Kandu

The Kandu or Kanu are a Hindu caste in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They traditionally provided parched grains and are one of the Bania castes in the Vaishya varna. In India and eastern zone the caste often use Maddhesia or Gupta as a surname.[1] In Nepal, the caste is known as Kanu (Nepali: कानू), and Kandu elsewhere. Saints from this community include Sant Paltu Prasad from Nagpurjalalpur (near Ayodhya), who composed the Bhajnavali (Book of Devotion.)

Origin

The caste has sub-castes Madhesia, Maghaiya, Bantaria, Kanaujia, Gour, Koranch, Dhuria, Rawani, Ballamitra, and Thathera (distinct from the Thathera caste). In Bihar state, Kandus are found in Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Patna, Nalanda and Bhojpur districts.[2] In Nepal they are found in the Terai from Jhapa district in the southeast corner west to Banke as well as in Kathmandu.

Present circumstances

The community is endogamous but practices village and clan exogamy. They have abandoned their traditional occupation of grain parching.[3] Now they are mainly traders, village shop keepers and money lenders in villages. Urban Kandu follow various other occupations. Their traditions are similar to other Banias in Bihar.[4]

People in Uttar Pradesh

In Gorakhpur,Kushinagar,Maharajganj,,Deoria,Ayodhya,Varanasi. aprox 2100000 (survey Report) population.

References

  1. ↑ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
  2. ↑ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
  3. ↑ "The Liberation Struggle of Bihar".
  4. ↑ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
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