Marathi Brahmins

Marathi Brahmins

Maharashtra is a state in western India with a rich cultural heritage and diverse population. Brahmins are one of the major social groups in Maharashtra.
Brahmins are about 8-10% of the total population of Maharashtra.
 Maharashtrian Brahmins are the original natives of this ancient Indian state. They are classified into mainly three sub-divisions based on their places of origin i.e Desh, Karad & Konkan. Brahmin sub-castes that come under Maharashtra Brahmins include Deshastha Chitpavan, Saraswat, Karhade & Devrukhe.
Among Maharashtrian Brahmins, almost 60 per cent are Deshastha Brahmins and 20 per cent & remaining are Saraswat, Karhade & Devrukhe.
Chitpavan brahmins in Maharashtra, like in other parts of India, are generally associated with intellectual and religious pursuits.
Deshastha Brahmins are believed to have migrated to Maharashtra from northern India many centuries ago. They follow the rituals and practices of the Smartha tradition. They have historically been known for their knowledge of the Vedas (sacred scriptures of Hinduism) and have been actively involved in Sanskrit learning and scholarship.
Traditionally, their primary occupation was to serve as priests, scholars, and teachers. They were responsible for performing religious rituals, studying and interpreting ancient texts, and imparting knowledge to the society.
In Maharashtra, Brahmins have historically played a significant role in various spheres, including religion, literature, education, and politics. Many renowned scholars, poets, philosophers, and social reformers have emerged from the Brahmin community in Maharashtra.
All Peshwas during the rule of Shivaji, Sambhaji and Rajaram belonged to Deshastha Brahmin community. The first Peshwa was Moropant Pingle, who was appointed as the head of the Ashta Pradhan (council of eight ministers) by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire.
Some well-known Brahmins from Maharashtra include Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), and social reformer Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
The seven major Brahmin Gotras take the names of the saints whose lineages they represent: Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bhradwaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishta and Kashyapa. Over time however, as the Brahmin caste expanded, several more Brahmin Gotras appeared.
Following are the surnames of Marathi Brahmins?
Kelkar, Kale, Deshpande, Pande, Joshi, Pimplapure, Pandhe, Kothastane, Bhombe, Diwe, Damle, Narale, Bhave, Mahajan, Chitnavis, Fadnavis, Shukrey, Gadkari, Deoras, Sathe, Pathak, Mulaokar, Limaye, Gokhale, Tambe, Rahalkar… etc.
As we are aware that consequent to partition of India based on religion the Pakistan establishment sponsored killings/cold blooded massacres of millions of Hindus. Many more millions of Hindus were dragged out from muslim part of Partitioned India. Inspite of the fact that the new nation founded by the then so-called secular leadership, Gandhi insisted financing the terrorist nation, with Rs 65 crores.
A young man Nathuram Godse could not tolerate this act of Gandhi. He was also annoyed with the then hypocrite secular leadership, which had partitioned India. Millions of Hindus were murdered  consequent to 1946 direct action call by pseudo secular Jinnah. M K Gandhi was killed by Nathuram Vinayak Godse on January 30, 1948 . He shot Gandhi in the chest three times at point blank range at a multi-faith prayer meeting in Birla House in New Delhi. Godse was a member of Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing party. It had accused Gandhi of having betrayed Hindus by being too pro-Muslim and soft on Pakistan. They  blamed him for the bloodshed that marked Partition, which saw India and Pakistan created after independence from Britain in 1947.
It is pertinent to mention that India financed Pakistan on advice of Gandhi. Pakistan used this money to eliminate hindu population from West Kashmir and West Punjab.
This news of Gandhi’s assassination sent shock waves across the country. Nathuram Godse belonged to an orthodox Chittapavan Brahmin family living in Pune.
As soon as the family and caste details of Godse were made public by the then congress secular leadership, genocide & voilence  abruptly outpoured in major cities of Maharashtra. Many Brahmins were identified, lynched and  killed on 30th January 1948 itself.
The silencing of voices that followed one of the first large-scale massacre in pune accounts for one of the biggest cover ups in modern history after cover up of 1946 to end 1947 hindu genocides at Pakistan and bengal.
It is essential, that we talk about the crimes against Brahmins of Maharashtra that erupted after M.K Gandhi’s assassination in 1948.
Godse was unethically hanged, without giving adequate opportunity for defence, on November 15, 1949, in Ambala jail.