Roniaur
Encyclopedia
The Roniaur are a Hindu
caste
found in North India
. They are also known as Rauniyar and sometimes Roniyar. Like many other North India Bania
castes, they use Gupta and Prasad as surnames.
word 'rauna'. They are found throughout Bihar, Eastern UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhatishgarh but their main concentration is the Sasaram. In addition, there are also small communities found in Gorakhpur
, Lucknow
, Mirzapur
, Ballia, Lucknow, Kanpur Varanasi
in Uttar Pradesh
and the Saran District
, Patna, Danapur, Ranchi, Bokaro in Bihar
. They speak Bhojpuri/ Awadhi among themselves, and Hindi with outsiders. Like other Banias, they are non vegetarians aswell vegetarians.
In Bihar
, the Rauniyar are also known as Rouniyar. They claim to have come from Awadh
some three hundred years. The Roniaur are found mainly in the districts of Muzaffarpur
, East Champaran
, West Champaran
, Munger
, Bhagalpur
, Nawada
and Gaya
. Their common surnames are Sah, Sahu, Gupta, Kesri and Modi. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. The Ronoaur speak Maithili
in north east Bihar
and Bhojpuri in western Bihar
.
.
"/>
In Bihar
, the Roniaur were both traders and landowners. Many were substantial jagirdars, but with the land reforms carried out after independence in 1947, and seen a break up of the larger estates in Bihar
. Like other Bania
communities, they are partially poor and undergoing urbanization. Many rural Raniaur are village shopkeepers and money lenders. They have a state wide caste
association, the Raniaur Mahasabha, which acts both as an instrument of social control as well as a communal welfare association.
It should be noted that noted literary figure and one of the greatest publishers of his time Acharya Ramlochan Saran
was also a Roniaur.He was the direct descendent of the last Hindu emperor of India - Hemu
.Many of his surviving relatives live in India ,Nepal and United States of America.
for details visit at www.rouniyar.com
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 North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They are also known as Rauniyar and sometimes Roniyar. Like many other North India Bania
Bania (caste)
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India...
castes, they use Gupta and Prasad as surnames.
Origin
The Rauniyar/ Rouniyar / Rownier / Roniaur are a sub-group within the Bania community, and they get their name 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...
word 'rauna'. They are found throughout Bihar, Eastern UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhatishgarh but their main concentration is the Sasaram. In addition, there are also small communities found in Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...
, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Mirzapur
Mirzapur
Mirzapur is a city in the heart of North India, nearly 650 km between Delhi and Kolkata and also equidistant from Allahabad and Varanasi. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur has a population of a little over 205,264 and is renowned for its famous carpet and brassware industry...
, Ballia, Lucknow, Kanpur Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
in 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...
and the Saran District
Saran district
Saran District is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India. The district, part of Saran Division, is also known as Chapra district after the headquarters of the district - Chapra...
, Patna, Danapur, Ranchi, Bokaro in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. They speak Bhojpuri/ Awadhi among themselves, and Hindi with outsiders. Like other Banias, they are non vegetarians aswell vegetarians.
In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Rauniyar are also known as Rouniyar. They claim to have come from Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
some three hundred years. The Roniaur are found mainly in the districts of Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division....
, East Champaran
East Champaran
East Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Motihari.The district occupies an area of 3969 km2 and has a population of 3,933,636 . East Champaran is a part of Tirhut Division...
, West Champaran
West Champaran
West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquarters are located at Bettiah....
, Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
, Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
, Nawada
Nawada
Nawada is a city and a municipality. It is also the headquarters of Nawada district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Nawada is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres...
and Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
. Their common surnames are Sah, Sahu, Gupta, Kesri and Modi. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. The Ronoaur speak Maithili
Maithili language
Maithili language is spoken in the eastern region of India and South-eastern region of Nepal. The native speakers of Maithili reside in Bihar, Jharkhand,parts of West Bengal and South-east Nepal...
in north east Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and Bhojpuri in western Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
.
Present circumstances
The Roniaur / Rauniyar/Rouniyar are a landless community, and their traditional occupation has been the selling of food grains and pulses. They are often the petty shopkeepers in the villages of north Awadh. A few Roniaur were jagirdars, but they rarely ever cultivated their own land, depending on sharecroppers. Their customs are similar to other Awadh Bania, such as the OmarOmar (Vaishya)
The Omar is an Indian Bania caste, found among mainly in Central Uttar Pradesh , Magadh, Awadh and Purvanchal. They claim to have originated from Ayodhia, and then spread to other parts of Awadh, eventually settling in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand...
.
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In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Roniaur were both traders and landowners. Many were substantial jagirdars, but with the land reforms carried out after independence in 1947, and seen a break up of the larger estates in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Like other Bania
Bania (caste)
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India...
communities, they are partially poor and undergoing urbanization. Many rural Raniaur are village shopkeepers and money lenders. They have a state wide 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...
association, the Raniaur Mahasabha, which acts both as an instrument of social control as well as a communal welfare association.
It should be noted that noted literary figure and one of the greatest publishers of his time Acharya Ramlochan Saran
Acharya Ramlochan Saran
Acharya Ramlochan Saran was a Hindi littérateur, grammarian and publisher. He founded the Pustak Bhandar in Laheriasarai and Patna in 1915, which made the little known place like Laheriasarai prominent in Indian publishing...
was also a Roniaur.He was the direct descendent of the last Hindu emperor of India - Hemu
Hemu
Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, Hemu Vikramaditya or simply Hemu was a Hindu Emperor of India during the sixteenth century, in medieval times...
.Many of his surviving relatives live in India ,Nepal and United States of America.
for details visit at www.rouniyar.com