- Mali caste
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Mali Total population [1] Regions with significant populations 
India • 
NepalLanguages Rajasthani • Hindi • Gujarati • Oriya
Religion Related ethnic groups The Mali are an occupational caste found among the Hindus who traditionally worked as gardners. They also call themselves Phul Mali, who derived their names from their occupation of growing flowers. The Mali are found throughout North India, East India as well as the Terai region of Nepal and Maharashtra.[2]
Contents
Origin
The word Mali is derived from Sanksrit mala (garland). People from the Mali community pursued various occupations and by virtue of this they were known accordingly. Thus,those worshiping deity known as Deuli Mali, gardening are known as Baghban, threshing/husking paddy as Dhankuta or Kuta Mali, doing grass cutting/selling as Sasia Mali, vegetable growers/sellers as Jadon Mali, and those growing flowers to the deity known as Phool Mali. Likewise, there are Mathur Mali, Rohtaki Mali, Dilwali Mali and so on. Besides there are Mahar Mali, Var Mali, Kachchi Mali, Lodh Mali, Jeera Mali and Dhanya Mali. They are known as Mohal, Malaya, Malni, etc.
There are many endogamous groups within Malis. Not all Mali groups have the same origin, culture, history or social standing and there is at least one group from Rajasthan that overlaps with Rajputs and was included under Rajput sub-category in Marwar State Census Report of 1891 AD.[3] This group is called Rajput Mali and has a distinctive character and bloodlines coming from the Rajput tribes they originated from.
Adoption of new identity in 1930-1940 CE
The Rajput Mali community adopted the surname Saini in the 1930-1940 decade during the colonial rule.[4][5]
The exact order issued my government is given below:
Notable Malis
- Jyotiba Phule - 19th century Social reformer from Pune
- Savitribai Phule - Social reformer and wife of Jyotiba Phule
- Savata Mali - Hindu saint from Maharashtra
- Ashok Gehlot - Politician & Chief Minister of Rajasthan
- Chaggan Bhujbal - Former Deputy Chief Minister of Mahrashtra.
- Nilu Phule - Actor of Marathi theatre and films.
- Waman Bapuji Metre - Geologist, Padma Bhusan (1968) Science & Engineering, Maharashtra
- S. L. Silam - Speaker of Bilingual Bombay State Assembly (1956-1960), Maharashtra (1960-1962). First Lt. Governor of Pondicherry Union Territory in India
- Gajmal Dalpat Mali - Started variuos Educational and Cooperative societies; MLA and MLC, Maharashtra
- Haren Das - Ex-MLA & Gen. Secretary (Admn), Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.
- Nageshwar Mali - Ex-member & chairman of Nagar palika Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
- Sameer Gehlaut, Founder of Indiabulls
References
- ^ Joshua Project. "Mali Ethnic People in all Countries". Joshua Project. http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?peo3=16371. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 929 to 932 Manohar Publications
- ^ Action sociology and development, pp 198, Bindeshwar Pathak, Concept Publishing Company, 1992
- ^ a b "...the Malis (ie gardners who call themselves Saini now).." A Muslim Sub-Caste of North India: Problems of Cultural Integration Partap C. Aggarwal Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Sep. 10, 1966), pp. 159-161,Published by: Economic and Political Weekly
- ^ "At the time of 1941 Census most of them got registered themselves as Saini (Sainik Kshatriya) Malis." pp 7 , Census of India, 1961, Volume 14, Issue 5 , Office of the Registrar General, India.
- ^ Rajasthan, Kumar Suresh Singh, B. K. Lavania, Dipak Kumar Samanta, S. K. Mandal, N. N. Vyas, p 845, Anthropological Survey of India
Bibliography
- People of India: Haryana, Kumar Suresh Singh, Madan Lal Sharma, A. K. Bhatia, Suresh Pushpakar Anthropological Survey of India, Published by Published on behalf of Anthropological Survey of India by Manohar Publishers, 1994
- Rajasthan, Kumar Suresh Singh, B. K. Lavania, Dipak Kumar Samanta, S. K. Mandal, N. N. Vyas, Anthropological Survey of India
- Marwar Darbar, 1894. Report on the Census of India, 1891, The Castes of Marwar, Jodhpore: Census Supdt. of Marwar Vol. II.
- Crooke, W, 1896. The Tribes and Casts of The North Western India, Calcutta: Government Printing Press; reprint 1974 Delhi: Cosmo Publications, Vol.II pp 458
- Russel R.V & Hiralal, 1975 The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, London: Macmillan and Co., reprint 1975 New Delhi: Cosmo Publication. Vol IV.
Categories:- Indian castes
- Social groups of India
- Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
- Social groups of Rajasthan
- Social groups of Bihar
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