Kandera

According to the book "The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India" and other references, in 1911, the Kandera community consisted of around 2,200 individuals and was primarily concentrated in the Narsinghpur District. They were a relatively small occupational caste known for their expertise in crafting fireworks. They consider themselves to have come from Rajasthan, Bundelkhand, and Gwālior State. In the past, the Kanderas played a significant role in the production of gunpowder and iron missiles, as well as in the operation of cannons within the Indian armies. The name "Kandera" could potentially be derived from the word "hand," which is associated with arrows, while "Hawaidar" is a term for a maker of fireworks. They were often referred to as "Golandāz," which means 'ball-thrower,' highlighting their role as native artillerymen.[2][3] [4][5]

As per the "Census of India, 1901", the community count was around 26,498 (Kandara and Kandera), found in Rajputana province and Central India province. [6]

The community is also historically associated with the occupation of cotton ginning. Some Kanderas might have chosen this profession when they faced challenges securing employment in the native armies during the Mughal invasion. [2]

According to their traditions, their ancestor, a Kanakpal Singh had fallout with Alauddin Khalji, the Muslim ruler of North India. He was defeated by the Sultan, and many members of his clan accepted Islam, and took up the occupation of cotton ginning.[7]

The Kanderas are found mainly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India. The community is divided into thirty six clans, and they practice clan exogamy. They are split evenly between Hindu and Muslim groups, and there is no intermarriage between these two groups. In the Hindu tradition, individuals use various surnames, including but not limited to Rajput, Karan Rajput, Naagar, Golandaz, their gotras and others.