Vankar

The Vankar is a Hindu social group found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. Starting from the early ninties, a sizable number have emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly to Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.[1][2]

History and origin

The Vankar is a social group found largely in western states of India.[1] However, their ancestry from Kshatriya having migrated from Marwar region and therefore also prefix Maru to be called Maru Vankar,[2] migrated to places like Bhilad, Gariadhar, Cheetal and Patan.[3] The Vankar are said to originate in Saurashtra, and migrated to Patan the historic capital of Gujarat. Thus then it is largely believed on proofs that vankar are rajputs.It is believed that some of them were migrated from Malwa (Rajasthan) and Ujjain, Indor (MP). Vankars were rulers of Gujarat as they are descendants of Rajputs. But due to Brahmins neglected them they were separated from Rajputs. Such evidence can be found in many historic literature. Some people of this community are (kshatriya) as on book "kshatriya Vanshavali" by Ishwarsinh Madadh. Other people from Vankar community are part of sc. They are now mainly found in the city of Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Baroda, Surat and also found in Banaskantha.

Demographics

They are largely spread in Saurashtra region of Gujarat and also found in Dadra, Daman and Diu.[1][2]

Culture

They are endogamous community, consisting of a series of exogamous clans.[3]

They are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian in diet.[2]

Present circumstances

According to census 1981 population of Vankar community (including Mahyavanshi Vankars and Maru Vankar) was 10,49,837 in Gujarat.[1]

Occupation

The other chief occupation of Vankars is the weaving of cloth. Weaving of clothes and sarees also remains their main occupation.[3] Now these people moved to other business too like trading clothes apart from weaving. Some of them have moved for business in abroad also occupied in administration positions in Government of India.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 India's communities by K. S. Singh. Oxford University Press. 1998. p. 1776,2101–03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gujarat, Part 1. 2003. pp. 882–885.
  3. 1 2 3 People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1126-1129

Ancestry from Rajput kstriya

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