Ramoshi

The Ramoshi (alternately Berad or Bedar) are an Indian aboriginal community found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.[1] They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe[2] by the Indian government.

They do not consider themselves to be a part of any caste, hence Ramoshi is what their identity is and as well as the name of their group/community, and claim themselves to be Kshatriya's. The Ramoshis practice Lingayat faith.

History

The Ramoshi in Maharashtra were earlier known as Boya, Bedar and Vedan.[3]

The Bedars were employed as Pindari freebooters by the Maratha rulers.[4] They were then classified as a criminal tribe under the Criminal Tribes Acts of the Raj.[5] Ramoshis were employed as Maratha footsoldiers but after the British win over the Marathas, they were unemployed. Taxes were charged from these unemployed families amidst famine. This led to the famous Ramosi rebellion, after which britishers employed them as hill police, decriminalising their tribes.

Culture

Despite belonging to the lowest of Hindu castes they were skilled hunters and warriors.[6] They are Hindu and belong to the Lingayat section while some are Vaishanavas.[7]

References
  1. Sarkar, jadunath (1952). History Of Aurangzib, vol.5. pp. CH.56 Page 173.
  2. List of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (PDF) (Report). p. 3.
  3. Dr. K. Jamanadas. "Criminal Tribes of India". Ambedkar.org. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  4. Roy, M. P. (1973). Origin growth and suppression of the Pindaris. pp. A GENERAL ACCOUNT Page 3.
  5. Bates, Crispin (1995). "Race, Caste and Tribe in Central India: the early origins of Indian anthropometry". In Robb, Peter (ed.). The Concept of Race in South Asia. Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-19-563767-0. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  6. Sarkar, jadunath (1952). History Of Aurangzib, vol.5. pp. CH 56 Page 173.:”Berads, a race of aboriginal Kanarese, also called Dheds, and regarded as one of the lowest in the scale of Hindu castes. They are a virile and hardy people, not much advanced from savagery, but at the same time riot toned down like the over-refined upper castes of Hindu society.”
  7. People of India: Maharashtra, Volume 3, Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Bhanu, Anthropological Survey of India 2004, ISBN 9788179911020

Further reading
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