Raut (caste)

Raut (also spelled as Rout) is an Indian caste, whose traditional occupation is herding.[1][2]

Raut/Rawat
राउत
Classification[ {(Chettris / Basistha)} [Ahir]](Yadav)
ReligionsHinduism
Populated states

The Rauts are mainly found in the Chhattisgarh state, and the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Traditionally, they were predominantly distributed in the districts of Durg, Raipur, Bastar, Nagpur and Bhandara.[3] On the other hand, it is important to note that there are also other Rauts who are of Chhetri caste found in both Nepal and India, with a significant history of military service in both countries. The Chhetri community in Nepal traces its origins back to the Sinjha Valley, located in Jumla of the Karnali province. It is believed that the Khas Aryans, from which the Chhetris descended, scattered from this valley and eventually settled throughout the region. The Raut caste, as part of the Chhetri community, has a strong tradition of military involvement, reflecting their historical role as warriors. This tradition has been maintained in both Nepal and India, with many members of the Raut caste serving in the armed forces of both nations.

History

Raut may have been a tribal militia in Chhota Nagpur, originating from the Kawar and Kol tribes[3] The Raut caste originated as a result of land rewards granted to warriors serving in the armies of royal families. Many of these warriors belonged to the Chhetri caste and, over time, became associated with the land they received, adopting the surname Raut. The Raut caste is predominantly found in western Nepal and Uttarakhand, India. Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (2019–2021) general Bipin Rawat was among these. Though spell different the actual word is रौत which means the land as reward. They are particularly concentrated in Udaipur in eastern Nepal, the southeastern region of the Kathmandu Valley, and Lamjung district, which neighbors the Gurkhas. The Gurkhas played a significant role in the unification of Nepal, and as skilled army personnel, the Rauts dispersed and settled in various parts of Nepal alongside them. The Raut caste is believed to have historical connections to the Khas people, who originated from the Sinjha Valley kingdom. Through this link, the history of the Raut caste can be traced. There are few communities scattered in plain of Nepal who also writes Raut and are Patels. The distinct features of Raut in Nepal is the gotra (गौत्र) being Basistha (बशिष्ठ).

Culture

Traditionally, the Rauts were involved in herding and milking cattle.[4] Traditionlly, their main business was sale of milk and milk products.[5]

Raut Nacha is a traditional dance of the Raut community which is performed on Diwali. In this dance, the Rauts wear a special costume, sing and dance in a group with sticks in their hands in the village pathways.[6]

The Raut men traditionally performed the local folk epic Candaini (or Chandaini) in a combination of dance and song. The epic tells the story of princess Chanda, who leaves her impotent husband and falls in love with a common man Veer Lorik. Both the characters are from the Raut caste, and the epic seems to have originated in this caste.[7] As late as 1980, the Candaini performers used to be primarily from the Raut caste, but now people from other communities also take part in the performances.[4]

In the 20th century, they underwent Sanskritisation, and adopted customs and values of the high-caste Hindus.[8]

The main Raut sub-castes include Gawala, Thetwar, Jheriya, and Kosariya.[9]

The Rauts are included in the central list of Other Backward Classes for Chhattisgarh, along with other herding castes and sub-castes including Brajwasi, Gawli, Gawali, Goli, Lingayat-Gaoli, Gowari (Gwari), Gowra, Gawari, Gwara, Jadav, Thethwar, and Gop/Gopal.[10]

References
  1. Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger (1996). Gender and Genre in the Folklore of Middle India. Cornell University Press. p. 141. ISBN 0-8014-8344-1.
  2. Lidia Guzy (2013). Marginalised Music: Music, Religion and Politics from Western Odisha/India. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 147. ISBN 978-3-643-90272-6. ...the Raut/Gour (the caste of herdsmen), the dominant caste in Chhattisgarh...
  3. Kumar Suresh Singh; B. V. Bhanu (2004). People of India: Maharashtra, Volume 1. Popular Prakashan. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1781. ISBN 9788179911006.
  4. Margaret H. Beissinger; Susanne Lindgren Wofford, eds. (1999). Epic traditions in the contemporary world: the poetics of community. University of California Press. p. 137.
  5. Soni, Lok Nath (2000). The Cattle and the Stick: An Ethnographic Profile of the Raut of Chhattisgarh. p. 86. ISBN 9788185579573.
  6. "Raut Nacha-Culture & Heritage". Durg District, Government of Chhattisgarh.
  7. Arjun Appadurai; Frank J. Korom; Margaret A. Mills (1994). Gender, genre, and power in South Asian expressive traditions. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 196. ISBN 9788120811782.
  8. Soni, Lok Nath (2000). The Cattle and the Stick: An Ethnographic Profile of the Raut of Chhattisgarh. pp. 45–46. ISBN 9788185579573.
  9. Arun Kumar Sharma (2000). Archaeo-anthropology of Chhattīsgaṛh. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 96. ISBN 978-81-7574-096-9.
  10. "Central List of OBCs". National Commission for Backward Classes.

Bibliography
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