Jump to content

Karan (caste)

Page extended-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the same surname and title, see Karanam.

Karan
କରଣ
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesOdia
Populated statesOdisha
SubdivisionsKaran, Karan Vaishnav
Related groupsBrahmin
StatusForward caste[1]

The Karan or Karana is a community of writers found in the state of Odisha in India.[2] The post of Karana used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate peoples.[3] They held Karanam posts in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, where they speak Odia and played a similar role in Odisha to that of the Kayasthas of West Bengal and Bihar.[4] In the social hierarchy of Odisha they rank next to Brahmins.[5][6] They exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governors, military commanders, accountants, record keepers and diwans.[7][8][9][10] They have the highest literacy caste-wise and are highly prosperous.[11] Today they are a politically dominant community and have reigned over the politics of Odisha for 50 years.[12][13][14]

Origin

Divisions

Karanas in Odisha are divided into various divisions, out of these divisions Kshatriya Karanas are considered superior to other divisions of Karanas.[15] They are classified as Vratyas.[16] Karanas used to observe rituals like Sati and Upanayana in their community.[17]

Medieval Period

The frequent admission of land grants to princes, Brahmins and various officials gave rise to a new new class of writers. However the Karanas crystallized into a distinct caste only in the 10th or 11th century AD owning to social mobility. Any mention of the term prior to that period simply denotes its functional aspect rather than a caste affiliation.[3]

Social status

Medieval Period

Karanas alongwith Brahmins feature in the 10th century inscriptions of Odisha and are represented as heads of the local population. Such depiction denotes their high social rank.[18] Karanas enjoyed high status in medieval period and married within the royal households. An example of this can be found in the Arasavali copper plate of the Eastern Ganga monarch Vajrahasta III.[3] They occupied high positions under the feudatory kings of Odisha, most of them were appointed as Dewans in the princely states of Odisha.[19] Karanas find mention in Bhauma-Kara records and are represented as Sadhyadhikarana or Chief Judicial Officer of a district. Similarly Srikarana featured in the temple inscription is said to have been the accountant general of Anangabhima Deva III of Eastern Ganga dynasty. A Kosthakarana was a top administrative officer of Narsimha Deva 4 of Eastern Ganga Dynasty. Terms like Deula Karana represented the rank of Temple administrator. Samanta Karanas were the aristrocratic families of Karanas from Odisha, the word Samanta was also used by the kings of Odisha, thus it can be said Karanas were associated with the royal families of Odisha.[17] The head of a Karana family was known as Samanta while his wife was known as Samantani.[20] Some Karanas also received land grants and held feudatory status in medieval Odisha.[21] They appear to be an important community in Eastern Ganga dynasty as they held high positions in the government such as the post of army general, prime minister and accountant.[22] Karanas were associated with the administration of the ruling dynasties of Odisha, a general named Srikarana Mahananda Senapati of the Karan caste was the army general and governor of Anangabhima 3 of Eastern Ganga dynasty.[23] Srikarana Mahananda Senapati was the Senadhyakshawara of the Kingdom or Commander in chief.[24] Another official named Srikarana Pattanaik Viswanatha Mahasenapati was the army general and governor of Narsimha Deva 4 of Eastern Ganga Dynasty, he governed four Dandapatas or Rajyas of Eastern Ganga Dynasty, he was also the Puro Srikarana of the Kingdom or Prime Minister.[25] Another general named Srikarana Suru Senapati under the reign of Anangabhima Dev 2 is said to have donated lands to the Jagannath Temple of Puri as evidenced from inscriptions.[26] Ramananda Ray was the governor of the southern territories in Gajapati Empire, he was also a minister of Gajapati Prataparudra Deva, Ramananda Raya belonged to Karan community. The founder of Athgarh State was Raja SriKaran Niladri Bhagirath Barman Patnaik. He was the minister of the Raja of Puri, who conferred on him the title of Raja and gave him Athgarh for his service.[27]

Modern Period

In British colonial era, Karanas owned most Zamindaris in Odisha and were extremely rich.[28][29][30] They also received large amounts of land grants in Khurda administration of Khurda Kingdom.[31]

In recent post-Independence era India, they have also played a dominant role in politics. Such is their prominence in politics that many members from the Karan community have been elected as the Chief Ministers of Odisha, hence they are also dubbed as the political caste of Odisha.[32]

Society and culture

Role in temple administration

Deula Karana and Tadhau Karana sub divisions of Karanas are the key servitors in the Jagannath Temple of Puri. They alongwith other key servitors manage the administration of temple.[33] Deula Karana and Tadhau Karana servitors are also the representatives of the Raja of Puri and assist him in performing the temple rituals associated with Lord Jagannath.[34]

Notable people

Chief Ministers

Freedom Fighters & Social Reformers

Vaishnav Saints

Historical Figures

Art & Literature

Education & Research

Jurists

Others

Surnames

Some titles associated with the Karan caste includes:

Patnaik, Mohanty, Choudhury, Das, Ray, Mohapatra, Samantaray, Routray, Chhotray, Kanungo, Bakshi, Bohidar, Srikarana, Dandapata, Das Mahapatra, Pruseth, Mahasenapati, Srichandan, Harichandan, Bebarta, Samantasinghar, Badajena etc.[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rajasekhar, D.; Patnaik, Pratyusna; Manjula, R. (2005). Affirmative Action and Political Participation: Elected Representatives in the Panchayats of Orissa. Institute for Social and Economic Change. ISBN 978-81-7791-122-0.
  2. ^ Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 116–. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  3. ^ a b c Raut, L.N. (2004). "Jati Formation in Early Medieval Orissa: Reflection on Karana (Kayastha Caste)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 65: 304–308. JSTOR 44144743.
  4. ^ M. Kodanda Rao (1990). Cultural and Structural Dimensions of Family: A Study of Jalari Fishermen. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-81-7022-270-5.
  5. ^ Pati, Rabindra Nath (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  6. ^ Patra, Patitapaban (December 1994). "Archeological remains of Dhenkanal". Utkal University, Department of History. V: 205–206.
  7. ^ Mohanty, Pramod Kumar (2007). Colonialism and South Asia: Cuttack, 1803-1947. R.N. Bhattacharya. ISBN 978-81-87661-52-8.
  8. ^ Mohanty, Ramesh P.; Biswal, Durgesh Nandini (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. p. 40. ISBN 978-81-8324-199-1.
  9. ^ Sircar, D. C. (2017-01-01). Indian Epigraphy. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-4103-1.
  10. ^ Cultural Heritage of [Orissa]: pts. 1-2. Katak. State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad. 2002. ISBN 978-81-902761-5-3.
  11. ^ Williams, Joanna Gottfried (1996-01-01). The Two-headed Deer: Illustrations of the Rāmāyaṇa in Orissa. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08065-2.
  12. ^ "Reign of Patnaiks: 40 years and counting". The Times of India. 2019-04-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  13. ^ "How the Patnaiks, despite being 2% of Odisha's population, ruled the state for 45 years, and maybe beyond". The Economic Times. 2024-05-11. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  14. ^ "rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 1975.
  16. ^ Prinsep, James (1905). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Bishop's College Press.
  17. ^ a b Das, Biswarup (1980). "Kayasthas and Karanas in Orissa—A Study on Inscriptions". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 41: 940–944. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141924.
  18. ^ Proceedings of the ... Annual Conference ... South Indian History Congress. 1995.
  19. ^ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
  20. ^ Mukherjee, Prabhat (1964). History of Orissa in the 19th Century. Utkal University.
  21. ^ Panda, Shishir Kumar (2000). New Perspectives on the History and Culture of Orissa. Punthi Pustak. ISBN 978-81-86791-23-3.
  22. ^ Das, Dr Manas Kumar (May 7, 2022). "DDCE, Utkal" (PDF). ddceutkal.ac.in. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Das, Biswarup (1985). Orissa: Social, Cultural, and Religious Aspects. Sundeep Prakashan.
  24. ^ Parida, Asok Nath (1996). Aspects of Socio-cultural Life in Early and Medieval Orissa. DSA Programme, Post Graduate Department of History, Utkal University.
  25. ^ Cultural Heritage of [Orissa]: pts. 1-2. Katak. State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad. 2002. ISBN 978-81-902761-5-3.
  26. ^ Mishra, S. P. (2007). Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa. Pratibha Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7702-148-6.
  27. ^ Paṭṭanāẏaka, Jagannātha (1988). Feudatory States of Orissa, 1803-1857. Vohra Publishers & Distributors.
  28. ^ Das, Bishnupada (1996). Some Aspects of Socio-economic Changes in South Western Frontier Bengal Since Introduction of Neo-Vaiṣṇavism. Firma KLM Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-7102-049-2.
  29. ^ Proceedings of the ... Annual Conference ... South Indian History Congress. 1995.
  30. ^ "sg.inflibnet.ac.in" (PDF).
  31. ^ Tanabe, Akio (2020). "Genealogies of the "Paika Rebellion": Heterogeneities and Linkages". International Journal of Asian Studies. 17 (1): 1–18. doi:10.1017/S1479591420000157. ISSN 1479-5914.
  32. ^ Pramit Verma; Pardeep Singh (14 July 2020). Urban Ecology: Emerging Patterns and Social-Ecological Systems. Elsevier Science. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-0-12-820731-4.
  33. ^ "Servitors firm on Sri Jagannath temple lock". The New Indian Express. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  34. ^ "Transfer of 'soul' during Nabakalebara | Sambad English". 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  35. ^ "rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa". Rediff.com. 2000-02-14. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  36. ^ "Rediff.com 2000"
  37. ^ a b Pradhan, Ashok (2019-04-13). "Reign of Patnaiks: 40 years and counting - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  38. ^ a b c d "How the Patnaiks, despite being 2% of Odisha's population, ruled the state for 45 years, and maybe beyond". The Economic Times. 2024-05-11. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  39. ^ Panigrahi, Hiranya Kumar (2021-05-14). Odisha of My Times: English Translation of "Mo Samayara Odisha" by Krishna Chandra Panigrahi. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-63850-732-1.
  40. ^ Pradhan, Atul Chandra (1992). The Nationalist Movement in a Regional Setting, 1920-34: The Rise of Congress to Power in Orissa. Amar Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85420-32-5.
  41. ^ "Annapurna Maharana cremated". The Times of India. 2013-01-03. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  42. ^ Nanda, Prabhat Kumar (October 2022). "Annapurna Maharana : a philanthropist" (PDF). Odisha Review: 2.
  43. ^ The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies. Institute of Historical Studies. 1993.
  44. ^ The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies. Institute of Historical Studies. 1993.
  45. ^ Sahu, N. K. (1985). Veer Surendra Sai. Department of Culture, Government of Orissa.
  46. ^ Pradhan, Atul Chandra (1992). The Nationalist Movement in a Regional Setting, 1920-34: The Rise of Congress to Power in Orissa. Amar Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85420-32-5.
  47. ^ Pradhan, Atul Chandra (1992). The Nationalist Movement in a Regional Setting, 1920-34: The Rise of Congress to Power in Orissa. Amar Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85420-32-5.
  48. ^ Nilamani Senapati; Nabin Kumar Sahu (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Karaput. Cuttack, Superintendent Orissa Government Press.
  49. ^ Barua, Ananya (2019-06-05). "Koraputia Gandhi: The Forgotten Legend Who Served Odisha's Tribals for 77 Years". The Better India. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  50. ^ Mukherjee, Prabhat (1981). The History of Medieval Vaishnavism in Orissa. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0229-8.
  51. ^ Mukherjee, Prabhat (1981). The History of Medieval Vaishnavism in Orissa. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0229-8.
  52. ^ Pradhan, Atul Chandra (1984). A Study of History of Orissa: From the Earliest Times to Mukundadeva. Panchashila.
  53. ^ Mohanty, Gopinath (July 2020). "Bisara Mohanty, An Ardent Devotee ISSN 0970-8669" (PDF). Odisha Review.
  54. ^ Kulke, Hermann; Schnepel, Burkhard (2001). Jagannath Revisited: Studying Society, Religion, and the State in Orissa. Manohar. ISBN 978-81-7304-386-4.
  55. ^ Paṭṭanāẏaka, Jagannātha (1988). Feudatory States of Orissa, 1803-1857. Vohra Publishers & Distributors.
  56. ^ Rout, Savitri (1972). Women Pioneers in Oriya Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-81-208-2546-8.
  57. ^ Proceedings. Indian History Congress. 1976.
  58. ^ Mohanty, Janaki Ballabha (1993). Banamali Das. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-7201-449-0.
  59. ^ Mahanti, Jagannatha (1993). Children's Literature of Orissa. Orissa Sahitya Akademi.
  60. ^ Gopinath Mohanty (1983). Radhanath Ray.
  61. ^ "Some Great Odiya Personalities". 2014-03-06. Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  62. ^ "Dharitri E-Paper". www.dharitri.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  63. ^ "অন্নদাশঙ্কর রায় –". 2020-05-11. Archived from the original on 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  64. ^ archive, From our online (2019-04-20). "Gopinath Mohanty Memorial Lecture today". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  65. ^ "Sambad: 24 and counting". Orissa Matters. 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  66. ^ "New Page". 2012-11-19. Archived from the original on 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  67. ^ "Das, Bidhu Bhusan, 1922- - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies". id.loc.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  68. ^ "Ashutosh Sheshabalaya on Global Reach". The VoiceAmerica Talk. May 9, 2013. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  69. ^ "The digital book binder - The New Indian Express". 2013-09-03. Archived from the original on 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  70. ^ "Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.K. Patnaik". 2013-08-18. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  71. ^ "G B Pattanaik takes oath as Chief Justice of India". The Times of India. 2002-11-08. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  72. ^ "ଓଡ଼ିଶା ହାଇକୋର୍ଟର ପ୍ରଥମ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବିଚାରପତି ବୀର କିଶୋର ରାୟଙ୍କ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧବାର୍ଷିକୀ". Odisha Sambad. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  73. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  74. ^ India, The Hans (2021-03-20). "Governor Biswa Bhusan pays tributes to Justice Jugal Kishore Mohanty". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  75. ^ "Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand HC | OdishaSunTimes.com". 2018-08-01. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  76. ^ Upadhyay, Arun Kumar (2000). Origin of Orissa Names. Kitab Mahal. ISBN 978-81-86472-60-6.
  77. ^ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 1975.
  78. ^ Congress, Indian History (2006). Proceedings. Indian History Congress.
  79. ^ Jena, K. C. (1968). Land Revenue Administration in Orissa During the Nineteenth Century. S. Chand.
  80. ^ http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/15193/10/10_chapter%25203.pdf
  81. ^ "Devdutt Pattanaik: Descendants of Chitragupta". Mid-day. 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  82. ^ Hust, Evelin (2004). Women's Political Representation and Empowerment in India: A Million Indiras Now?. Manohar. ISBN 978-81-7304-575-2.
  83. ^ Mohapatra, Gopinath (1982). Jagannātha in History & Religious Traditions of Orissa. Punthi Pustak.
  84. ^ Mauchline Roberts, Elizabeth (2019-08-13), "Gandhi and the Indian nationalist movement to 1920", Gandhi, Nehru and Modern India (1 ed.), Routledge, pp. 14–27, doi:10.4324/9780367351717-2, ISBN 978-0-367-35171-7, retrieved 2024-10-26
  85. ^ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Sundargarh. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
  86. ^ Ray, Dipti (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. ISBN 978-81-7211-195-3.
  87. ^ Pāṇigrāhī, Śarata Candra; Panda, Daityari (1984). The Cult and Culture of Lord Jagannath. Rashtrabhasha Samavaya Prakashan.
  88. ^ Rath, Bijaya Kumar (1983). Cultural History of Orissa, A.D. 855-1110. Sundeep Prakashan.
  89. ^ Pāṇigrāhī, Śarata Candra; Panda, Daityari (1984). The Cult and Culture of Lord Jagannath. Rashtrabhasha Samavaya Prakashan.
  90. ^ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karan_(caste)&oldid=1256099705"