Patidar
Encyclopedia
The Patidar are a Hindu ethnic group found primarily in the state of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
in India.
Patidars are also known as Patel
, a common surname with in the community.
D. F. Pocock, an anthropologist who lived among the community, noted that those in Gujarat practiced a form of hypergamy
.
The Kadava Patidar sub-caste is found mostly in districts of the Saurashtra region like Kutch, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Junagadh
, Jamnagar
, Bhavnagar
, and also Mahesana. The Leuva Patidar sub-caste is primarily concentrated in the Charotar Region (which are also known as Charotar Leuva Patidars), Kheda
(Nadiad
), Anand
, Karamsad
, Kanam
, Vadodara
, Bharuch
, Panchmahal, Surat
, Valsad
, and can also be found in Mahesana and the general Saurashtra Region. Other Gujaratis who migrated out of what is now the state of Gujarat have sometimes adopted the surname Patel, and this surname was then subsequently passed onto their descendants. Also, just like many other castes in India, some 'Patels' who migrated out of Gujarat adopted different surnames, usually the name of their village, their trade, or even their grandfather's name. Subsequently, these surnames have been passed down to their descendants.
In the Hindu ritual ranking system (varna) they were considered to be shudra
, but they improved their status in some Indian communities. Through ownership of land, and later through their role as tax agents under British administration, the Patidars rose to a position of respectability. Though some Patidars in Charotar came to claim descent from Lava and Kusa, legendary sons of the god Rama, this argument was controverted by academics.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
in India.
Patidars are also known as Patel
Patel
Patel is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or"village chief". Patels are socially, economically and politically the most dominant caste in Gujarat Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi are an Indian subcaste...
, a common surname with in the community.
D. F. Pocock, an anthropologist who lived among the community, noted that those in Gujarat practiced a form of hypergamy
Hypergamy
Hypergamy is the act or practice of seeking a spouse of higher socioeconomic status, or caste status than oneself....
.
Origin
There are two main groups of Patidars in Gujarat that make up the community:- Leuva Patel/Patidar
- Kadava PatidarKadava PatidarThe Kadava Patidar are a sub-caste of the Patidar Kurmi community in India. They are predominantly found in the Kutch District and Mehsana District in the Northern Gujarat, with a diaspora in East Africa and the United States including California, Georgia, and Florida.The most common surnames in...
/Patel.
The Kadava Patidar sub-caste is found mostly in districts of the Saurashtra region like Kutch, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
, Jamnagar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
, Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
, and also Mahesana. The Leuva Patidar sub-caste is primarily concentrated in the Charotar Region (which are also known as Charotar Leuva Patidars), Kheda
Kheda
Kheda is a town and a municipality in Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda, also known as Kaira, is 35 km from Ahmedabad. The National Highway no. 8 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai passes through Kheda...
(Nadiad
Nadiad
Nadiad is a city and an administrative center of the Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat.The city is famous for its socio-educational-religious humanitarian services led by Santram Mandir and supported by institutions of higher learning such as Dharamsinh Desai University, Muljibhai...
), Anand
Anand, Gujarat
]]Anand is the administrative centre of Anand District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is administered by Anand Municipality. It is part of the region known as Charotar, consisting of Anand and Kheda Districts....
, Karamsad
Karamsad
Karamsad is a city and a municipality in Anand district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is part of the Chhagaam Gol ....
, Kanam
Kanam
Kanam is a village in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala.-Demographics: India census, Kanam had a population of 3400. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Kanam has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and...
, Vadodara
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
, Bharuch
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
, Panchmahal, Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, Valsad
Valsad
Valsad , formerly known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality in the Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison...
, and can also be found in Mahesana and the general Saurashtra Region. Other Gujaratis who migrated out of what is now the state of Gujarat have sometimes adopted the surname Patel, and this surname was then subsequently passed onto their descendants. Also, just like many other castes in India, some 'Patels' who migrated out of Gujarat adopted different surnames, usually the name of their village, their trade, or even their grandfather's name. Subsequently, these surnames have been passed down to their descendants.
In the Hindu ritual ranking system (varna) they were considered to be shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
, but they improved their status in some Indian communities. Through ownership of land, and later through their role as tax agents under British administration, the Patidars rose to a position of respectability. Though some Patidars in Charotar came to claim descent from Lava and Kusa, legendary sons of the god Rama, this argument was controverted by academics.