The terms "Maratha" and "Kunbi" have evolved significantly over centuries. The designation "Maratha" likely emerged between 1400 and 1600 C.E., used to describe a burgeoning service elite. These were the leaders and their followers who served the Bahamani kingdom and its successor states.
The Maratha reservation movement, spearheaded by Manoj Jarange-Patil since September last year, underscores the complex socio-political dynamics within Maharashtra. While demands for quotas in jobs and education for the economically disadvantaged Maratha community have persisted since the 1980s, recent hunger strikes have intensified these efforts, pressuring the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government.
Historically, Maratha and Kunbi identities were fluid. English civil servant R.E. Enthoven's 1922 work, "Tribes and Castes of Bombay," noted no substantial difference in origin between the Maratha warriors and landholders and the Kunbi cultivators. Under Shivaji Bhosale's leadership in the 17th century, the Maratha warriors began to claim Kshatriya status, distinguishing themselves from the Kunbis.
The term "Maratha" has undergone significant evolution over time. Initially, it referred to all Marathi speakers and those who fought under Shivaji's banner. By the 18th century, the term encompassed a wide range of social classes, but it began to be used in a more caste-specific manner, with Maratha families asserting a higher Kshatriya status compared to the Shudra status of the Kunbis.
Scholars like Rosalind O’Hanlon and Stewart Gordon have examined the identity formation in Maharashtra. Gordon notes the crystallization of the term "Maratha" between 1400 and 1600 C.E., highlighting their role as a service elite. O’Hanlon discusses how the Maratha-Kunbi complex evolved, with many Kunbi families aspiring to attain elite Maratha status.
Today, the demand by Marathas to be classified under the Kunbi category for OBC reservation benefits indicates a reversal of historical social mobility trends. This ongoing conflict highlights the dynamic and politically charged nature of Maratha and Kunbi identities in contemporary Maharashtra.
Key works exploring these identities include Enthoven's "Tribes and Castes of Bombay," O’Hanlon's "Caste, Conflict and Ideology," and Gordon's "The Marathas." These scholarly contributions offer deep insights into the historical and socio-political evolution of these terms and their current implications.
The evolution of Maratha and Kunbi identities demonstrates a complex interplay of historical, social, and political factors. Understanding this evolution is essential to comprehending the current socio-political dynamics in Maharashtra.
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