Vol. 5 · pages 226–230

CHAPTER 19 THE CURSE OF CASTE As I have said in the first Essay1 there cannot be a caste in the single number. Caste can exist only in the plural number. Caste to be real can exist only by disintegrating a group. The genius of caste is to divide and to disintegrate. It is also the curse of caste. Few, however, realize how great is this curse of caste. It is therefore necessary to illustrate the vastness of this curse by reference to the disintegration brought about by caste. It is impossible to deal with each caste to show the evolution of its disintegration. One must content himself with presenting the caste history of one caste. I take the case of the Brahmins who have been the originators and upholders of caste to show how they themselves have been overwhelmed by what I call the curse of caste. The Brahmins of India are divided into two distinct fraternities. One fraternity is called the Dravidas and the other fraternity is called the Gaudas. It must not, however, be supposed that the Dravidas and Gaudas are single homogeneous unit. They are divided and sub-divided in units so numerous that it is difficult to imagine their numbers unless one has actual lists of their sub-divisions before his eye. In the following pages an attempt is made to give the list of castes and sub-castes into which each sub-division of the fraternity is divided. I THE DRAVIDA BRAHMINS The fraternity of Dravidas consists of five sub-divisions who are collectively styled the Panch Dravidas. The five sub-divisions are called: (1) The Maharashtrians (2) The Andhras (3) The Dravidians (proper) (4) The Karnatakas (5) The Gurjaras 1 This has a reference to ‘ The Castes in India’. published in Vol. I of this series. —Ed.

212 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES We may next proceed to note the castes and sub-castes into which each of these sub-divisions of the Panch Dravidas have disintegrated. I. THE MAHARASHTRA BRAHMINS The Maharashtra Brahmins have among them the following castes and sub-castes: (1) The Deshasthas, (2) The Konkanasthas, (3) The Karhadas, (4) The Kanvas, (5) The Madhyandinas, (6) The Padhyas, (7) The Devarukhas, (8) The Palashas, (9) The Kirvantas, (10) The Tirgulas, (11) The Javalas, (12) The Abhiras, (13) The Savashas, (14) Kastas, (15) The Kunda Golakas, (16) The Randa Golakas, (17) The Brahmana-Jais, (18) The Soparas, (19) The Khistis, (20) The Huseinis, (21) The Kalankis, (22) The Maitrayaniyas, (23) The Varadis-Madhyandin-Yajur-Vedi, (24) The VaradisMadhyandin-Rig Vedi, (25) The Jhade. The Shenvis are further divided into nine sub-castes called— (26) Narvankar, (27) Keloskar, (28) Bardeshkar, (29) Kudaldeshkar, (30) Pednekar, (31) Bhalavelekar, (32) Kushasthali, (33) Khadape and (34) Khajule. 2. THE ANDHRA BRAHMINS The following is the list of castes and sub-castes which make up the Andhra Brahmins— (1) The Varnasalus, (2) The Kamarukubi, (3) The Karanakamulu, (4) The Madhyandians, (5) The Tailangas, (6) The Murakanadus, (7) The Aradhyas, (8) The Yajnavalkyas, (9) The Kasaranadu, (10) The Velandus, (11) The Venginadus, (12) The Vedinadus, (13) The Samavedis, (14) The Ramanujis, (15) The Madhavacharis, (16) The Niyogis. 3. THE TAMIL BRAHMINS They consist of the following castes— (1) The Rig-Vedis, (2) The Krishna Yajur-Vedis, (3) The Shukla Yajur-Vedis—Madhyandinas, (4) The Shukla Yajur-Vedis-Kanvas, (5) The Sama Vedis, (6) The Atharva, (9) The Vaishnavas, (10) The Vira Vaishnavas, (11) The Shri-Vaishnavas, (12) The Bhagvatas, (13) The Shaktas.

213 THE CURSE OF CASTE 4. THE KARNATIK BRAHMINS They include the following castes— (1) The Rig Vedis, (2) The Krishna Yajur-Vedis, (3) The Shukla Yajur-Vedis Madhyandinas, (4) The Shukla Yajur-Vedis Kanvas, (5) The Sama Vedis, (6) The Kume Brahmins and (7) The Nagara Brahmins. 5. THE GURJARA BRAHMINS The list of castes which compose the Gurjara Brahmins is as follows: I. The Andichya Brahmins. They are divided into the following sub-castes: (1) Siddhpura Andichya, (2) Sihor Andichya, (3) Tolkiya Andhichya, (4) Kunbigor, (5) Inochigor, (6) Darjigor, (7) Grandhrapagor, (8) Koligor, (9) Marwadi Andichya, (10) Kachhi Andichya, (11) Vagdiya Andichya. II. The Nagar Brahmins. The following are the sub-castes of the Nagar Brahmins: (12) The Vadanagar Brahmins, (13) The Vishalnagar Brahmins, (14) The Sathodra Brahmins, (15) The Prashnoras, (16) The Krishnoras, (17) The Chitrodas, (18) The Baradas. There are also three other divisions among the Nagar Brahmins. They are called— (19) Gujarathi Nagars, (20) Sorathi Nagars and (21) Nagars of other Towns. III. The Girnar Brahmins. They are divided among the following castes: (22) The Junagadhya Girnars, (23) The Chorvada Girnars, (24) The Ajakiyas. IV. The Mevadas Brahmins. They are distributed among the following castes: (25) The Bhata Mevadas, (26) The Trivadi Mevadas, (27) The Charosi Mevadas. V. The Deshavala Brahmins. They have one sub-caste which is called: (46) The Deshavala Brahman Surati. VI. The Rayakavala Brahmins. They are divided into two sub-castes : (47) The Navas (new ones) and (48) The Mothas (old ones).

214 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII. The Khedvala Brahmins. They are divided into five sub-castes : (49) The Khedvala Bajas, (50) The Khedvala Bhitaras, (51) The Khedva Bajas, (52) The Khedva Bhitaras. VIII. The Modha Brahmins. They are divided into eleven sub-castes : (53) The Trivedi Modhas, (54) The Chaturvedi Modhas, (55) The Agihans Modhas, (56) The Tripal Modhas, (57) The Khijadiya Sanvana Modhas, (58) The Ekadashdhra Modhas, (59) The Tandulotha Modhas, (60) The Utanjaliya Modhas, (61) The Jethimal Modhas, (62) The Chaturvedi Dhinoja Modhas, (63) The Dhinoja Modhas. IX. The Shrimali Brahmins. The Shrimali Brahmins are divided into the following castes: (64) The Marwadi Shrimali, (65) The Mevadi Shrimali, (66) The Kachhi Shrimali, (67) The Kathiavadi Shrimali, (68) The Gujarathi Shrimali. The Gujarathi Shrimali are further sub-divided into— (69) Ahamadabadi Shrimali, (70) Surati Shrimali, (71) Ghoghari Shrimali and (72) The Khambhati Shrimali. The Khambhati Shrimali are again sub-divided into— (73) Yajurvedi Khambhati Shrimali, (74) Samavedi Khambhati Shrimali. X. The Chovisha Brahmins. They are divided into two sub-castes : (75) Mota (Great ones), (76) Lahana (small ones). XI. The Sarasvata Brahmins. They are divided into two sub-castes : (77) Sorathiya Sarasvata, (78) Sindhava Sarasvata. XII. The following is the list of castes of Gujaratha Brahmins which have not developed sub-castes: (79) The Sachora Brahmins, (80) The Udambara Brahmins, (81) The Narsipara Brahmins, (82) The Valadra Brahmins, (83) The Pangora Brahmins, (84) The Nandodra Brahmins, (85) The Vayada Brahmins, (86) The Tamil (or Dradvida) Brahmins, (87) The Rodhavala Brahmins, (88) The Padmivala Brahmins, (89) The Gomativala Brahmins, (90) The Itavala Brahmins, (91) The Medhatavala Brahmins, (92) The Gayavala Brahmins, (93) The Agastyavala Brahmins, (94) The Pretavala Brahmins, (95) The Unevala Brahmins, (96) The Rajavala Brahmins, (97) The Kanojiya Brahmins, (98) The Sarvariya Brahmins, (99) The Kanoliya Brahmins, (100) The Kharkheliya

215 THE CURSE OF CASTE Brahmins, (101) The Parvaliaya Brahmins, (102) The Sorathiya Brahmins, (103) The Tangamadiya Brahmins, (104) The Sanodiya Brahmins, (105) The Motala Brahmins, (106) The Jhalora Brahmins, (107) The Rayapula Brahmins, (108) The Kapila Brahmins, (109) The Akshayamangala Brahmins, (110) The Gugli Brahmins, ( 111) The N apala Brahmins, (112) The Anavala Brahmins, (113) The Valmika Brahmins, (114) The Kalinga Brahmins, (115) The Tailinga Brahmins, (116) The Bhargava Brahmins, (117) The Malavi, (118) The Banduan Brahmins, (119) The Bharathana Brahmins, (120) The Pushkarana Brahmins, (121) The Khadayata Brahmins, (122) The Maru Brahmins, (123) The Dahima Brahmins, (124) The Chovisa Brahmins, (125) The Jambu Brahmins, (126) The Maratha Brahmins, (127) The Dadhicha Brahmins, (128) The Lalata Brahmins, (129) The Valuta Brahmins, (130) The Borshidha Brahmins, (131) The Golavala Brahmins, (132) The Prayagvala Brahmins, (133) The Nayakvala Brahmins, (134) The Utkala Brahmins, (135) The Pallivala Brahmins, (136) The Mathura Brahmins, (137) The Maithila Brahmins, (138) The Kulabha Brahmins, (139) The Bedua Brahmins, (140) The Ravavala Brahmins, (141) The Dashahara Brahmins, (142) The Karnatika Brahmins, (143) The Talajiya Brahmins, (144) The Parashariya Brahmins, (145) The Abhira Brahmins, (146) The Kundu Brahmins, (147) The Hirayajiya Brahmins, (148) The Mastava Brahmins, (149) The Sthitisha Brahmins, (150) The Predatvala Brahmins, ( 151) The Rampura Brahmins, (152) The Jila Brahmins, (153) The Tilotya Brahmins, (154) The Durmala Brahmins, (155) The Kodva Brahmins, (156) The Hanushuna Brahmins, (157) The Shevada Brahmins, (158) The Titraga Brahmins, (159) The Basuladas Brahmins, (160) The Magmarya Brahmins, (161) The Rayathala Brahmins, (162) The Chapila Brahmins, (163) The Baradas Brahmins, (164) The Bhukaniya Brahmins, (165) The Garoda Brahmins, (166) The Taporana Brahmins. II THE GAUDA BRAHMINS Like the Dravida Brahmins the Gauda Brahmins also consist of a fraternity of five different groups of Brahmins. These five groups are known as: