Not to be confused with Agaria, a caste of traditional iron-smelters.

Agharia is a Hindu caste predominantly found in the Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

According to their local oral traditions, the name of the community is derived from Agra, from where their Rajput ancestors migrated in the 16th century. They were given shelter by the Kalinga king and started living their lives in western parts of Odisha.[4][7]

Origin

They were also known as Agria (outdated term). Earlier they were known as Agarwal Rajput, who were said to be the descendants of Vidura of Mahabharata fame.[8] They trace their migration from Uttar Pradesh.[9](particularly from the region of Agra.)[4]

Clans And Sub-divisions

Agharias are said to have 84 clans. Out of the total 84 clans of Agharias, 44 clans came to Odisha.[4]

They have many subdivisions as the Bad (or superior Agharia), Chotte, Sarolia or Sawaria (Mixed Or Inferior). Among them, the Bad Agharia used to consider them superior than others. Some members of this sub-division also wear the janeu (sacred thread).[citation needed]

Occupation

After coming to Odisha they approached the Maharaja of Puri who in turn introduced them to Rajas of Patna, Bamunada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh states.[9]They adopted cultivation as their occupation by the Order of the then Gajapati kings of Orissa.[4]

They are the chief cultivators in Gangpur,[10] they also hold the most potential land in the region of Sundargarh and adjoining districts they are industrious farmers. Many of them are now in white collar jobs.[4]

In Gangpur Princely State, most Gountias (intermediary tenure holders responsible for rent collection) were tribals in the early 1800s but by the 1890s there was a great preference for non-tribal Gountias, from the Agharia and other local non-tribal communities.[11] This made them rich and powerful landowners and farmers in western Odisha, borders of Odisha and in the region of Raigarh of Chattisgarh and adjoining districts.[8]

Dialect

Laria is the dialect of the Agharia community and varies by region, with roots in the Ardha Magadhi language.[4]

Varna and social status

The Agharia community claim to originally belong to the Kshatriya Varna.[8]

In western Odisha, the caste was regarded superior than Kulta, Dumal, Gauda and Ghasi but, lower than Karan and Brahmins.[12]

Previously, they used to wear the janeu (sacred thread) but, they no longer wear it.[13]

The Agharia are non-vegetarians who take fish, meat, egg, chicken and mutton. Rice is their staple food. (as of 1997)[6][4]

Classification

Agharia are classified as OBC (Other Backward Class) in the states of Chattisgarh,[14] Odisha[15] and Madhya Pradesh.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Chattisgarh" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 6. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Orissa" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 1. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Madhya Pradesh" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 7. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ramesh P. Mohanty; Durgesh Nandini Biswal (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. pp. 36–38. ISBN 978-81-8324-199-1.
  5. ^ Waltraud, Ernst; Biswamoy, Pati, eds. (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. pp. 87–89. ISBN 978-1-13411-988-2.
  6. ^ a b K.S. Singh, Anthropological Survey Of India,Ethnology,Ethnological Study The People Of Orrisa (pts. 2), 1992, 175(3).
  7. ^ Waltraud, Ernst; Biswamoy, Pati, eds. (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. pp. 87–89. ISBN 978-1-13411-988-2.
  8. ^ a b c C Pasayat Political Economy of Medieval West Orissa As Reflected in Oral Tradition - cse.iitd.ac.in
  9. ^ a b K.S. Singh, Anthropological Survey Of India,Ethnology,Ethnological Study The People Of Orrisa (pts. 2), 1992, 175.
  10. ^ Waltraud, Ernst; Biswamoy, Pati, eds. (2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. pp. 87–89. ISBN 978-1-13411-988-2.
  11. ^ S Padhi, N Panigrahi - CPRC-IIPA working paper, - Tribal movement and livelyhoods: Recent developments in Orrisa . 2011 - Citesee , Section 3 , 3.1.
  12. ^ K.S. Singh, Anthropological Survey Of India,Ethnology,Ethnological Study The People Of Orrisa (pts. 2), 1992, 176.
  13. ^ K.S. Singh, Anthropological Survey Of India,Ethnology,Ethnological Study The People Of Orrisa (pts. 2) , 1992, 175 (2).
  14. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Chattisgarh" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 6. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Orissa" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 1. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the State of Madhya Pradesh" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. p. 7. Retrieved 5 March 2025.


Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agharia
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