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.
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.9886030608
Email
: gsramesh@yahoo.com
