The Mahadev Koli (Hindi: महादेव कोली) (also spelled as Mahadeo Koli, Koli Mahadev, Koli Mahadeo) is a sub-caste of the Koli caste found in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa and Indian Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Mahadev Kolis are also known as Dongar Koli and Raj Koli. They are called Dongar Koli because they have been living in hilly areas since ancient times and Raj Koli is called because the Maharaja of the Mukne dynasty of Jawhar State belonged to this Mahadev Koli tribe. The main occupation of Mahadev Kolis is farming and some educated Mahadev Kolis do government and private jobs. The Maharashtra government has placed Mahadev Kolis in the category of Scheduled Tribes, under which Mahadev Kolis do government jobs in the quota of scheduled tribes. Mahadev Koli tribe was declared a Criminal tribe by the British government under criminal tribes act during British raj. In old times, Mahadev Kolis were fortkeepers and Kolis mainly used to live by looting.
In 1657, Mahadev Kolis revolted against Mughal Sultan Aurangzeb under the leadership of Koli Sardar Khemi Sarnaik. Khemi Sarnaik assembled all the Koli Nayaks (Koli Mavala) of Maval region and made a plan to fight against Aurangzeb with them and promised to shake the Mughal rule. To suppress the Koli rebellion, Aurangzeb's Mughal army came from the hilly areas and the Koli army clashed with the Mughal army. The Mughal Sultan killed Khemi Sarnaik's entire family and also killed his relatives. Thousands of Mahadev Kolis were taken captive to Junnar and beheaded. At the place of beheading, Aurangzeb, seeing the bravery of the Koli warriors, built a monument called Koli Chabutra at the same place.
The same thing happened in 1741-42. Mahadev Kolis ruled the Kurang fort but in 1741 Peshwa Balaji Bajirao tried to snatch the Kurang fort from the Kolis with the help of the Maratha army, due to which a war broke out between the Peshwa and Mahadev Kolis and in this war the Kolis were massacred by the Peshwa and the Kurang fort was snatched from the Kolis. In the same year the Peshwa also attacked the Vadavali village of the Kolis which was under the rule of Mahadev Kolis and snatched it too and a fierce rebellion took place.
In 1750-51, the Peshwa snatched away fourteen provinces from the Mahadev Kolis along with the forts, during which a conflict broke out between the Peshwa and the Mahadev Kolis and the Kolis attained martyrdom. From 1760 to 1799, the Peshwa kept snatching away the forts from the Mahadev Kolis, due to which Mahadev Kolis started looting, stealing, robbery and all other criminal activities.
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There are many gotras found in Mahadev Koli tribe, some of the well-known gotras are as follows:
Rebellions by Mahadev Koli tribe
In 1657, Mahadev Kolis revolted against Mughal Sultan Aurangzeb under the leadership of Koli Sardar Khemi Sarnaik. Khemi Sarnaik assembled all the Koli Nayaks (Koli Mavala) of Maval region and made a plan to fight against Aurangzeb with them and promised to shake the Mughal rule. To suppress the Koli rebellion, Aurangzeb's Mughal army came from the hilly areas and the Koli army clashed with the Mughal army. The Mughal Sultan killed Khemi Sarnaik's entire family and also killed his relatives. Thousands of Mahadev Kolis were taken captive to Junnar and beheaded. At the place of beheading, Aurangzeb, seeing the bravery of the Koli warriors, built a monument called Koli Chabutra at the same place.
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| Maharaja Yashwantrao Martandrao Mukne of Jawhar state |
The same thing happened in 1741-42. Mahadev Kolis ruled the Kurang fort but in 1741 Peshwa Balaji Bajirao tried to snatch the Kurang fort from the Kolis with the help of the Maratha army, due to which a war broke out between the Peshwa and Mahadev Kolis and in this war the Kolis were massacred by the Peshwa and the Kurang fort was snatched from the Kolis. In the same year the Peshwa also attacked the Vadavali village of the Kolis which was under the rule of Mahadev Kolis and snatched it too and a fierce rebellion took place.
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| Jai Vilas Palace of Jawhar state rules by Mahadev Koli tribe |
In 1750-51, the Peshwa snatched away fourteen provinces from the Mahadev Kolis along with the forts, during which a conflict broke out between the Peshwa and the Mahadev Kolis and the Kolis attained martyrdom. From 1760 to 1799, the Peshwa kept snatching away the forts from the Mahadev Kolis, due to which Mahadev Kolis started looting, stealing, robbery and all other criminal activities.
In 1761, Mahadev Kolis of Bhangre and Patikar clan (Gotra, Kutumb, Atak) revolted against the Nizam of Hyderabad and captured the Trimbak Fort from the Nizam by defeating the Hyderabad army and gave the Trimbak fort to Maratha rulers.
In 1818, the Britishers defeated the Marathas, after which the Mahadev Kolis kept rebelling till 1830. After this, a Mahadev Koli revolutionary named Raghoji Bhangre rebelled against British rule. He was hanged by the British in 1848.
Military services
Mahadev Kolis served as Subedar, Sardar and Mansabdar in Deccan sultanates and Maratha empire.
In 1857, the Britishers formed the Deccan Koli Corps to suppress the rebellions in Maharashtra. And later in 1861, after the rebellions ended, the Deccan Koli Corps was disbanded.
Religious beliefs and practices
Mahadev Kolis are Hindus by religion and worship Bhavani, Kolabha and Bhairo. Mahadev worships them on Tuesdays and Fridays. They also worship their Kuldevi and Kuldevta.
Mahadev Koli Clans (Gotra, Kutumb)
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There are many gotras found in Mahadev Koli tribe, some of the well-known gotras are as follows:
- Bhangare (Bhangaria, Bhangariya, Bhangre, Bhangriya)
- Patikar (Pattikar, Patekar, Pattekar)
- Pichad
- Popere
- Bokad
- Shelkande
- Bhonsale (Bhashle, Bhonsle)
- Aghashi
- Bhagivant (Bhagiwant)
- Chavhan (Chavan)
- Budhivant (Budhiwant)
- Dalvi
- Gaikwad (Gaekwad, Gayakwad)
- Gavli (Gavali)
- Jagtap
- Kadam (Kardam)
- Kedar
- Kharad
- Khirsagar (Kshirsagar)
- Namdev (Namdeo)
- Pawar (Parmar)
- Polegar
- Sagarkar
- Shirke
- Suryavanshi (Suryawanshi)
- Utercha
Distribution
Mahadev Kolis are found in Maharashtra mainly in the districts of Nashik, Ahmednagar, Thane, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Raigad, Beed, Nanded, Osmanabad, Latur, Buldhana and Akola.
Food and Cuisine
Mahadev Kolis are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. They eat rice, pulses like Nagali and Urai in vegetarian category and chicken, eggs, fish and goat in non-vegetarian category. It is common to drink tea with milk or without milk along with jaggery every day.
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