Caste and Race in India c6.3

c6.3

Of the groups carrying on trade and commerce a large number bear the name of Vani or Baniya, which is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning a trader. The Tamil Chetti seems also to refer to the avocation of the group in that linguistic area. Jat of the Punjab means cultivator, so also do Vellala of the Tamil and Vakkaliga of the Canarese country. Kurmi, Kunbi, and Kanbi perhaps signify the occupation of the group, viz. that of cultivation, though it is not improbable that the name may be of tribal origin. Kisan, the name of a cultivating caste of northern India, must be derived from the Sanskrit word for cultivation. Sometimes the connection of agriculture is brought out indirectly as in the name of the Lodha of the Central Provinces. The name is believed to mean "clod-hopper" from "loh", a clod.¹ The cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gauli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. Soni or Sonar, the name of the goldsmith caste, refers to the material in which the group specializes. Barhai, Tarkhan, Tarkhan and Sutar, the designations of the carpenter-caste in the different linguistic regions, point to the material worked on, the mode of working or the special implement of the craft. The names of the metal-working castes—Lohar, Tambat, Kasar, and Thathera—come from the metal handled by these groups, viz. iron, copper, bell-metal, and brass. Bunkar, Joria, Tanti, Koshti, Patva, Pattanulkaran, and Sale are the designations of the various weaving castes. The first two are derived from a root meaning, to put the threads together,¹ and the others from Sanskrit words for silk-cloth.² Kumhar or Kumbhar, the name of the potter-caste, means one who makes pots. Tili or Teli, the oil-presser, means either one who presses oil or one who handles sesamum. The names of the barber-caste are either derived from the Sanskrit word for barber or signify those who cut the hair. Lunia and Agri mean salt-workers. Bari, the leaf-plate-making caste, derives its name from "bar", a "plantation", and Tamboli, dealers in betel-leaf, from the Sanskrit word for betel-leaf. Dharkar means rope-maker and Bansphor, the basket-maker, means the bamboo-splitter. Chamar or Chambhar, the name of the leather-working caste, is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning, worker in leather. Kahar, name of a North-Indian caste, formerly engaged chiefly as water-carriers but now as general and domestic servants, means a water-carrier. Pasi means a trapper or snarer, and is significantly the name of an aboriginal caste living by catching wild birds and small game. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep. Such is at least the case with Gadaria from "gadar", an old Hindi word for sheep.³