05-13-2006, 03:01 AM
Example of a clan in Karnataka:
The Bunts are an endogamous clan, they are one of the few clans that might be familiar to those on this board. They're a martial community (clan) in Karnataka. They speak Tulu, classified as part of the Dravidian language family. Examples of Bunts are the Shetty community (Shilpa, Sunil Shetty), Aishwarya <i>Rai</i>.
Rai indicates the same position as Rao (there are GSB Rao-s in Karnataka as well as other Rao-s, but only Bunt Rai-s). Rai is a <i>Bunt name</i> in Karnataka, Aishwarya is not (like Pakistanis like to imagine) a GSB emanating from what they imagine is 'their' Kashmir.
Rai and Rao designate position, not sub-ethnicity. Hence Rai/Roy/Rao in different parts of India are not particularly related any more than Indians in general are related to the rest of the subcontinent. But Rai/Rao/Roy-s share the same function/position in their respective communities. Hence surname Rai among Bunts, historically designated to such a position. Likewise, a small section of the Bunt community, just like in the rest of India, are Brahmins. Hence there is the Brahmin subcommunity of the Bunt clan.
The Bunts are a very good example of the evolution of specialisation in Hindu communities. Though initially they were a martial clan, they grew and needed other positions filled.
The Bunts are an endogamous clan, they are one of the few clans that might be familiar to those on this board. They're a martial community (clan) in Karnataka. They speak Tulu, classified as part of the Dravidian language family. Examples of Bunts are the Shetty community (Shilpa, Sunil Shetty), Aishwarya <i>Rai</i>.
Rai indicates the same position as Rao (there are GSB Rao-s in Karnataka as well as other Rao-s, but only Bunt Rai-s). Rai is a <i>Bunt name</i> in Karnataka, Aishwarya is not (like Pakistanis like to imagine) a GSB emanating from what they imagine is 'their' Kashmir.
Rai and Rao designate position, not sub-ethnicity. Hence Rai/Roy/Rao in different parts of India are not particularly related any more than Indians in general are related to the rest of the subcontinent. But Rai/Rao/Roy-s share the same function/position in their respective communities. Hence surname Rai among Bunts, historically designated to such a position. Likewise, a small section of the Bunt community, just like in the rest of India, are Brahmins. Hence there is the Brahmin subcommunity of the Bunt clan.
The Bunts are a very good example of the evolution of specialisation in Hindu communities. Though initially they were a martial clan, they grew and needed other positions filled.