Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya

History

The community is believed to be from Kota.

This group, later, for survival changed their occupation from warrior to builders and made their distinct identity not only by building historical forts, palaces, temples and architects not only in Kutch but also all over British India, primarily in the fields of laying railways, bridges and also in coal mining.

The Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas left Dhaneti and went on to establish eighteen villages in Kutch which were granted to them by the King: Anjar, Sinugra, Khambhra, Nagalpar, Khedoi, Madhapar, Hajapar, Kukma, Galpadar, Reha, Vidi, Jambudi, Devaliya, Lovaria, Nagor, Meghpar, Chandiya and Kumbharia.

Over the centuries, they have been known or identified by some other names like Kadias, Kadia Kshatriyas and Kumar Gnati.

Culture

They are a Hindu community. Some are followers of Swaminarayan and Pranami sub-sects of Hinduism. They are vegetarian in diet and avoid consumption of alcohol. The staple food is khichdi, vegetables, pulses and butter-milk.

Clans

The community consists of clans like Rathod, Chauhan, Chawda, Jethwa, Yadav, Chudasama, Parmar, Taunk, Solanki, Sawaria, Vaghela, Vegad, Varu, Maru, Gohil, Padhiyar, Bhalsod, who enjoy same status. However, earlier till decade of 1950, independence of India, most of people of the community preferred to prefix Mistri (Mesteri) to their name as a mark of identification of their caste and profession (contractor).

Marriage

The community are an endogamous community who practice the principle of clan exogamy. Dowry is generally not asked for, neither practice of bride price is there in the Mistri community. Divorce is generally not encouraged; however, divorce can be claimed in certain cases.

Betrothal ceremony generally precedes marriage, which is held usually within one year of engagement and marriage is observed as per Hindu rites by taking seven circumambulation of fire.

Widow remarriage (ghargenu) is allowed, where the women is usually married outside husband's family.

In Kutch

The Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas were master craftsmen, architects and contractors and have played a major role in erection and construction of the majority of forts, palaces and architecture of Kutch. It was because of this they came to be known as Mistri in Kutch.

Indian railways

It was during 1850 to 1930 AD that the KGK migrated outside Kutch and were involved in the construction of major rail-bridges and the laying down of railway tracks in almost all major rail routes of undivided British India doing the "Railway Thekedari" (Railway Contractors also Thikadari) and as Thekedar (or Thikadar) in Irrigation projects and Forest Department and Public Works Department.

Docks, dams and canals in British India

The KGK contributed to the building of docks, dams, barrages and irrigation canals between 1850 and 1980,) in which many Mistris of Kutch and Kadia Kshatriyas of Saurashtra worked. The Mandavi Docks, bridge over Rukhmavati at Mandvi and many road bridges across territories of British India are built by the community using their mason's skills.

Mining

In the regions of British India known as Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas pioneered Indian involvement in coal mining from 1894. They broke the previous monopolies held by British and other Europeans, establishing many collieries at Jharia coalfields and Ranigunj coalfield.Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir and History of Gurjar Kashtriya community of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia – written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa, co-author Raja Pawan Jethwa of Calcutta (1998).

Seth Khora Ramji of Sinugra was the first Indian to break the British monopoly in the Jharia Coalfields. Natwarlal Devram Jethwa}}

Present status

Distribution in India

The community members are found scattered throughout India and Community's associations exist in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.

Present day identity

They are marked as one of the Socially and Educationally Backward community by Government. The community on national level is referred as "Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya" mostly in present-day India. However, the "Mistri", which was mostly used during the last century and before is nowadays only used in Kutch and Gujarat. The term Mestri/Mistry is used to refer to community by the Government of Gujarat and the Other Backward Class Certificate as per the Bakshi Panch report.

References

Notes

References

1. (7 June 2011). "મહારાષ્ટ્રના નાગપુર ખાતે કચ્છ ગુર્જર ક્ષત્રિય સમાજ રાષ્ટ્રીય મહાસભાનું અધિવેશન (Election of President of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj held at Nagpur, Maharashtra)". Gujarat Samachar.
2. (9 February 2011). "સમૂહ લગ્નોથી સમાજ ગિઠત થાય / 38th Mass community marriage Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya held at Anjar". Divya Bhaskar.
3. (24 June 2011). "HC raps mgmt of Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj-Gondia". [[The Times of India]].
4. (6 December 2011). "कर्मठ है कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज (Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj people are hardworking)". Dainik Bhaskar.
5. (3 June 2018). "सम्मेलन ने खत्म की झिझक, अब बस्तर में भी ब्याह करके आएंगी गुजराती बेटियां (कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय गुजराती समाज का अखिल भारतीय महासभा )". Dainik Bhaskar.
6. (6 February 2010). "મંદિર પ્રકરણમાં ખોટા કેસ થાય તેવો મિસ્ત્રી સમાજને ભય Barla Mandir case – Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya / Mistri Samaj of Madhapar afraid of false implication". Divya Bhaskar.
7. (2003). "Gujarat, Part 1 By Kumar Suresh Singh, Rajendra Behari Lal". Popular Prakashan.
8. [http://sje.gujarat.gov.in/ddcw/showpage.aspx?contentid=1736&lang=english List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes declared by Gujarat State]
9. (1998). "Indian Anthropologist: Journal of the Indian Anthropological Association". Indian Anthropological Association.
10. (2000). "Trading Community of India: An Anthropological Study of Ethnicity". Rawat Publications.
11. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzbkTbqgGEoC&q=mistri&pg=PA316 Mistri] Encyclopaedia of Backward Castes By Neelam Yadav Page 316.
12. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzbkTbqgGEoC&q=kadia&pg=PA316 Kadia, Gurjar Ksahtriya Kadia, Gurjar Kadia] Encyclopaedia of Backward Castes By Neelam Yadav Page 264, 316
13. These warrior community first entered into [[Saurashtra (region). Saurashtra]] and founded 36 villages in the area, while others moved further into Kutch. Around 1177–78 AD ([[Vikram Samvant
14. (23 June 2012). "ધાણેટી ખાતે કચ્છ ગુ.ક્ષ. સમાજ...(Pooja held at Dhaneti by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya for their Shurapura & Dada)". Kutch Mitra Daily.
15. (2001-03-12). "In the shambles of Pride of Kutch lies priceless art". Expressindia.com.
16. "Gurjar Kshatriyas in India".
17. Thomas Gatten. (13 December 2008). "Prince's and Victoria docks in state of decay". [[The Times of India]].
18. (1981). "Census of India, 1981: Bihar. Series 4". Controller of Publications – Bihar.
19. Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa by British Authority (1920)
20. "श्री कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज (KGK) के महासभा प्रमुख हुए पदाधिकारियों से रूबरू {{!}} खबरगली". khabargali.com.
21. "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज की सदभावना यात्रा पहुंची धनबाद". Hindustan.
22. "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज चाईबासा के कल्याण मंडप का मंत्री दीपक बिरूवा ने किया शिलान्यास".
23. "Ranchi: लालजी हीरजी रोड स्थित गुजराती स्कूल भवन में श्री कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज ने कच्छी नववर्ष मनाया".
24. (2000). "Trading Community of India: An Anthropological Study of Ethnicity". Rawat Publications.
25. (9 October 2023). "Tradition takes centre stage as Gujaratis plan grand dandiya nights to celebrate Navratri". The Times of India.
26. (16 October 2023). "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय ट्रस्ट भवन में नवरात्रि उत्सव". www.livehindustan.com.
27. "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज ने दी पुलवामा के शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि". Dainik Bhaskar.
28. (27 July 2025). "Dhanbad News: कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय महिला मंडल ने मनाया सावनोत्सव". Prabhat Khabar.
29. (22 August 2017). "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज ने की सामूहिक पूजा -". Jagran.
30. (30 September 2025). "CM Vishnudev Sai Walks to Garba Pandal". english.dainikjagranmpcg.com.
31. ''Kutch Gurjar Kshatriys : A brief History & Glory: by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta.'' The Book has separate sections: INTRODUCTION : Gives an overview of Kutch Gurjar Kshtriya community and its ancient history (I) KGK and Architect built by them mainly in Princely State of Cutch. (II) KGK and Railway : Gives details of some major Railway work with mileage wise details (III) KGK Surnames & History : Section gives details of various Kshatriya clan's history and origin of their surnames. (IV) Section deals with Kuldevi names various clans of KGK worship.
32. (2023). "कच्छ गुर्जर क्षत्रिय समाज ने की सामूहिक पूजा -". Jagran.