Koli Zamidar

The Koli Zamidar (also spelled as Koli Zimidar, Koli Zamindar, Koli Zimindar and Koli Jamidar) is a term or title used for the Kolis who were landlord, Agriculturist , Jagir holder in the Indian state of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa. In Gujarat, Kolis held the high number of Zamidaris and most of them married with poor Rajput girls. Ahmednagar Sultanate was depended on the Koli Zamaidars for the Army, Cavalry and infantry during the wartime but Koli Zamidars were not faithfull because Koli Zamidar occasionally changed the side during wartime because Kolis often joined the Maratha army during the reign of Maratha warlord Shivaji in 17th century.

The Koli Zamindars of Surat district and Khambhat district in Gujarat revolted against Mughal Empire in the support of Marathas but some of the Koli Zamidars fought against Koli Zamindars because during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Marathas captured the fifty two forts from Koli Zamidars in Maharashtra. In this rebellion, Many Koli Zamindars were died for Mughals and many died for Marathas.

Mughal rule in Gujarat was much troubled and challenged by Koli Zamindar Lal Koli who had the 3000 cavalry and 12000 infantry. In 1615, there was a fight between Koli Zamindar Lal Koli and Mughal Empire under Mughal commander Abdullah Khan but in this fight, Koli Zamindar was defeated and killed by Mughal commander Abdullah Khan.

After the death of Sultan Aurangzeb, Koli Zamindars started collecting the ryots (tax) from Muslim Villages and Koli Vero (tax from Hindus) from the other caste hindus with the excuse that during the time of Aurangzeb, you Muslims and other caste Hindus were paying tax to Aurangzeb and now we Koli Zamindars want that tax.

List of Koli Zamindars and Zamidaris

• Chunvalia Koli (Koli Thakor) Zamidars of Chunval Pradesh (Now known as Bahucharaji)
• In Maharashtra, Bhangare Kolis, Bokad Kolis and Bamble Kolis were Zamidar, they received the jagirs from Peshwa for their braveheart service in Maratha Empire.
• Koli Zamidar of Ranmal
• Koli Zamidar of Ilol Kanrah in Ahmednagar
• Koli Zamidar of Dehvan
• Koli Zamidar of Peint (Peth) in Maharashtra who revolted Kolis of his Jagir against British Raj and was hanged in punishment.
• Koli Zamidars of Ballh, Rajghar, Hatli and Hathgarh in Punjab.
• Talpada Koli (Patel) zamidars of Talpad Vistar in Gujarat
• Koli Zamidar Ram Patil of Janjira island who fortified the Janjira and fought against the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.