Sunday, September 16, 2012

"Gowda" is not a Caste Name

Recently have come across people who think "Gowda" is a caste, but it is not a community or caste but just a title used to denote the head of the family or community. I have seen the Gowda surname being used by almost all communities of Karnataka, Here I will give some examples with their castes Junje Gowda - was a Kuruba who built male Mahadeshwara temple, more recently we had A. Dodde Gowda who was a MLA from Holenarasipur in Hassan district, Basavan Gowda  is a common name of many Lingayats from north Karnataka, I think there is a minister called Raju Gowda who belongs to the Nayaka/Valmiki community, Golla Gowda - from the famous poem "Dharini mandala madhyadolage" was a Golla/Yadava and many Golla's use Gowda as surname, Edigas use Gowda as a username as well the most famous person being M.Thimme Gowda the liquor baron, many other small caste people as well use Gowda as surname.

But in the past 10 years or so one particular community is trying to monopolise the name " Gowda" as to belonging to their community.It's a sad show of the imagined superior mentality by few people. They are trying desperately to convince the world that Gowda is a caste. When the truth is contrary to their argument. This false propaganda has been carried out in a large scale both by the written and visual media aided by politicians and swamijis. The press obviously been based in Bengaluru, and being run by the people who do not know the culture and traditions of the people of rural Karnataka are propagating this without looking into the background of the argument.

It all probably goes back to the time about 15 yrs ago when a man who did not deserve to become the Chief Minister became the Prime Minister of India. The most famous person with a Gowda surname - H.D.Deve Gowda. Since then lot of people started to use the Gowda word. Surnames were proudly displayed as Gowda even though they did not have one. The media of course with little knowledge of the error took it as the truth, and started associated Gowda surname with a particular community or protraying it as a seperate community itself. It's a tragedy and shame that such a minuscule  thing as a surname was used to propagate one false information.

To quote an example a book written by Mr L A K Iyer in 1965 called "Mysore - Tribes and Castes" states in page 27 under the heading "Kuruba" that "Gauda" and " Heggade" are the titles used by Kurubas with their corresponding feminine equivalents of "Gaudathi" and "Heggadithi". Which clearly indicates that it is just a title and not a caste or community name.

So even before you ask some people voluntarily say that they are " Gowdas" and go to the extent of displaying it everywhere including their houses and vehicles. So I request these people to write a memorandum to the government to recognise them as a separate caste, or else I think they are spreading a false propaganda to achieve their menial political and social goals. If they thing just by using Gowda as a caste name their status in the social strata of rapidly changing India increase then it's their narrow mindedness. They are trying to undo the truth and rewrite history.

I hope these so called English educated press people try to know the culture, tradition and demographic nature of the state they live in before just blindly using Gowda word to denote one particular community. This article is not to hurt anyone or any community but just an effort to bring out the truth.

60 comments:

  1. Hi Vikram, firstly this is a wonderful blog you have started, the information you have shared is very useful & i feel this has to be taken up on a serious note that people from other communities are just trying to cash on the name Gowda. I shall do my part in spreading this across & look forward for more such blogs from you.
    RaviChandra

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  3. There are few people who still think Gowda is a Caste, especially Vokkaligas! They need to learn the history

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    1. kanda namge nam histry gottu nev tillkolle

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    2. nen hellode neja adre vokkaligaru jasti gowda ant edkotara illa kurbra?

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    3. nen hellode neja adre vokkaligaru jasti gowda ant edkotara illa kurbra?

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    4. kanda namge nam histry gottu nev tillkolle

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    5. We have name in our caste only....kurubha gouda. ..show the name in ur caste with gouda. ..totally baselesss

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    7. Kurubha gowda is rajagowda who ruled state before,not village gowda😂😂

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    8. Kurubha gowda is rajagowda who ruled state before,not village gowda😂😂

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    9. true ,, vokkaligas are not real gowdas ,they calling themselves , just imagne in 100 number of houses in a village 40- 50 houses belongs to vokkaligas they are in moree numbers and how can ther be 50 gowda for 1 village lol , vokkaliga and lingayut are new caste , it al started in 70s , in 50s 60s and 1970s govt was controlled by liquor barons venkat swamy,guruswamy,netkalappa ,dasappa are big names first chief minister was selected by venkata swamy . so devegowda with help of balagangadara swamy added all small castes which were dependendt on agriculture as vokkaliga or gowda just to gain political power, they united bunts in manglore,namdhari ,dasayyas,reddyy,valmikis ,kunchitigas ,vokkaligas of mandya myrosr , all into one to become strong politically , , they dont have history not mroe than 50 years.. good example is kunchitiga is separate caste dependng on agricultrue in north karnataka kunchitiga lingayuts are there in south kunchitga is mixed with vokkaligas, kunchitiga bunts namdharis dasayya re separate caste they have there own sub caste or groups .. dont ocnsider gowda in history as vokklaiga they my be kurubba,golla,ediga or others but not vokkaigas new caste

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    10. Mr Hassan Gouda did u ever seen your caste certificate? Take ur caste certificate, open ur eyes widely and look into it u never witness Gouda as ur caste in the certificate u only notice vokkaliga as ur caste in that, dont comment without common sense u fool rest in peace😂

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    11. gowda is not caste its sir name
      kuruba gowda
      lingayath gowda
      okkaliga gowda

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    12. for example ex cm siddaramaiah father name siddaramegowda
      his brother names
      siddegowda
      ramegowda
      senoir congress leader vishwanath father name also huchegowda

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    13. kuruba gowda people 3rd largest population in Karnataka and dominate powerfull caste

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  5. I am from AP.
    Gowda is going as a caste here.
    Gamunda=> gavunda=>gawda=>gowda
    Gamunda means gramadhipathi as per Sanskrit
    According to our sastras there is no cast only varanas ,they are four types
    Brahmins
    Lustrous
    Vista
    Shudra.
    Finaly if u feel gowda is not a caste ,there is no caste on earth.and some people use gowda caste name but can't to do anything,here not great but there karantaka why that much populer?

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  6. Are you a Kuruba? Kuruba which loosely mean, a shepherd. Jesus Christ was a sheperd too. You can start visiting churches from tmrw, and yeah u got a caste now.I am happy being a gowda. Guess you are trying to sneak in and attach Gowda to your surname. Anyway dont feel insecure. As I said Jesus was a kuruba too. You can join them. Amen!

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    2. Oh lord krishna was a shepherd too. We prefer the later. Tha ks for the offer we don't need it sir

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    3. Bro I'll tell 10 kuruba dynasty can tell atleast 5 Gowda dynasty

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  7. ThanQ For Such Detail.. People Need More Knowleadge About This...But One Thing To Say All ,, We Wont Get Gowda Caste Certificate Remember That ,,,

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  8. Kuraba Gowda means not only Shepherd it involves agriculture to Allama Prabhu, President of Lingayat Temple at the time of allowing saint Rewad in the temple stated "Kuruba Hutavamunna Kulavilla Gotra Villam, Kuruban fal kani Basawanna." meaning "Before the kurubas there were no gotras, gotras came with kurubas, Basawanna, we are the decendants of kurubas". This shows that many Lingayats were kurubas/Dhangars previously.
    V know about our origin.. first u try to search yours k n mind your words

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  9. Kuraba Gowda means not only Shepherd it involves agriculture to Allama Prabhu, President of Lingayat Temple at the time of allowing saint Rewad in the temple stated "Kuruba Hutavamunna Kulavilla Gotra Villam, Kuruban fal kani Basawanna." meaning "Before the kurubas there were no gotras, gotras came with kurubas, Basawanna, we are the decendants of kurubas". This shows that many Lingayats were kurubas/Dhangars previously.
    V know about our origin.. first u try to search yours k n mind your words

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  10. Is it Gouda any one can use by their surname

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    1. Yes , it based on pronoun of english, but Gowda ,gowd, Gouda,Goud are all same.

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  11. Looks like you are jealous of the Vokkaliga community.... Get a life and new surname bro.

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    1. Maybe you guys should get a surname if you're own, have you ever seen your caste certificate pls search for the word Gowda in it then come here and talk shit

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  12. Even nayak name is not limited to one community. There are many kurubas having nayak as their surnames. eg kaka nayaka.

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    1. Thimmappa nayaka became kanakadasa
      Bhima nayak

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  13. Gowda is only for surname not a caste, in long back years some political votings are captured and some peoples are they are hidden own caste And show a he is also gowda. Gowda name is on not history in their,its first started in North Karnataka. South vokkaligas and some castes are a word gowda taking as a caste.in 1965 "Mysore-tribes and castes" page no.27(read it) written by an iyer,gowda not including to a caste I'm not said the book record.first read it who doesn't know u r history.sounth Karnataka is only vokkaligas and kurubas etc.some political back ground involving in their long years ago.we r not disrespect for u all,we r one,we r own back ground is their,any castes will it's for only for identity and equality for proofs that's and all we for only our state and India.we r kannadigas b proud k.

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  15. **Andhra &Telangana ***
    Here Gowda is a caste .... no pride &no royality not like karanataka there many groups use Gowda ,but they are not belongs to Gowda just use Gowda surname. Please consider Gowda is a caste in Andhra and Telangana. Here we can get certificate as Gowda caste

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    2. Yeah bruh we have gowda caste
      We've a glory and history
      Our gotra is koundinya
      Jai Gowda Jai koundinya

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    3. I have never heard of koundinya
      But you would have heard of Vijayanagara Empire , it was built by kuruba

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  16. Good information bro thank you
    But some semi litrate can't accept this that's the sad news

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  17. Hello Mr moron 1st u think about ur ass,u mentioned a man can't deserved to b CM become PM... 1st u check can u eligible become toilet cleaner or not? For our illiteracy in Punjab there is a paddy on HDD name u idiot

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  18. in a vilage 100 houses ,among 100 40 or 50 belongs to vokkaligas( so called gowdas) , just imagine 50 gowdas in a village... vokkaliga and lingayuts are new castes . it all started in 1970s,dvegowda hd and balagangadara swamy united all agricultre dependt caaste as 1 and called them as gowdas , kunchittga,namdharis,bunts of manglroe,tribals in kodag and chikmanglroe,lambanis in ramangara all were made 1 and linked each other and came up with there own stopry .. bunts,kunchitigas,namdharis are differnt they have separate sub caste, good example is kunchitga people in north karnataka are with lingayuts and south karnataka are with vokkalgas , // i am kunchitiga we have 48 upa pangadas which vokkaligas dont have . our swamy shri shanta veera swamy and our people are been threatened and presurised if we voice to go separate caste by vkkaligas political leaders ,, before govt was controlled by liquor barons and therrr private media like prajavavani and majority lingayuts , for devegwda selfish motives this gowda new caste is formed

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  19. Nav halumatha davaru Gowda Nayaka odeyar hegade Patel Patil anta use madthivi..ond ex kothini Gowda Anna padhakke Vokkaligas Kempegowda avru 500 years inde idru adre kurubas Junjegowda 600 varsha inde ne Male Mahadeswara temple kattidru.. innu ve inde ogbeku andre Namge kula annodh aithe Nam kula deva Beeralingeshwara Swamy avr shisya Huli Janthi Malingaraya avr bagge ond hade aithe "Bharumathi Gowdara magano Nanna Malingaraya" idu savirara varsha gala inde..nivu ve Gowda ne adre nane Gowda andre thappu history na helbitre fake Gowda agthira So no Quarrels..

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  20. Nav halumatha davaru Gowda Nayaka odeyar hegade Patel Patil anta use madthivi..ond ex kothini Gowda Anna padhakke Vokkaligas Kempegowda avru 500 years inde idru adre kurubas Junjegowda 600 varsha inde ne Male Mahadeswara temple kattidru.. innu ve inde ogbeku andre Namge kula annodh aithe Nam kula deva Beeralingeshwara Swamy avr shisya Huli Janthi Malingaraya avr bagge ond hade aithe "Bharumathi Gowdara magano Nanna Malingaraya" idu savirara varsha gala inde..nivu ve Gowda ne adre nane Gowda andre thappu history na helbitre fake Gowda agthira So no Quarrels..

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    1. super and good information bro thank u so much

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  21. Gowda is not a caste it's sir name
    kuruba gowda
    okkaliga gowda
    ediga gowda
    etc

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  22. The only king I can come up with from vokkaliga is Kempe Gowda , but kurubas have long list of Dynasty's and ruler's

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  23. Gowda is your surname. that is not surname it was proudly mentioned and in andhra naidu for both kapu and kamma then . You are arguing that goud is belongs to u.. Before 60's do you have?

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  24. Specially kuruba mentioned ancient gowdas

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  25. Really I'm not getting what's going on here ....true vokkaligas are called as gowdas ...that too south Karnataka district people we never ever agree to your words ...yes we don't get cirtificate in the name of gowdas ya offcourse ....it's because of our ancestors sacrifice ...they agreed themselves to involve in vokkaligas caste but our own thing never change just because of the cirtificate ...we are proud to say we are gowdas ....no one has to claim about it ...I know you all can't hold the proudness and positive attitude of gowdas ...yes I agree all other caste use Gowda as sername ... really I feel bad for those people ...bcz even they copy sernames...it's fine I'm telling again south Karnataka vokkaligas we never leave saying we are Gowdas ...it's not denotion of caste it's denotion of our emotions...if any one hurt this ...we are ready to make it as caste ...beaware of it ...that's the power of gowdas

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    1. Yes gowda is a caste here in AP. We are united here. In karnataka gowdas are divided in groups according to occupation.... Ediga vokkaliga have real roots that belongs to gowda community. In AP and telangana we are united but in karnataka you people are seperated due to different occupation.

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  26. Gowda refers to " One who is the landlord or in the position of Administrative capacity " Basically all vokkaliga gowdas are land owners. In the olden days, Vokkaliga Gowdas were in the position of ministers. Gradually, they had their own land and majority of the Vokkaliga gowdas developed agriculture as a profession. Vokkaliga gowdas have their roots from Rastrakutas, Hoysala Empire, western Gangas etc..The Ganga khatriyas or Gangadikars, a sub sect of vokkaliga gowdas find their roots from Western Gangas.(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vokkaliga) I've attached the link for more information. Visit the link and go to Subsect : go through Gangadikars or Ganga khatriya. This is just an example. All vokkaliga gowdas find their roots from one or the other dynasties. Basically all vokkaliga gowdas are called as 'Gowdas' because they are the owner of their own lands now. They belong to huge land owning groups. In the history they were at the ruling position. The same lands now, it is used for agriculture ( majority). South Karnataka is fully dominated with vokkaliga gowdas - Hassan, Mysore, Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara, sullia, parts of puttur ( Dakshin Kannada). In Tamil Nadu : Vokkaliga gowdas are called 'Gounders'. Basically the Gangadikar gowdas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu's gounders are same, just the language is different. In Tamil Nadu the Kannada speaking gangadikar vokkaliga gowdas are present in the "Nilgiri district I,e Ooty, coonoor regions. They are found in Dharmapuri, Erode, parts of Coimbatore, Hosur, Theni and Dindigul. Me, being a Gounder from Coimbatore have many Kannada speaking friends who are of gangadikar vokkaliga gowdas. Infact, many from Theni and Dindigul gowdas have roots from Karnataka, they speak Tamil and actually don't know that they gain roots from Karnataka.Vokkaliga gowdas are found in North waynaad, Kerala and north Kasaragod regions also ( Immediately after Sullia taluk border). Me being a Gounder,I was born in Coimbatore and I work in Bangalore now. I'am a Historian. My work involves full of research and development. Hence, I know the history of Vokkaliga Gowdas. They take pride because they are known for it. As far as my knowledge, the 'Kuruba' is one who looks after sheep. kuruba was called a Gowda when,they started owning a herd of sheep. They were the owner of huge number of sheeps. Some kurubas were gifted with land as well, hence the name kuruba gowdas. Same goes for lingayats. They take surname from other caste. North Karnataka people use 'Patil' or 'patel' which belongs to land owning or administrative community in North Karnataka. In North Karnataka the lingayats are huge in number because of the olden days of conversation of Dalits to lingayats. Some lingayats moved to South Karnataka for the conversation of Gangawadi people(Present Vokkaliga Gowdas), but due to their extreme pride and status of the vokkaliga gowdas, the lingayats failed. The lingayats who settled in South use gowdas as their surname( Very few in number). These are all the proved facts. Please don't take it personally and offensive. Today all are equal. Let's us together eradicate castism. We are Indians. Thank you

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  27. Please go and search Karnataka reservation document there is a caste Gowda in 3A vokkaliga sub caste

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  28. Sir firstly I'm really upset... U can't tell what other deserve rite ....and yes ur rite gawdas is not caste it's surename ....but the people who used rule the village where called as gowdha and from which we gawdas came so it is considered as caste

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