Chambhar


Chambhar, are artisan castes traditionally involved in leather work. They are also known as Chamar in North India.

History

Chambhars are one of the untouchable communities of Maharashtra. According to myth of their caste, they belong to the progeny of Hindu god, Shiva and have been Shaivites since ancient times. Chambhars are also Lingayat, since after reform movements of Basava.
Chambhars have many contributions in religious and reform movements, e.g - Haralayya, Santbai, Dapa Muchi founder of Darpanarayani sect, etc. Even prior to Bhakti movement Chambhars had consciousness of social upliftment and fought many times against oppression.
Chambhars were also part of Bara Balutedar system of Maharashtra and also worked as hereditary servicing castes of villages. Historically, Chambhars are related to leather work but gradually they also moved towards midwifery, peasantry, poultry and industrial labour.
Chambhars gave service to the rulers of their region by making leather products used in cavalry and later also worked as soldiers and guards for them. They played an important role in the armies of Maratha Empire and British Indian Army. A lot of Chambhars also served in Mahar Regiment but their recruitment got halted after the introduction of martial race theory. In 1943, The Chamar Regiment was formed where a small no. of Marathi Chambhars also incorporated but still it was dominated by Chamars of North Indian.

Social status

Chambhars enjoyed better position among untouchables unlike their counterparts of other states, e.g – Chamars of North India, Madigas of Andhra Pradesh, etc. Even they were part of mainstream business of local markets and economically welloff than other untouchables.
Currently, Chambhars are in different fields and after the introduction of the reservation policy in India it helped a lot of them to improve their lifestyle.
They fall under Scheduled Caste category in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Chambhars