Gowala (caste)

Gowala[1][2][3] (also spelled as Goala)[4] is a subcaste of Ahir/Yadav community, [5][6] found from Indian state of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh[7] and the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh.[8][9] Traditionally they are herdsman or milkman and considered as a prosperous community.[10]

Gowala/ Goala
ClassificationAhir/Yadav
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesAssamese  • Bengali • Himachali  • Hindi  • Punjabi
Populated statesAssam, West Bengal, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Punjab

Mythological Origin

The Gowalas are closely associated with Krishna and consider themselves to be descendants of Raja Yadu. By 1910s they became the part of Yadav community as part of Sanskritisation.[11]

References
  1. India. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (1950). Marketing Series. The Directorate.
  2. The Indian Journal of Adult Education. R.M. Chetsingh. 1977.
  3. "Politics at the Margin: A Tale of Two Villages". Economic and Political Weekly. 50 (23): 7–8. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. Bhuban Mohan Das (1987). The Peoples of Assam. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-81-212-0093-6.
  5. "'Madhepura' of Assam braces for electoral battle where caste lines run deeper". Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  6. RE; Review of Ethnology. E. Stiglmayr. 1974.
  7. Kumar Suresh Singh (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
  8. Census of India, 1981: Arunachal Pradesh. Controller of Publications. 1984.
  9. Shankarlal C. Bhatt (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-81-7835-378-4.
  10. Dayabati Roy; Daẏābatī Rāẏa (2014). Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal. Cambridge University Press. pp. 67–. ISBN 978-1-107-04235-3.
  11. William R. Pinch (18 June 1996). Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-520-91630-2.
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