Chitpavan Brahmins

Chitpavan / Kokanastha Brahmins
Classification	Brahmin
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Marathi, Chitpavani Konkani
Populated states	Maharashtra, Goa

The Chitpavan, Chitpawan, or Konkanastha (कोकणस्थ ब्राह्मण) are a Brahmin community of a violent disposition from Konkan, the coastal region of western Maharashtra. There are no references to the Chitpavans in any of the ancient, medieval or modern Hindu scriptures such as the Itihasas, Puranas, Bhagvad Gita, Upanishads, etc. This is a strong indication that the Chitpavans have origins and roots outside of India and that they were the very last group of migrants to arrive in Konakan. Multiple DNA analyses on specimens of Chitpawan community members confirm this suggesting a non-Hindu, Turko-Iranian origin

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the community made significant contributions in the fields of social reform and the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The community has however been a laggard in the highly intellectual and abstract fields of Hindu philosophy and metaphysics. No commentaries on any of the Hindu scriptures in the Bhasya tradition have been forthcoming from the community. This is in stark contrast with other established communities who have produced philosophers like Dnyaneshwar, Adi Shankara, Madhavacharya, etc. Linda Cox conjectures that the extremist nature of the Chitpawans is the cause of zero saints or philosophers from the community in their Indian sojourn. The community has now fled far and wide to Australia, UK & USA and many other Asian, African, European countries.

A distinguishing characteristic of the Chitpawans as contrasted with other Maharastrian communities is their excessive stinginess - they are generally considered real tightwads.

Konkanastha refers to a geographical location and can imply people of the Maratha caste from that region, hence the preferred name for this community is either Chitpavan or Chitpawan.

On December 23, 2007, Chitpavans from all over the world ignored the Indian Constitution which outlaws race and caste based discrimination and descended on the city of Pune in a "Chitpavans Only" congregation demonstrating Chitpavan-pride. Actors, scientists, teachers, CEOs, doctors and ordinary Chitpavan folk attended the congregation. Naturalized and jus soli Chitpavan citizens from North American and Eurpoean countries may have been in violation of their own laws and constitution in attending such a congregation.

The world population of chitpavans is around 1.5 million.

Origins and Roots

Upon landing on the Konkan coast no later than the 18th century and no earlier than the 17th, the Chitpavans established themselves in Konkan, learning the Maharashtrian language, culture and customs. The community still remained in Konkan and was unheard of in the Desh, or the nation, literally. This changed in 1713 when Chattrapati Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, a member of the Chitpavan community as a Peshwa or Chief Minister. Balaji Vishwanath Bhat quickly filled all key positions in the Maratha administration by people from the Chitpavan community - so much so that never again until B. G. Kher in 1937 did a non-Chitpavan hold the key position of Chief Minister in Maharashtra. A snapshot of the top polity of the Maratha Empire in 1770 shows that eight of the twelve key ministerial positions were given to Chitpawan kinsmen by appointment in what can only be inferred as rampant nepotism. During this period Chitpavans were arriving en masse from Konkan to the Desh to fill the positions created in the Maratha administration.

In the period between the death of Chhattrapati Shahu in 1749 to 1761 battle of Panipat, the Peshwas enjoyed status as de facto head of Maratha empire. Afterwards, with exception of Madhavrao, all other peshwas remained ceremonial heads of the Maratha confederacy like their master Chhattrapati.

The Chitpavans gained prominence during the reign of Shahu in the 18th century and since have established themselves firmly and prominently in the Indian social hierarchy. The prominence in the Indian social hierarchy can be attributed to a collection of factors including:

1. The fact that Chitpavans stand out by virtue of their light or fair skin tone amongst a largely tan skinned population.
2. Nepotistic use of administrative power to uplift the hitherto impoverished community
3. Maintaining ethnic exclusivity by marriage only within the community
4. Frugal accounting practices

All of the above factors hold true to this day as is evidenced by the Chitpavan foundations that exclusively offer jobs, facilitate arranged marriages for Chitpavans only. Proud mission objectives such as "To initiate job opportunities for Chitpavans and business development" and "Economic upliftment of Chitpavan community and welfare of society at large" can be seen on the Internet.

Racism, Skin Color and Chitpavan Pride

The Chitpavan community harbors a very high, self aggrandizing opinion of themselves. Given the fact that the community has made zero contributions to the highly intellectual and abstract fields of Hindu metaphysics and Indian philosopy, it is confounding to determine the source of such Chitpavan pride. While the Chitpavans have generated a number of social reformers and nationalists, one can very easily point out an equal number of social reformers and nationalists from any peer community throughout India. Furthermore, the Chitpavan Peshwas were at the helm of political affairs when they lost the Maratha empire, an empire founded and built by Shivaji and the Marathas. Given the lack of any accomplishments in the superlative, it is bewildering to the outside observer from a neutral view-point to identify the source of such an inflated and superior self-opinion of the community other than attributing it to their fair skin color in a landscape that is predominantly tan colored. This phenomenon fits the classic dictionary meaning of the word racism.

On December 23, 2007, one hundred and twenty thousand Chitpavans from twenty-two countries (including US citizens) descended on the city of Pune in a show of Chitpavan strength and Chipavan-pride. Anil Nene of London announced the Chitpavans' pledge to raise Rs. 1000 crore (or roughly $200 million) for the "upliftment" of the Chitpavan community, a community that is already privileged. This is at a time when the World Bank estimates that $2.5 billion would be required to fight the starvation and malnutrition faced by 47% or roughly 215 million of Indian children. An actor, Vinay Apte while making a fiery speech, pointed to the huge Chitpavan crowd and exclaimed that the politicians better take a note of the strength displayed by the Konkanastha Brahmins.

Details of DNA Analyses

In recent study conducted by Sonali Gaikwad and VK Kashyap for National DNA Analysis Center, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Kolkata, they write in their paper "Molecular insight into the genesis of ranked caste populations of western India based upon polymorphisms across nonrecombinant and recombinant regions in genome" the following

"Chitpavan brahmin demonstrates younger maternal component and substantial paternal gene flow from West Asia, thus giving credence to their recent Irano-Scythian ancestry from Mediterranean or Turkey, which correlated well with European-looking features of this caste. This also explains their untraceable ethno-history before 1000 years, brahminization event and later amalgamation by Maratha..... For Y-chromosomal polymorphisms, the frequency distribution of 10 Y-haplogroups: H, R1a1, R1a, R2, L, J2, C, K2, P* and F* was determined. R1a had very high frequency (32%) in Chitpavan-brahmin from “Konkan” as compared to <=5% in other castes. Indianspecific R2 and L accounts for 29.4% Dhangar and 17% Chitpavan-brahmin chromosomes respectively......Mitochondrial DNA diversity in 77 individuals as one haplotype each was shared within Maratha and Chitpavan brahmin respectively. M lineages had frequency of 67% in Chitpavan-brahmin. The other South-Asian specific diverse sub-clusters of R and U were also frequent in Chitpavan-brahmin (84%). Neolithic migration and very recent Western influence was seen more (14-15%) in Chitpavan-brahmin and Desasth-brahmin than the other two castes (Maratha and Dhangar)........ Haplotype diversities were highest (1.000 ± 0.017) in Dhangar and Desasth-brahmin while haplotypes were shared within Maratha and Chitpavan-brahmin. The studied groups did not share haplotypes among them....."

The authors give following conclusion

"Chitpavan-brahmin and Desasth-brahmin constitutes just 10% of entire populace (~80 million) of western India. Their different marriage rules, varied customs, different local dialects (southern branch of Indo-Aryan language) illustrated distinct origins. Our extensive comparative analyses support their different ethno-histories. The Y-chromosomes of Marathi speaking Desasth-brahmin carried R1a1 lineage in high frequency, which reflected their considerable affinity with Central Asian giving credence to their “Scythic” descent (admixture, PC plot, AMOVA analysis). Their intermediate mtDNA diversity comprise of low frequency West-Eurasian clades and significant Paleolithic gene pool (M) indicating South-Asian ancestry, which provide evidence of their tribal origin due to upward social mobility of females as shown by study of Baig et al. (2004). These Brahmin subjects presented highest number of biparental alleles, heterozygosity and genetic affinity with Central Asians. These analyses provide evidence of “Scytho-Dravidian” genesis of Desasthbrahmin. They are the ancient upper-caste comprising of 50 sub-divisions or “gotra” because the considerable time-depth as inferred from Tau value, helped them to consolidate their predominance in different administrative jobs besides traditional priesthood.

Conversely, non-recombining uniparental contributions in Chitpavan-brahmin Mediterranean or East European type as shown by 20% (HV, U3) mtDNA lineages and highly frequent (R1a and L) Y-haplogroups. The admixture and PC analyses reflected genetic association of Chitpavan-brahmin with Iranian, Ashkenazi-Jews (Turkey), Greeks (East Europe) and to some extent with Central Asian Turkish populations elucidating their distinct Nordic, “Scytho-Iranian” ancestry. The Caucasian link of Chitpavanbrahmin has also been inferred from biparental microsatellites variations. The observed genomic analyses asserted the ethnographical fact that Chitpavan-brahmin share ancestry with conspicuously European-looking Pagan or Alpine group, who under religious pressure had migrated from Anatolian Turkey or East Europe to Gujarat coast probably via sea-vessel. Besides, their documented history is untraceable beyond 1000 years, further indicating that they were not part of the original Vedic migrations (early Indo-European) on the west coast. Therefore, the present genome analyses provide conclusive evidence of their recent migration, genesis, and expansion after they migrated from “Sopara” (India’s western trade zone) to geographically isolated Konkan-region, where they adopted “Konkani” language, and cultivated cash crop. Their considerable genetic affinity with Maratha caste further corroborated the prevalent norm that few of the dynamic and intelligent Chitpavans were “Brahmanized” for performing religious rituals in King Shivaji’s court. We observed 15% similar HVS -1 sequence motif (M4 lineage) between Chitpavan-brahmin and Bene-Israeli (or Indian Jews), probably suggesting similar indigenous Paleolithic contribution. Compared to Desasth-brahmin, Kokanasth-brahmin showed lowest biparental diversity, younger age of population based upon Tau value, larger genetic affinity with West Asians plus East Europeans suggesting their recent descent, in absence of bottleneck effect. However, recent marriages between Desasth-brahmin boy and Chitpavan girl have contributed towards their genetic affinity"

Other research in genetics of Chitpavan Brahmins state as follows

"The origins on the maternal side (mt-DNA) are equally surprising. Unlike most other Indians whose maternal origins can be almost exclusively traced to the single macro-haplogroup M (mt-DNA), studies (Kivisild et al. 2003, Gaikwad et al. 2005) indicate that the Chitpavan gene-pool shows the presence of various other Central Asian and European mt-DNA haplogroups, in particular, the U (mt-DNA), H (mt-DNA), HV (mt-DNA), X (mt-DNA), R* (mt-DNA), and N1 (mt-DNA) haplgroups.

On the paternal side (Y-DNA), R1a (Y-DNA) is the most frequently found haplogroup. Incidentally, this haplogroup is also commonly found amongst North Indians (Sahoo et al. 2006), Central Asians, and East Europeans. The rate of R1a is also high among south indian castes such as Pallars, Kallars, Yadavas and Sourashtrians as well as among tribals such as Badagas. The origin of R1a or haplogroup M17 is debatable as either southern Central Asia or South Asia or Western Caucasus or Eastern Europe. Oxford University geneticist Stephen Oppenheimer has come to the conclusion through his genetic findings that "South Asia is logically the ultimate origin of M17 and his ancestors", and that "one estimate for the age of this line in India is as much as 36,000 years old" (See Haplogroup R1a (Y-DNA) ).

The presence of a deep common ancestry between these regions remains a puzzle to this day. Haplogroup J2 (Y-DNA) is another frequently found haplogroup considered to be of Middle-Eastern origins and found in a lot of higher-caste Indians. There is also a significant presence of Haplogroups R2 (Y-DNA), L (Y-DNA), and H1 (Y-DNA) which are believed to be of Indian origin and dominantly found in Western and South Indians (Sahoo et al. 2006).

Based on the current evidence therefore, it does seem then that the aforementioned racial characteristics can be most likely traced to their maternal side."

Appearance, Language, Society, Culture and Social Stature

Appearance

In olden days, common description given to chitpavan brahmins was "Chitpavan Brahmin folks are easily recognised by the certain characteristics (they are only indicative and not exclusive). They are mostly fair skinned and may have light coloured eyes (blue,green, grey). Straight or snub nose with distinctive jawline is another feature.Soft, radiant glowing skin. Hair colour can tend towards lighter blonde shade. Physique is average and generally supple."They fall under Panchdravid Brahmins. [13] (Chitpavan Brahmins Community website)

In his book "Indian Caste" by John Wilson, he writes

"Sir George Clarke, who had a most extensive acquaintance with the natives of India, thinks them the cleverest class of men in the country. They are amongst the fairest probably the fairest) of the Hindu races". He also gives reference to book "History of Marathas" by James Grant Duff (vol 1 pg 77)

The Kolaba District Gazetteers of 1881 says

"They are about the middle size, fair, and their women are graceful. They speak Marathi, and are clean, neat, thrifty, and orderly.A few are teachers, Government servants, and religious beggars. They own mud and stone built houses surrounded by gardens. Their every day food is rice, rice and wheat bread, pulse, vegetables, butter, and curds. They take two meals a day. The men wear a round peaked turban, coat, waist cloth and shoulder cloth, and square toed shoos, and the women a robe and bodice. In religion they are Smarts, and observe the regular Hindu fasts and feasts. As a class they are well-to-do."

Linda Cox article was originally published in the February 22, 1970 issue of the now defunct Illustrated Weekly of India. The article may be a part of her thesis on the Chitpavans. She writes

"When you spot a Maharashtrian with blue or green eyes, ten to one he is a Chitpavan. And his fair colouring suggests a foreign origin. A history of the Bene Israelis, who settled in the Kolaba district of the Konkan, claims the Chitpavans as fellow Jews who became separated from their shipmates. Other accounts have guessed at a homeland anywhere from Iran to just north of Sholapur."

Language

Most of the chitpavani brahmins in Maharashtra have adopted Marathi as their language. Till 1950's in Konkan, most of the chitpavans spoke a language called chitpavani Konkani in their homes. It is a transitional dialect of Goan Konkani language. Although it is mostly extinct from Maharashtra, it is still used by the families residing in Goa and coastal Karnataka. Efforts are being done to revive the language.

Society Structure

The konkanastha brahmins have two sub-groups, i.e. the Rigvedi Konkanastha and the Yajurvedi Konkanastha. They belong to the Smartha Sect. The community comprises fourteen gotras (clans) which as one of the regulators of marriage the gotras are linked with mythical sains and sages and are not hierarchically arranged. The gotras are Atri, Kapi, Kashyap, Kondinya, Gargya, Kaushik, Jamadagni, Nityundana, Bhargava, Bharadwaj, Vatsya, Vashistha, Vishnuvruddha and Shandilya. All the fourteen gotras are clustered into seven groups which are known as the gana. A gotra belonging to a particular gana cannot be considered for marriage with another gotra of same gana. The gana are as follows:- Atri-Kapi, Gargya-Bhardwaj, Koundiya-Vashistha, Kashyap-Shandilya, Kaushik-Bhargava, Jamadagni-Vatsa, Nityundana-Vishnuvruddha. Besides gotra and gana, konkanastha brahmins observe the Tri (three) and Panch (Five) Pravara system. Chitpavans also revere deities connected with gotras known as the devakas and each family worships it's devaka at the time of marriage, while individuals with the same devaka can marry. There are four hundred and forty surnames amongst konkanastha Brahmins.

There is no mention of them in Indian history prior to the reign of the Peshwas except 1691's Sanskrit book. A Sanskrit book namely Shat-Prashna-Kalp-Latika was written in 1691 by the Rajapur-based Karhade Brahmin scholar and Village Joshi-Madhav which mentions that race of Chitpvans is “Berber” (mixed race of Indian and Greek).A popular story goes that a group of local Brahmins migrated to Egypt from Konkan coast in around the 2nd century AD and intermarried with Greeks, North African black people who colonized the region of Egypt around the Nile river. These people kept the knowledge of Sanskrit and the Samarth Shaiv religion alive for centuries. After conquest of Egypt by Arabs these “Egyptian” people moved to the “Sokotra” island near Yemen and later moved to Dapoli Tahsil in Konkan in 7th century. The Marathi Translation of this book is available at the Royal Asiatic library Mumbai and Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Manadal, Pune (also known as as "Saraswati Mandal", 1885)

The earliest reference to the Chitpavans in Indian literature can be found in the Sahyadri Khand, a section of the Skanda Purana. It may have been composed sometime during 8-12th century by a scholar from a rival group. Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text believed to be written and compiled over a long period, from 6th century to 15th century, is the largest Purana, and is devoted mainly to the life and deed of Kartikeya (also called Skanda), a son of Shiva.

However, in Sanskrit Version of Sahyadri Khanda and in copies of same Khanda found in South India, does not have any reference about Chitpavans or any story about Sage Parshuram.There is scant reference to Chitpavans in Indian history prior to the reign of the Peshwas.

The following is a highly debatable summary of the legend from Sahyadri Khand. Parashurama, the sixth avatara of Vishnu was so defiled by the slaughter of the Kshatriyas that Brahmins refused to perform any ceremonies for him. At that time the bodies of fourteen persons happened to be cast ashore by the sea which then washed the foot of the Sahyadri hills. These "corpses" Parashurama purified, by burning them on a funeral pyre or chita, and restored them to life. He taught them the Brahmin rituals, and made them perform ceremonies to free them from guilt. Parashurama wished to give these new Brahmins some land; and since the Deccan had already been given to other Brahmins, he prayed to the God of the sea to spare him some of his domain. Initially the sea god did not agree to retire. Hence, Parshurama decided to throw a Bramhastra (missile) on the sea to render it dry. Then the scared sea god agreed to retire as far west as the Bramhastra would hit the waters from the crest of the Sahyadris. The arrow was shot and reclaimed a belt of land about thirty miles broad. The banks of the Vashishthi, about forty miles north of Ratnagiri, were set apart for the new Brahmins, and in memory of the process by which they had been purified they were called Chitpavans ('chita - pavan', meaning 'pyre purified' in Sanskrit (it could also mean a 'pious mind' 'chit - mind,pavan - pious) and their settlement Chitpolan. After establishing this settlement, Parashurama retired to Gokarna in North Kanara.

Culture

Traditionally the konkanastha Brahmins were a community of priests who offer religious services to other communities. Apart from this, agriculture is also practiced by the community members who possess arable land. They are now prominent in various white collar jobs, and business.

Chitpavans are traditionally strict vegetarians. The staple cereal is rice, while pulses include tur dal. The cooking media include groundnut oil and sunflower oil. They consume dairy products; take both tea and coffee, while consumption of tobacco products and betel leaves is prevalent.

Monogamy is practiced by Konkanastha Brahmins. At present adult marriage is practiced, while child marriage was acceptable in the past, requiring the release of children to their marital partners at the coming of age. Marital matches arranged by parents, with the consent of the individuals, is the most widespread mode of acquiring a mate. The symbols of marriage include a spot of vermillion on the forehead, a mangal sutra and toe rings. The bride is often expected to reside at the groom's family home after marriage. Remarriage is allowed for widows, widowers and divorcee. Equigeniture is the rule, as Women also inherit paternal property. The marriage is fixed by consulting the horoscopes of the bride and groom. The marriage takes place at brides place. Haldi (turmeric paste) is applied to both the bride and groom by married women. After kanyadaan, malabadal is done where in the bride and groom put garlands around each other's neck, along with the observance of offering worship at sacred fire(hom). The groom ties the mangal sutra around the neck of the bride.

On child birth, Shastipujan is done on the sixth day. On the 12th day the name giving ceremony is performed. The 'jawal' (head shaving) is performed both for male and female children after attaining the age of one year. At eight years a male child undergoes another shaving of his head for his Upanayana, Munja or sacred thread ceremony. The shaving is done by a barber and the rituals are officiated over by a Brahmin priest. Mundan is not performed for girl child, it is a sanskar that is performed on boy child.

Social status

After entry of Chitpavans in Maratha empire,initially they were struggling to get administrative and military jobs. Most of the administrators in the government of Shivaji Maharaj were Deshastha Brahmins and Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu. Deshastha influence waned during the rule of Nanasaheb Peshwa except for the post of “Panditrao” (Minister related to Religious issues)and Chief Justice. Other valuable posts like Phadanvis (Finance Secretary) Kotwal (Home Secretary) and various military rank were dominated by chitpavans.

This usurping of power by Chitpavans from Deshastha Brahmins resulted in intense rivalry between the two communities resulting in each community trying to prove themselves superior leading to constructive and largely cordial competition.19th century records mention Gramanyas between the Chitpavans and the Daivajnas,the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus,which lasted for about ten years.

Pre Independence

In his book Western India in the Nineteenth Century , Ravinder Kumar shows the common beliefs propagated by the communities to prove themselves superior over other

the deshasths brahmins of maharashtra believed that they were the highest of all brahmins. Upon the chitpavans, they looked down with scarcely veiled contempt as parvenus(A Parvenu is a person that is a relative newcomer to a socioeconomic class.), barely fit to associate on terms of equality with the noblest of dvijas. A chitpavan who was invited to a deshasth home was a privileged individual, and even the Peshwa was denied the rights to use the ghats reserved for deshasth priests at Nashik on the Godavari. Prior to the British conquest of 1818, the administration of Maharashtra was dominated by the chitpavans, who possessed greater intellectual agility and political acumen than the deshasths, and who were consequently able to exercise a more profound influence over the region. The community produced men of distinction in politics, in the field of scholarship and in the art of war like skilled diplomat Nana Phadnavis.

In colonial period of late 19th Century Chitpavans dominated Political,Social Reform, Education fields, Legal and Media/Journalism whereas Deshasthas dominated Medical, Administration, Engineering, Saint/Writer, Music and Legal fields.

Post Independence

Post Independence the rivalry between the groups has waned. Now both accept each other as vedic brahmins. Both the communities have produced many greats in field for arts, music, science, mathematics and literature. The comings together of the two communities are highlighted by number of inter-community marriages and inter mixing of them at social, professional and political level.

History after 17th Century

Peshwas of Maratha Kingdom

Main article: Peshwas

Chitpavans were relatively unknown outside Konkan until the 16th century. Later the ruler of the Maratha kingdom Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj appointed a Chitpavan Brahmin, Balaji Vishwanath Bhatt as his Peshwa or Prime Minister in the 17th century. It was the first time a Brahmin of Konkan origin held an important position in Deccani politics in Maharashtra.

Balaji Vishawnath Bhat (born circa 1670, died on 02.04.1720), Peshawa of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. Balaji was Deshmukh of Shrivardhan in Raigad district. Around 1700 he had some differences, unknown to history, with Nawab Siddi of Murud Janjira who ruled over Shrivardhan Karyat in Konkan. Siddi wanted to capture and punish Balaji but sensing this, Balaji escaped and crossed over the Western Ghats. He entered into the service of Senapati Dhanaji Jadhavrao as accountant.

When Shahu Maharaj was freed by Mughals after death of Aurangzeb in 1707 Balaji entered in his service. Since Maharani Tarabai refused Shahu Maharaj right to the throne Shahu Maharaj needed support to claim his rightful throne. Persoji Bhosale was the first Sardar to support Shahu Maharaj’s claim to the throne In this difficult period Balaji served Shahu Maharaj well. He raised an army and for this service Maharaj conferred on him the title Senakarte and persuaded several Sardars to join Shahu Maharaj’s camp. By March 1708 Shahu Maharaj had a strong army and he defeated Maharani Tarabai at Khed. His coronation occurred in November 1708 in Satara which, for a time, became capital of his kingdom.

Kanhoji Angre, admiral of Navy, was a Sardar of Karveer kingdom administered by Maharani Tarabai. In 1718 Peshawa Nilopant Pingale fought Kanhoji but was defeated and imprisoned by Kanhoji. Then Shahu Maharaj asked Balaji to negotiate with Kanhoji. Before proceeding Balaji pleaded that if he was elevated sufficiently in rank he would be able to negotiate the truce with authority. Shahu Maharaj then appointed him as Peshawa. Balaji succeeded in negotiating with Kanhoji and persuaded him to join Shahu Maharaj. This consolidated Maharaj’s power and soon his kingdom spread beyond boundaries of Maharashtra. The diplomacy conducted by Balaji had a major impact on this expansion.

When Balaji died in 1720, his son Bajirao succeeded him and thus began the de facto rule by the Chitpavan Peshwas. Lured by the good fortune of their caste fellows, the Chitpavans migrated in large numbers to the Deccan, especially to Pune, the seat of the Peshwas. There they quickly rose in stature and influence, receiving appointments as diplomats and clerks, rising in the military and claiming economic privileges due to their numeracy.

Freedom Fighters

Vasudev Balwant Phadke

Vasudev Balwant Phadke (born 11 April 1845, died 17 February 1883), the Adya Krantikarak of independence, was born in Shirdhon village in Raigad district. His grand father was Gadkari of Fort Karnala which is near Shirdhon. He took up wrestling, riding and fencing at an early age and soon became an expert in arms and ammunitions. He moved to Pune after leaving High School and joined Military Accounts service. He lived in Narsimha Mandir in Sadashiv Peth. While in Pune he atteneded lectures by M.G. Ranade explaining how British policies where affecting Indian economy. These convinced him that British raj was the root cause of all problems.

The turning point in his life came when he was denied leave to see his ailing mother. He left the service and launched protest speeches against the British administration. The famine of 1870’s and the apathy of the administration agitated him and he toured the Deccan urging the people to strive for a free republic. He founded Maharashtra Education Society and established Perugate Bhave School.

Since he could not garner support from the educated classes, he turned to Ramoshis, Dhanagars and Kolis and waged war against British with few hundred supporters. They launched a series of raids on the British treasury in Shirur and Khed talukas. Vasudevrao’s acts received wide attention when he attacked Pune catching the British soldiers off guard. He had a complete hold on Pune for few days. His plan to simultaneously attack the country was met with limited success and the government offered a reward for his capture. In response, Vasudevrao announced a reward for capture of the Governor of Bombay!

He was captured on 21 July 1879 and was tried in Pune. No lawyer was willing to take up his case. Sarvjanik Kaka (Joshi) then came forward and pleaded his case. During his trial he was put in a cell near Sangam in Pune where a memorial has been erected by Maharashtra police CID. Vasudevrao was sentenced for life and was transported to Aden. He was fettered and placed in solitary confinement. On 13 October 1880 this undaunted man pulled off the door by its hinges and escaped. Unfortunately, he was shortly captured and put back in prison. Realizing that life was now intolerable and unable to live under the bondage of the hated British he went on hunger strike and this noble son of India died on 17 February 1883.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale (born on 09.05.1866, died on 19.02.1915) was a prominent leader of independence movement. He was born in Ratnagiri district and received early education in Kolhapur. He graduated from University of Bombay in 1884 at the age of 18. In 1885 he moved to Pune to become teacher in New English School. He started taking part in social activities at the age of 20 and joined Sarvajanik Sabha as secretary when M.G. Ranade was its president. He considered Ranade as his Guru. He was secretary of reception committee when Indian National Congress (INC) had its annual session in 1895 in Pune. From hereafter he took active part in politics and INC. He was elected twice as Mayor of Pune Municipal Corporation and became a member of Bombay Legislative Council.

Gokhale was moderate and was in favour of gradual reforms to attain independence and was instrumental in introduction of Morley-Minto reforms. These reforms made it possible for Indians to share power and be heard in matters of public interest. In 1912 Gokhale toured South Africa on invitation of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi looked upon Gokhale as his mentor and guide (Guru). Surprisingly though it may seem, Mohammed Ali Jinnah also considered Gokhale as his role model, while ideological differences interfered with their relationship. When Gandhiji returned from South Africa to India to he took guidance from Gokhale to understand India and the problems facing India.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Main article: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak: (23 July 1856(1856-07-23)–1 August 1920) was mathematician, theologian, an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer, editor and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. Tilak was among the first and strongest advocates of "Swaraj" (self-rule) in Indian consciousness. His famous quote, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it !" is well-remembered in India even today.

Social Reformers

Dhondo Keshav Karve

Main article: Dhondo Keshav Karve

Annasaheb Karve was born on April 18, 1858 at Sheravali, Khed Tālukā of Ratnāgiri district in Mahārāshtra. He was a native of Murud in the Konkan region. He was born in a lower middle-class Chitpāvan Brahmin family. Karve's parents arranged his marriage when he was 14 to an 8 year old girl named Rādhābāi.Radhabhai died in 1891 during childbirth at age 27, leaving behind a young son named Raghunath Karve. Implementing his own reformatory thoughts with extraordinary courage, two years later he chose as his second wife a widow—a 23 year old widow named Godubāi—rather than an unmarried girl whom he could have easily arranged to secure as his new wife according to the prevalent social mores.

In 1893, Karve founded Widhawā-Wiwāhottejak Mandali, which, besides encouraging marriages of widows, also helped the needy children of widows. In 1895, the institution was renamed as Widhawā-Wiwāha-Pratibandh-Niwārak Mandali (Society to Remove Obstacles to Marriages of Widows). In 1896, Karve established a Hindu Widows' Home Association and started in Hingane, a village then in the outskirts of Pune in Maharashtra, Mahilāshram, a shelter and a school for women, including widows. He started Mahilā Vidyālaya in 1907; the following year, he started Nishkām Karma Math (Social Service Society) to train workers for the Widows Home and the Mahila Vidyalaya.

Later, Widows Home was renamed as Hingane Stree Shikshan Samsthā. Still later, as the institution flourished by leaps and bounds, it was renamed as Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha. When Karve had started his shelter and school for women, including widows, in 1896, he had to start it in the remote village of Hingane outside the city of Pune because the dominant orthodox Brahmin community in the city had ostracized him for his reformatory activitities. (Karve himself belonged to the Brahmin community.) With his meager resources, for many years Karve would walk several miles from Hingane to the city of Pune to teach mathematics at Fergusson College and also collect in his spare time paltry donations from a few progressive donors, even as some others from the orthodox community would openly hurl insulting epithets at him when he went around to spread the word of his emancipatory work and collect donations.

After reading information about Japan Women's University in Tokyo, Japan, Karve felt inspired[4]to establish in 1916 in Pune the first university for women in India, with just five students. The curriculum was tailored to the aptitudes of women. During 1917–1918, Karve established a Training College for Primary School Teachers and another school for girls, named Kanyā Shālā. In 1920, an industrialist and philanthropist from Mumbai, Sir Vithaldās Thāckersey, donated Karve's university 1.5 million Indian rupees—a substantial sum in those days—and the university was then renamed as Shreemati Nāthibāi Dāmodar Thāckersey Indian Women’s University or SNDT Women's University

Mahadev Govind Ranade

Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade (born on 18 January 1842, died on 16 January 1901) was an eminent judge, thinker, social reformer and author. He was born in Niphad in Nasik district in 1842. Ranade matriculated in Kolhapur and studied in Elphinstone College in Mumbai. He belonged to Bombay University's first batches of B.A.(1862) and the LL.B.(1866). When in Pune he founded Sarvajanik Sabha with Vasudevrao Joshi (“Sarvajanik” Kaka). This Sabha undertook many social movements and gave advices to British Govt. on several issues of public interest. On 11 May 1878 Ranade organized in Pune first Marathi Sahitya Sammmelan (he called it Granthakaar Sammelan) which he chaired. In Mumbai he founded Praarthanaa Samaaj which aimed to carry out religious reforms. The social reforms for which he worked strenuously till his death were female education, child marriage, the shaving of widows' heads, the heavy cost of marriages and other social functions, and the caste restrictions on travelling abroad. He advocated widow remarriage. Upon the death of his first wife everyone expected him to marry a widow. However, under the pressure of his family he married a child bride, Ramabai Ranade. He had to face lot of criticism for this decision. He provided Ramabai with an education and encouraged her to take part in social activities.

Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar

Main article: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Savarkar was a freedom fighter as well as a social reformer. On May 19, 1929, Savarkar presided over the conference of (former) untouchables held in Malvan. Mr Rajbhoj, editor of the paper ‘Dalitbandhu’, said, “ Savarkar is sincere in his efforts for securing a better life for us and this has removed my misconceptions about his Hindu Sanghatan movement.” On 20th Savarkar distributed the holy threads (janeo) to the then untouchables and said, “ Now there is no reason for infighting. Let us all unite under the banner of Hindu Dharma. The Vedas are just as heritage of yours as they of the Brahmins.” Savarkar practised ‘dining together’ of all Hindus since 16 November 1930. Such functions were not heard of even among the High caste Hindus. In Ratnagiri even the untouchables participated. In March 1931, the untouchables carried a Satyagraha for allowing entry into the Rama Temple in Nasik. As Savarkar was interned in Ratnagiri, he could not go to Nasik. He therefore sent a letter to High Caste Hindu residents of Nasik and appealed to them to allow the untouchables in the temple. The Times (of London) published the letter on 20 March 1931 and remarked “ A touching letter to Hindus”. On 22 February, The famous Hindu temple ‘Patit Pavan Mandir’ was consecrated and declared open by Savarkar to Hindus of all castes including the untouchables. Savarkar opened a café for all Hindus in Ratnagiri on 1 May 1933. Tea, snacks and food were served by an untouchable. Such a café was unthinkable at that time even in industrial city like Mumbai..

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

Main article: Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born in the village of Tembhu near the city of Karad, India. He was faced with an early death of his father, abject poverty and family squabbles at a very young age. While he was a student, he did not have access to proper clothing (he had only one pair of clothing), food or shelter. He made use of public streetlights during his college days to complete his studies. In the early days of his life his financial situation was so bad that he was unable to gather funds to travel and had to walk hundreds of miles to the city of Pune in pursuit of higher studies. Despite facing such hardships, Agarkar became one of the leading social reformers of his day on par with Tilak who hailed from an affluent and a completely contrasting background. Agarkar is credited with the founding of several educational organizations including the New English School, the Deccan Education Society and Ferguson college - all in Pune, India. He was also the founder-editor of the weekly journals Kesari and the Sudharak. Agarkar opposed unjustified glorification of the past and blind following of traditions. Agarkar advocated the improvement of social status and conditions of women.

Vinoba Narahari Bhave

Main article: Vinoba Bhave

Yet some of the strongest resistance to change has come from the very same community. Jealously guarding their Brahmin stature, the orthodox among the Chitpavans were not eager to see the Shastras challenged, nor the conduct of the Brahmins becoming indistinguishable from that of the Sudras.The vanguard and the old guard clashed many times. Ranade and other reformers were forced to offer penance for breaking purity rules. D. K. Karve was ostracised. Even Tilak made a visit to Varanasi so that he may not be excommunicated.

World Chitpavan Congregation

The first ever World Chitpavan Congregation was held in Pune on 23 December 2007. 66 families (having as many Surnames) held their family congregation at 66 different places in Pune City and the remaining held a common congregation in the first half day session. All the families then converged on the main venue to hold a grand afternoon session. This session was totally voluntary in nature and elaborate arrangements including sitting arrangement for 70,000 (Seventy Thousand) people was made, after year long preparations and it is estimated that around 132,000 people have visited this global meet.

List of Chitpavans

Further information: List of Chitpavans

References

• Chitpavanism - by Jagannath Dixit
• Chitpawan - by Na. Go. Chapekar (1940, reprinted 1968)
• Amhi sare chitpawan - by M.C. Dixit (2002)
• ^[3] By Ways of Bombay - Chapter XIV " A Konkan Legend" - By S M Edwardes *About Chitpawans
• "People of India" By Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Bhanu, B. V. Mehta, Anthropological Survey of India
• "Western India in the Nineteenth Century" By Ravinder Kumar Originally published: London : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1968

External links

• Chitpavans
• Kokanastha