombay: social change, 1813-1857
  4. ↑ BRAHME, Sulabha. 39 GROWTH AND METAMORPHOSIS OF BOMBAY THROUGH FOUR CENTURIES OF GLOBALISATION. In: City, Space+ Globalization: An International Perspective: Proceedings of an International Symposium, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the University of Michigan, February 26-28, 1998. College of, 1998. p. 312 (PDF).
  5. ↑ Sahoo, Priyanka (2015). "Melting pot: For the past eight centuries, the Panchkalshi community has helped build Mumbai, literally" (July 25, 2015). Indian Express. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Bombay: the cities within
  7. ↑ The gazetteer of Bombay city and island (1910)
  8. ↑ The Rise of Bombay: A Retrospect By Stephen Meredyth Edwardes
  9. ↑ Sahoo, Priyanka (2015). "Melting pot: For the past eight centuries, the Panchkalshi community has helped build Mumbai, literally" (July 25, 2015). Indian Express. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ↑ Sahoo, Priyanka (2015). "Melting pot: For the past eight centuries, the Panchkalshi community has helped build Mumbai, literally" (July 25, 2015). Indian Express. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Millard W. S. (1932). "The founders of the Bombay Natural History Society". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 35. No. 1 & 2: 196–197.
  12. ↑ Reuben, Rachel (2005). "The Indian Founders". Hornbill (April–June): 13–15.
  13. ↑ Chandra, S., 1992. Whose laws?: Notes on a legitimising myth of the colonial Indian state. Studies in History, 8(2), pp.187-211
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