Panika
Encyclopedia
The Panika are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are also known as Panka. The Kotwar
sub-group of the Panika have now separated from the parent community.
term for a hand fan, pankha. The community was historically involved in the manufacturing of fans, and hence acquired the name Panka which was later corrupted to Panika. While the Kotwar
Panika were the traditional watchmen of the south east Uttar Pradesh
, the community is one of many tribal communities that have now been incorporated into the Hindu
caste
system. They are now found mainly in the districts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur
. The Kotwar
are an endogamous sub-group of Panika who were employed as village watchmen.
and have scheduled caste status. The Panika are divided into a number of exogamous clans known as kuris, of which the following are the main ones: Birgat, Chikongia, Gaigor, Kumaria, Korwa, Marai, Paneria, Parwar, Rathia, Sarima and Sunayani. They use surnames like Pankia, Pankha and Panika. Like other Hindu
castes, they are strictly endogamous.
The Panika are now a community of small and medium sized farmers. A few Panika have also been involved with weaving, producing course country cloth known as darap, dumaria, charas and blangna. The Panika are also employed as village watchmen. A small number of Panika are now businessmen as well, but the level of urbanization remains low. The Panika are Hindu
and have a number of tribal deities like Dulha Deo, Maharani Devi, and Seetla Devi.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are also known as Panka. The Kotwar
Kotwar
The Kotwar are a tribal community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are sub-group of the Panika caste. The word Kotwar is a corruption of the word kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were...
sub-group of the Panika have now separated from the parent community.
Origin
According to their traditions, the name Panika is from the HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
term for a hand fan, pankha. The community was historically involved in the manufacturing of fans, and hence acquired the name Panka which was later corrupted to Panika. While the Kotwar
Kotwar
The Kotwar are a tribal community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are sub-group of the Panika caste. The word Kotwar is a corruption of the word kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were...
Panika were the traditional watchmen of the south east Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, the community is one of many tribal communities that have now been incorporated into the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
system. They are now found mainly in the districts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur
Mirzapur District
Mirzapur district is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district is bounded on the north by Sant Ravidas Nagar and Varanasi districts, on the east by Chandauli district, on the south by Sonbhadra district and on the norhwest by Allahabad district. The district...
. The Kotwar
Kotwar
The Kotwar are a tribal community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are sub-group of the Panika caste. The word Kotwar is a corruption of the word kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were...
are an endogamous sub-group of Panika who were employed as village watchmen.
Present circumstances
Their habitat is a hilly undulating terrain which is extremely forested. They speak HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and have scheduled caste status. The Panika are divided into a number of exogamous clans known as kuris, of which the following are the main ones: Birgat, Chikongia, Gaigor, Kumaria, Korwa, Marai, Paneria, Parwar, Rathia, Sarima and Sunayani. They use surnames like Pankia, Pankha and Panika. Like other Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
castes, they are strictly endogamous.
The Panika are now a community of small and medium sized farmers. A few Panika have also been involved with weaving, producing course country cloth known as darap, dumaria, charas and blangna. The Panika are also employed as village watchmen. A small number of Panika are now businessmen as well, but the level of urbanization remains low. The Panika are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and have a number of tribal deities like Dulha Deo, Maharani Devi, and Seetla Devi.