Koli Mavala
The Mavala is a Title used for the Kolis of Maval region.[1] All of the inhabitants of Maval region were Mahadeo Kolis.[2] Maval region, also known as Bavan Mavals (52 valley), was known as Koli country and each Mavals were under the control of Koli chief or Nayaks.[3] The Koli community made a substantial contribution to the success of the Swarajya movement of Shivaji. The 'Koli Chauthara' in Shivneri fort still stands as a monument to the Kolis' love of independence.[4]
| Mavala मावळा | |
|---|---|
| Koli Mavala | |
| Ethnicity | Koli caste |
| Location | |
| Varna | Koli |
| Parent tribe | Kolis of Bavan Maval |
| Demonym | Koli |
| Branches |
|
| Language | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
During the time of Maratha leader, Shivaji in 17th century, the Mavala title was exclusively used for people belonging to the peasant Kolis[5] and Kunbi community of the region but Kunbis of Maval region were Kolis who were settled as Agriculturist and became Kunbi.[6] Koli Mavalas were expert footmen and excelled in mountain warfare. Shivaji raised an infantry of Mavale who used guerilla tactics of hit and run to inflict heavy losses on numerically stronger enemies. The infantry was considered the backbone of his power, and according to Sabhasad Bakhar, which chronicled Shivaji's life, the Mavale and Hasham infantry of Shivaji had 100,000 men.[7] Kolis who were known as the names of Mavala Sardars earned the Naikwadis.[8]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Raeside, Ian (1978). "A Note on the 'Twelve Mavals' of Poona District". Modern Asian Studies. 12 (3): 393–417. ISSN 0026-749X.
- ↑ Srivastava, Ashirbadi Lal (1969). The Mughul Empire, 1526-1803 A.D. S. L. Agarwala. pp. 368: The people who inhabited the Maval country were Kolis, they were very hardy and industrious and formed a good army.
- ↑ Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. Seagull Books. pp. 103: The Maval region then known as the 'Bavan Masal, or 52 valleys and Koli country. Each valley was controlled by a Koli nayak. The sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar. and presided over the goarn, or caste council. The community was both cohesive and independent." When the Mughals conquered the region in the 1630s they attempted to measure the land and fix a land. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.
- ↑ Deopujari, Murlidhar Balkrishna (1973). Shivaji and the Maratha Art of War. Vidarbha Samshodhan Mandal. pp. 262–263.
- ↑ "Research Methods in Psychology". 2016: 242: This also led to the tribal pockets inhabited by the politically important and powerful Mahadeo Kolis. The Mahadeo Kolis formed the important Maval army of Chatrapati Shivaji. It was also at the Shivneri fort in Junnar where Shivaji was born. doi:10.4135/9781473972070.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ Chandra, Satish (2003). Essays on Medieval Indian History. Oxford University Press. pp. 222: other tribal elements belonging to the Maval area, who were the first to rally to Shivaji's standard, were in a similar position in relation to both the Kunbis and the Marathas. Thus we are told that a Koli taking to settled agriculture may become a Maratha Kunbi. ISBN 978-0-19-566336-5.
- ↑ "Welcome to the Official Website of Pune District, Maharashtra". web.archive.org. 2010-03-10. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ Institute, Deccan College Post-graduate and Research (1978). Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. Dr. A. M. Ghatage, director, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute.