Ladlai stone inscription of Jayapala

The earliest known epigraphic reference to the Vanjari (Vanajaraka) community occurs in the Rādlai Stone Inscription of Jayapala, dated Vikrama Saṃvat 1202 (AD 1145), discovered near Nadol in Rajasthan and published in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. IX. The inscription records that the Vanajarakas (Vanjari merchants) of Abhinavapuri, Badari, and Nagdali had organized themselves into a guild (deśī), and under the authority of the ruler’s envoy Rajadeva, agreed to levy contributions for the sustenance of ascetics in a Jain temple of Mahavira. A tax of two rupees per twenty loads of bullocks and one rupee per cartload of commodities was stipulated. This reference establishes the presence of the Vanjari as a distinct trading community in western India by the mid-12th century.^[2]

Copper-plate grant of Tribhuvanapaladeva

Additional epigraphic references occur under variant spellings such as vanajāraka (Epigraphia Indica, No. XI) and vanjyaraka in a copper-plate grant of Tribhūvanapāladeva, where they are described as merchants whose hereditary calling was the carrying of grain on bullocks.^[3] These records establish the Vanjari as a distinct merchant-transporting caste in western India by the 12th century CE.

Banjara and Vanjari differences

• Vanjari have adopted agriculture as their main occupation, while the Banjara are still nomads.
• Banjaras follow the Tanda Culture and are included in the list of denotified tribes. But Vanjari are farmers and they are similar to Kunbis
• Vanjari speech is Marathi while Banjara speak Lamani or Banjari Language

^[5]

Marriage

Marriage among the Vanjaris follows traditional exogamous clan rules. Cross-cousin marriage is not permitted. Divorce is allowed, and widow remarriage as well as levirate are socially sanctioned. A fine is levied on a widow if she does not marry her deceased husband's brother.^[7]

Social Customs

In funerary practice, married individuals are cremated, while the unmarried are buried.^[7] The community was historically associated with the cattle trade, preferring the tall and long-legged Lamani bullock as a pack animal, though many have since taken up settled agriculture.^[7]

Dressing

Men traditionally dress like Marathas, while women’s attire resembles that of Malwa and Rajput women. Vanjari women are regarded as skilled needleworkers and are known for their embroidery work on garments and men’s blankets.^[7] Their diet includes fish and the flesh of sheep, goat, hare, and deer. They also consume liquor and a distinctive opium preparation called kusumba.^[7]

Festivals and Gods

• Worships They worship the usual local and Brahmanic deities but their house god is Khandoba.They hold the sixth of Margashirsh in November-December sacred to Khandoba, and on that day, before eating, offer him new millet and onions

Rituals

• Their staple food is millet, pulse, and vegetables. The men but not the women eat flesh and at marriages flesh is forbidden even to men.

British India (1881 AD)

The Wanjaris/Vanjari communities total Population 767,177; The largest proportion, 521,882, is found in Madras Presidency; Hyderabad Presidency contains 108,644; Bombay Presidency, 108, 359; Berar Province, 27,495; and the Central Provinces, 797. ^[8]

Maharashtra

Vanjari Community Chiefly concentrated in Aurangabad, Beed, Nanded, Buldhana, Latur, Jalna adjoining districts.

A settlement of Vanjari community is called vadi. Each settlement has its hereditary headman known as naik. He is responsible for the protection of the group and administration of justice. He is a representative and arbitrator in caste disputes and directs the movements of the caravan while travelling. A fresh election is made when the hereditary naik family ceases to have a representative.^[9]

• Dhule :According to District Gazetteer of dhule Vanjari community people originally carriers, are very numerous goods in Jamner, Varangaon, Dharangaon, Parola, Erandol, and Dhulia. At present there is no noticeable difference between them and ordinary Kunbis. As there are Vanjari Patils in Jamner. they have probably long been settled as cultivators. ^[10]

Karnataka

present in border regions with historical links to caravan trade routes.

Rajasthan

Oral traditions connect the community with service under Rajput rulers such as Maharana Pratap.

Historical

In 1880, Mr. Kitts prepared a table showing the relative social position of major castes in Berar Province, distinguishing between those of "good" and "inferior" standing.^[11] According to this account, Brahmins were placed at the top of the hierarchy, followed by Kayasthas, Prabhus, and trading castes such as Wanis. Agricultural groups such as Kunbis and Gavlis occupied a middle position. Within this framework, the Vanjari community was described as a well-to-do and respected caste engaged in agriculture. They were noted as being distinct from the Banjara

Durga Devi (AD 1396 - AD 1407)

The Vanjari story of the great Durgadevi famine, which lasted from 1396 to 1407, is that it was named from Durga a Lad Vanjari woman, who had amassed great wealth and owned a million pack bullocks, which she used in bringing grain from Nepal, Burmah, and China. She distributed the grain among the starving people and gained the honourable title of ' Mother of the World, Jagachi Mata.

Reservation status

• Scheduled Tribe (ST): The Vanjari community is classified as a Scheduled Tribe in several states, including Odisha,^[13] Telangana,^[14] Karnataka,^[15] Andhra Pradesh,^[16] Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

• Nomadic Tribe (NT-D): In Maharashtra, the Vanjari caste has been included in the Nomadic Tribes (NT-D) category since 1993, as per state government classification. which is part of Other Back Work Caste^[17]

• Other Backward Class (OBC): In states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, the Vanjari community is listed under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. ^[18]

• Inclusion of Vanjari Caste in The List of Vimukta jatis (Nomadic Tribe) : The Tribal Research and Training Institute, conducted a detailed survey, of 13 villages in Palghar Tehsil, with a view to find out whether Wanjaris who are living predominantly in that area are the sub-groups of Banjara Community or otherwise. The following 13 Wanjari villages were visited: (1) Pam-Tembhi, (6) Vengani, (11) Maswan, (2) Kumbhawali, (7) Kurgaon, (12) Dukatan, and (3) Murabe, (8) Dapoli, (13) Bandhan. (4) Boisar, (9) Morekuran, (5) Parmali, (10) Kolgaon, which suggested inclusion of Vanjari Caste in Nomadic Tribe^[19]

Spiritual

• Sant Bhagwan Baba: Revered spiritual leader within the Vanjari community, known for social and religious guidance.^[20]
• Namdev Shastri Sanap: Prominent saint associated with the Vanjari community, contributing to local devotional traditions^[21]

Sport

• Sanjay Bangar: former Indian international cricketer and batting coach of the Indian national team.

Politics

• Jitendra Awhad: leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.
• Santosh Bangar: politician from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
• Mohan Fad: political representative.
• Bhagwat Karad: Union Minister of State for Finance, Government of India (BJP).
• Manoj Kayande : social and political leader Sindkhed Raja Assembly constituency.
• Dhananjay Munde: politician from Maharashtra, member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and state cabinet minister.
• Gopinath Munde: senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Maharashtra, former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Minister for Rural Development.
• Pankaja Munde: politician from Maharashtra, member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and former cabinet minister.
• Pritam Munde: Member of Parliament Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Beed, Maharashtra.
• Balasaheb Mahadu Sanap: politician from Maharashtra.