India
is a vast country
with rich cultural
heritage and
diversified cast
systems. A person
is identified
by the caste
and his profession
identifies the
caste. Thus
a particular
group associated
with a profession
is termed as
a caste by the
same name in
spite of the
fact that such
groups belong
to different
religion or faith
or culture. Ganiga
is one such name
of a caste, which
is derived out
of the job of
vegetable oil
extracting in
the traditional
method….more……
Oil extractors are known in different names according to the geographical and
linguistic area of the country. In northern India they are called Teli or Tailik
or Granthi etc. whereas in southern part of the country it is Ganiga, Ganigera,
Gandla, Vanniar, Chettiyar etc. In course of time there emerged sub castes/groups
among these. Some of them are known by different surnames such as Sahu, Patil,
Shetty, Setty, Chetty and Sapalya etc.
Ganiga is a caste known in Karnataka State of South India. They are again split
into different sub communities of different faith and beliefs such as Somakshatriya
Ganiga, Ganiga Shetty, Jyothipana Ganiga, Ontettu Ganiga, Jodettu Ganiga, Veerashaiva
Ganiga, Vijayanagara Ganiga etc. The name Ganiga is derived of Gana the traditional
oil press used by them. In Sanskrit literature of about 500 BC there is a specific
reference to an oil-press, or Ganis, although it was never described (by Monier-Williams,
M. 1899. A Sanskrit-English dictionary by Motilal Bnarasidas of Delhi, India,
Reprinted in1963).
We belong to the community of Somakshatriya Ganiga commenly known as Ganiga in
the Coastal districts of Udupi, South Kanara and North Kanara of the state.
Population
A total of about
3725 households
spread out at
1490 in Kundapur
region, 910 in
Barkur region,
875 in Bangalore
region, 240 in
Mumbai region
and 210 in other
regions are estimated.
The population
estimated is
only of South
Kanara and Udupi
based and estimate
of North Kanara
is not done.
The total population
is estimated
to be of about
18000 out of
which males are
of 51%. The literates
constitute 96%
of the population.
While persons
with elementary
education stand
at 39%, Matriculates
are of 47% and
Graduates and
above are at
10%. Professional
Graduates such
as Doctors 32,
engineers 156
and other professionals
30 are estimated.
The above figures
are of a rough
estimate and
the exact census
is being done.
Amongst the
members 1 has
been elevated
up to the top
level, 2 have
occupied the
Senior Executive
level in Nationalized
Banks. 2 have
occupied senior
position in Govt.
Depts. As many
as 103 are IT
professionals
12 are practicing
Lawyers and 7
are practicing
Chartered Accountants.
Only one from
North Kanara
is representing
as an MLA. While
many have actively
associated with
local politics
few represented
as Panchayat
members. |
