View source for Kudumbi

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Distinguish|text=the [[Kudmi Mahato]]}}
{{Short description|Konkani speaking community in Kerala, India}}
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name= Kudumbi
|classification= Farmers, cultivators
|populated_states= [[Kerala]]
|languages= [[Konkani language|Konkani]], [[Malayalam]]
|ethnicity= Kunbis of Goa
|religions= Hinduism}}
The '''Kudumbi''', also referred to as the '''Kunubis''', the '''Kurumbi''', or the '''Kunbi''', are traditionally a [[Konkani language|Konkani]]-speaking farming community residing in [[Kerala]], India. They are a branch of the kudumban/kudumbiyar(Devendra Kula velalar) of Tamilnadu.<ref name="Schenk-Sandbergen1988">{{cite book|author=Loes Ch. Schenk-Sandbergen|title=Poverty and survival: Kudumbi female domestic servants and their households in Alleppey, Kerala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eE9uAAAAMAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Manohar Publications|page=37|isbn=9788185054551 }}</ref><ref name="LietenNieuwenhuys1989">{{cite book|author1=Georges Kristoffel Lieten|author2=Olga Nieuwenhuys|author3=Loes Ch. Schenk-Sandbergen|author4=Werkgemeenschap Zuid-Azië|title=Women, migrants, and tribals: survival strategies in Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1eXZAAAAMAAJ|year=1989|publisher=Manohar Publications|page=124|isbn=9788185054773 }}</ref>
== History ==
=== Goan legacy ===
According to Goan historian Anant Ramakrishna Dhume, the Kunbi caste are modern descendants of ancient Mundari tribes. He refers to several words of Mundari origin in the Konkani language and also elaborates on the deities worshipped by the ancient tribe, their customs, methods of farming, etc.<ref>Dhume, Anant Ramkrishna (1986). The cultural history of Goa from 10000&nbsp;B.C.-1352&nbsp;A.D.(see pages 53, 94, 83, 95)</ref>{{full|date=October 2023}} [[G. S. Ghurye]] says that "Kurmi, Kanbi and Kunbi perhaps signify the occupation of the group, viz., that of cultivation, though it is not improbable that the name may of tribal origin."<ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=Caste and Race in India|last=Ghurye |first=G. S.|date=1969|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=9788171542055|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWkjsvf6_vsC|page=31}}</ref>
The Kudumbi were forced to migrate from Goa following religious persecution by the Portuguese during the [[Goa Inquisition]], which sought to suppress Hinduism. The Kudumbis, along with [[Gouda Saraswat Brahmins]], [[Daivajna]]s and [[Vaishya Vani]]s who wanted to preserve their religious and cultural identity, migrated from Goa along the west coast of India, primarily through sea voyages.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Some of the groups that fled Goa landed in coastal districts of state of [[Karnataka]], that is, the Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and some groups voyaged further to [[Kerala]].<ref name="google3">{{cite book|title=Tribal Tradition and Change: A Study of Kudubis of South India|author=Rao, Y.R.|date=2003|publisher=Mangala Publications|isbn=9788188685004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5M4AAAACAAJ}}</ref>{{full|date=October 2023}}{{qn|date=October 2023}}
The sociologist Y. R. Rao (2003) conducted fieldwork among the Kudubis from Goa who were living in a region of Karnataka.  He studied a wide range of behaviours including those related to their food habits, taboos, language, economy, political organisation, kinship and marriage. He identifies Hinduisation, Sanskritisation and Modernisation as three factors that might influence behavioural changes.<ref>Arora, Meghna (2004) Tribal tradition and change: A study of Kudubis of south India by Y. Ravindranath Rao - Book Review, ''Sociological Bulletin'', Vol. 53, No. 2 (May-August), pp. 305-306</ref>
[[File:kunbi.PNG|thumb|Kunbis of Goa, ladies wearing ''dethli'']]
===Current status===
[[K. R. Gowri Amma]], a prominent figure in the communist movement in Kerala and former Minister, in her autobiography narrates the backwardness of Kudumbi Community as:
{{quote|In the socio-political and in educational fields, the Kudumbis are backward. Very few of them are educated and officers are scarce. Kudumbi women do not wear a blouse but wrap the sari, sarong wise about them. In 1936, an association of young Kudumbis was established in Cochin and later in Travancore. In 1951, the two associations merged into one. Yet they have not achieved their rightful place in society. They have demanded that they be counted as scheduled castes. In reality their lot is worse than that of the scheduled castes.<ref>'Atmakatha', by K R Gouri Amma</ref>{{full|date=October 2023}}}}
V. K. Valath says that the main agricultural labourers in the islands around Kochi have been from the Pulaya and Kudumbi castes. He adds that, whilst many people of the Pulaya and Mukkuvar castes converted to Christianity during the Portuguese period, the Kudumbis retained their traditional religious beliefs.<ref name="VVK">V. V. K. Valath (1991). ''Keralathile Stala Charitrangal, Eranakulam Jilla''. Second Edition, 2006, published by Kerala Sahitya Academy.</ref>{{pn|date=October 2023}}{{qn|date=October 2023}}
The community is officially classified as being within the Socially and Economically Backward Communities (SEBC).<ref>[https://www.itschool.gov.in/registration/list/Caste_List.pdf SEBC list of Kerala State Govt]</ref>
==Kudumbi temples==
''Holi'', the festival of colours, is celebrated in many Devi temples by the Kudumbi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/07/stories/2004030702870500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040413042313/http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/07/stories/2004030702870500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2004|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Holi, Kerala style|date=2004-03-07|accessdate=6 May 2015}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Gauda and Kunbi]]
* [[Devendrakula Velalar]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
===Sources===
* ''The Kurmis-Kunbis of India'' by Pratap Singh Velip Kankar. Published by Pritam Publishers PajiFord, Margoa, Goa Year −2006.
* 1956 An Introduction to the Study of Indian History (Popular Book Depot, Bombay) – [[D.D. Kosambi]].
* Kudumbikalude Charithravum-Samskaravum – written by Dr. Vini M. Published by Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society, Kottayam, Kerala
{{commons category|Kudumbi people}}
{{Ethnic and social groups of Goa and Konkan}}
[[Category:Agricultural castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]
[[Category:Konkani people]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:South Indian communities]]