Kharwa caste
The Kharwa also spelled as Kharva is a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat, India.[1]
History and origin
The Kharva community is distributed throughout the coastal areas of Saurashtra and in Mandvi, Mundra, and Ghandhidham, which are Kutch's Coastal region. It is believed that the Kharwa originated from Rajasthan and migrated to the coast during the tenth century, where they took up fishing as well, and imported and exported goods on ships. They are a royal family in Rajput .There are two castes in kharva, mainly raghuvanshi and suryavanshi. Raghuvanshi kharvas are the one who washed Lord Ram's feet before letting him sit in his boat before crossing the river .
It has been said that Kharva caste comes under a Rajputana Community . In the early ages of the caste It's said that the people of Kharva caste were Landlords and Guarantors .
When Mahmud Ghazni was attacking Somnath and Patan, The bravery and courage of people of Kharva Community came into highlight while fighting against Mahmud Ghazni .
The people of Kharva were basically belonged to Rajasthan .The ancestors of this community entered in Kutch and Kathiyawad(Saurashtra) in the early period.Firstly, many of them entered in Mandvi and Mundra, while others entered is Jamnagar, Okha, Dwarika, Porbandar, Veraval, Mangrol, Vanakbara and Diu. After entering into the business of Ships including Import/Export of goods and fisheries they were unable to maintain the relations with other Rajputs .since then they are also known as Vahanvati's.
In 1025 A.D. Mahmud Ghazni attacked Somanth. At that time 36 Kharva's lost their lives while protecting the temple . Till today we can find this in books. From that time Kharva's started living in the coastal areas. Then, they began to be known as Vahanvati's and DariyaiChorru's.They took the business of Ships including Import/Export of goods and fisheries.
The people of the community got together and made a small meeting to make an organisation for the Justice in their community. Porbandar Samast Kharva Gnati was made in Vikram Samvat 1814.
The Kharva then started to built their own Ships and sailed across many countries for trade . Due to that they are known as Vahanvati's in the Hindu Community. Sailing in the vast ocean was becoming difficult due to the pirates looting the Ships.but the Kharva's didn't get afraid and faced them whenever they come to loot . In that time the Porbandar Businessmen hired them for protecting them while going to their destinations. Kharva word is derived from Gujarati Khar which refers to Salty Water and VA( Hava )which means air.
- When Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered Europe-to-India sea route in 1497, he had a Gujarati by his side to show him the way. Historians and scholars gathered at Gujarat's port town Mandvi are discussing how a Kutchi sailor, Kanji Malam, navigated the commander to Calicut from Malindi on east African coast. Malam hailed from Mandvi, a shipbuilding hub, where a three-day maritime conference 'Gujarat and the sea' is in progress. Scholars and research institutes from France, Portugal, China, Singapore and Sri Lanka are taking part in the event. At Malindi, Gama's crew roped in a pilot who could guide the expedition to Calicut . Historians have differed over the identity of the sailor, calling him a Christian and a Gujarati. German author Justus says it was Malam(Kharva) and he was a Hindu Gujarati who accompanied Vasco .Italian researcher Sinthia Salvadori too has concluded that it was Malam who showed Gama the way to India. Salvadori has made this observation in her 'We Came In Dhows', an account written after interacting with people in Gujarat. "Malam's role in the Vasco expedition has largely been overlooked by historians. It is high time we studied this," says historian Makrand Mehta, who will address the conference on Sunday. On Saturday, scholars like Lotika Varadrajan, Manuel Joao Ramos, Alok Tripathy, Paul Lunde and Vishwarao Sonawane discussed aspects of Gujarat's maritime history.[2]
Present circumstances
Importing and exporting goods by ship remains the traditional occupation of the community. They trade in many countries, including Oman, U.A.E, Somalia, and also other parts of Africa. Many Kharwa now have their own ships for exporting goods and have set up different cooperative societies. The community is Hindu.
Veraval can be considered a kharva as a main business source income due to seafood export.
In Kutch, the Kharwa are mainly found in Mandvi, where they are the third largest group with regards to population. In Mandvi, there is a street named Kharva Pachada, which is the second biggest and the largest populated street in Mandvi. There is also a street named kharva pachada in Mota Salaya. Kharvas are also known as Malam or Sagarputra ('Sagar' Means 'Ocean' and 'putra' means 'son', 'Sagarputra' Means "Son of the Ocean"). There is also an album created by Bharat Kharva named 'Kharva Re Ame Kharva' featuring a song describing the Kharva caste. Kharvas of Mandvi also celebrate their own festivals such as Moti Rawadi, Nava Naroj and Ashar no medo.
They are also found in Mundra in a large number of population. There is a street named after the name Kharva known as kharva pachada. The street name is Kharva street or Dariyalal nagar.
Porbandar many of head members are helping so much nowadays to fulfill the requirement of community. on Asadhi bij Festival all kharva samaj get together for their ancestors.
References
- People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 652-657
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kutchi-sailor-showed-Vasco-da-way/articleshow/6703424.cms