The Bhambi Khalpa are a

caste A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...

found in the state of

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. They are a sub-group within the

Bhambi The Bhambi are a Hindu caste. Those from Gujarat are Chamar. Those found in the state of Maharashtra and Punjab in India. Bhambis from Punjab region are Saraswat Brahmin.People of India Maharshtra Bambi's from Punjab are Gaud Saraswat Brahmin. V ...

community. The Khalpa have scheduled caste status.They are not part of the vedic "Hindu Varna System." They are following teaching of great saint " Satguru Ravidas or Rohidas."

Origin

The name Khalpa has been derived from the word khal, which is the

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub- ...

word which means the carcass of a dead animal. They are said to be a sub-division of the

Chamar Chamar (or Jatav) is a community classified as a Scheduled Caste under modern India's Reservation in India, system of affirmative action that originated from the group of trade persons who were involved in leather tanning and shoemaking. They a ...

community, Which following the teachings of great visionary saint and social reformer "Satguru Ravidas or Rohitas". The Khalpa are a

speaking community.

Present circumstances

The Khalpa are an endogamous community, and practice clan exogamy. Historically, they used to intermarry with the

Bhambi Rohit The Bhambi Rohit are a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are a sub-group within the Bhambi community. Origin The community gets its name from Rohidas, a Hindu saint, and Rohit are followers of this saint. They broke awa ...

, but this has been discontinued. Their main clans are the Chauhan, Parmar, Katariya, Goel, Solanki and Kothari. Historically, the Khalpa were

leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning (leather), tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffal ...

tanners Tanners may refer to: * Tanners (company), a British wine company * Tanners, Virginia, an unincorporated community located in Madison County, United States * Jerald and Sandra Tanner, opponents of the LDS Church (Mormons) * ''The Tanners'' (novel) ...

and

shoemakers Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or '' cordwainers'' (sometimes misidentified as cobblers, who repair shoes rather than make them). In the 18th cen ...

, but like other artisan communities are abandoning their traditional occupation. Many are now employed as wage labourers. A small number are now small and medium-sized peasant cultivators.People of India Gujarat Volume XXII Part One edited by R.B Lal, S.V Padmanabham & A Mohideen page 162 to 166 Popular Prakashan

References

{{Social groups of Gujarat Indian castes Dalit communities Scheduled Castes of Gujarat Scheduled Castes of Rajasthan Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh

Origin

Present circumstances

See also

References