Ramoshi

The Ramoshi in Maharashtra were earlier known as Boya, Berad,Bedar and Vedan.[1][2]

The Ramoshi (Berad) community are believed to have originated from Southern India, from where they migrated to current day western Maharashtra and northern Karnataka.[2]

The community were renowned for their hardiness and resilience, owing to their difficult lifestyle in the forests and hills. This trait allowed them to become strong fighters who were recognised through the region. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, Ramoshi chiefs took the titles of "Nayakas" (Leaders) and a number of strongholds emerged in the area. One of these, grew in power and became a major ally of the Bijapur kingdom, and had an army of over 100,000 infantry, including thousands of musketeers.[2] Ramoshi were employed by the armies of Shivaji, as irregular infantry and fort garrisons and by the Bahmani kingdoms and Mysore.[2] Bahirji Naik, a Ramoshi, was a military commander in the army of Shivaji Maharaj.[3]

The Ramoshi were called ramoossy during the era of the British Raj. The title also denotes the leader of a group or head of a territory.

The community members were also said to have migrated from Telangana and settled under the Maratha Empire and employed by the Marathas for night patrolling and policing.[4]

After the fall of the Maratha Empire, the chaos created by the colonial wars in the region like the Anglo-Maratha Wars as well as British forest policies created conflict over forest rights and put their livelihoods under threat.[2] Also, they were not employed by the British, causing the Ramoshi to revolted against them.[4] Notable among the leaders who led these revolts was Umaji Naik Khomane, who is also seen as one of the early Indian Revolutionaries and freedom fighters.[5] These rebellions and refusal to disarm resulted in the British classifying them as a 'criminal tribe' under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 of the British Raj.[6][2]

After India become independent, the criminal tribe classification was repealed. However, the stigmatisation and negative perceptions of the community remained. The community has initiated efforts to increase awareness about their proud warrior history.[2]

They recognise the Hindu varna system and belong to the kshatriya class. They are Hindu and belong to the Lingayat sect while some are Vaishanavas.[7]

• Umaji Naik Khomane, Indian revolutionary[4]
• Daulat Rao Naik, Indian revolutionary. Joined the revolutionary force led by Vasudev Balwant Phadke with his followers[8][9]
• Bahirji Naik, commander in the army of Shivaji Maharaj[3]

• Precolonial India in Practice, Cynthia Talbot, Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0195136616

• Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh