Kurmi

Kurmi(Hindi:कुर्मी), which is the name of one of the Jātis (castes) of the Hindus,Kurmi are the Kshatriya

Kurmi Kshatriya - origins

It is believed that Kurmi Kshatriya originated from Kush, son of Lord Rama. However, like other castes, there is no proof of their origin.

They were warriors during war-time and they used to engage in agriculture off the war. In Mughal-British period, majority of Jamindars were Kurmi Kshatriyas.

In 1894 the Kurmi Kshatriya's formed their first association in Lucknow to give teeth to their protest against the British decision to cut their numbers in the police force. Realising it was not enough, the Kurmi Sabha of Awadh included the Patidars, Kapus, Vokkaligas, Reddys, Naidus and Marathas of other states,which belong to same community, in its fold.

Kurmis in India and Nepal

Kurmis, as also present in the east as well as southern India. They are relatively prosperous and educated, forward thinking, but conscious and rooted to farming and trading also. Etymologically, the words, Kunbi are generally considered a derivative of the word Kurmi. Kurmis constitute around sixteen percentage of the total population of India.

Etymology and usage

Basically, it means "I do", "I am able". "Kuru" in Sanskrit means "do".

"yat na kurmi" sadresam priyam... (Valmiki Ramayana, Book 6, Sarga 1). I am unable" to do a pleasant act... "na kurmi' tvam bhasmam (Valmiki Ramayana, Book 5, Sarga 22) "I am maki

Kurmi Kshatriyas are believed to be 'Karm Kshatriyas'...meaning khsatriyas who believing in karma.

Another word used for Kurmi Kshatriya is Kunbi Kshatriya. Kunbi Kshatirya means those Kshatriya's who live in a Kunba(society). They are supposed to live in a closed knit society.

As political force

The word "Kurmi" and why many of the Vedic people would use this term, reflects the advent and reasons for the advent of religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. The "Kurmi" movement as a national movement was started in the northern and eastern regions relatively recently to offset their tiny numbers.

When one says, the "kurmis", it literally means "the I cans" or the "I am ables".

Famous Kurmi/Kunbi people

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel First Deputy Prime Minister and home minister of India
• Yashaskara [1]
• Nitish Kumar Chief Minister of Bihar
• Vinay Katiyar Famous BJPleader and founder of Bajranj Dal
• Keshu Bhai Patel Famous BJP Leader and Former Chief Minister of Gujrat
• Santosh Gangwar Famous BJP leader
• R.K Singh
• Sharad Pawar Famous Maratha leader Union Cabinet Minister and BCCI president
• Shivaji Maharaj Founder of Maratha Empire
• Shahuji Maharaj Ruler of Kolhapur State and famous social reformer
• Beni Prasad Verma Famous Leader and Founder of Samajwadi Kranti Dal
• Sone Lal Patel Famous Leader and Founder of Apna Dal
• Om Prakash Singh Famous BJP Leader
• Premlata Katiyar Famous BJP Leader
• Lalji Verma Famous BSP Leader and Cabinet Minister in Mayawati Government in UP
• Ram Poojan Patel Famous Congres Leader from Uttar Pradesh

Famous Kurmi/Kunbi people in DEFENCE

• Lt. Gen Western Command Shoarya Patel
• Lt. Gen Central Command Markande Katiyar
• Maj Gen. Pushpak Sachan
• Rifel man Rishi Patel (mahavir chakra)
• Brig. V.S Sinha
• Brig. Jaipal Kurmi
• Mahamritunjaya Engineer

Refer to Kunbi Website for other famous Kurmi/Kunbi people

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunbi

External links

• Kurmi Group
• http://www.geocities.com/srigurugranthsahib/RAMANAND.htm
• Mighty Kurmis - a page from the Times of India
• http://46.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CH/CHANDRAGUPTA_MAURYA.htm
• http://www.rajasthantravelguide.com/rajasthan_tourism/rajasthan_history.html
• http://www.patidarsamaj.org/culture-traditions.htm
• http://www.lps-london-snv.co.uk/about.html
• http://www.matiyapatidar.org/index2.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunbi
• http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010706381200.htm
• http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/mp.html

References

• The Times of India, "Mighty Kurmis of Bihar" March 12, 2004
• Vishnu Purana
• Agni Purana
• Tripitaka