Karan (caste)

For the same surname and title, see Karanam.

Karan
କରଣ
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesOdia
Populated statesOdisha
SubdivisionsKaran, Karan Vaishnav
Related groupsBrahmin
StatusForward caste[1]

The Karan or Karana is a community of writers found in the state of Odisha in India.[2] The post of Karana used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate peoples.[3] They held Karanam post in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, where they speak Odia and played the similar role in Odisha as that of the Kayasthas of West Bengal and Bihar.[4][5] In the social hierarchy of Odisha they rank next to Brahmins.[6] They were exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governers, military commanders, accountants, record keepers and diwans.[7][8][9][10] They have the highest literacy caste-wise and are highly prosperous.[11] Today they are a politically dominant community and have reigned over the politics of Odisha for 50 years.[12][13][14]

  1. ^ Rajasekhar, D.; Patnaik, Pratyusna; Manjula, R. (2005). Affirmative Action and Political Participation: Elected Representatives in the Panchayats of Orissa. Institute for Social and Economic Change. ISBN 978-81-7791-122-0.
  2. ^ Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 116–. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  3. ^ Raut, L.N. (2004). "Jati Formation in Early Medieval Orissa: Reflection on Karana (Kayastha Caste)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 65: 304–308. JSTOR 44144743.
  4. ^ M. Kodanda Rao (1990). Cultural and Structural Dimensions of Family: A Study of Jalari Fishermen. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-81-7022-270-5.
  5. ^ Patra, Patitapaban (December 31, 1994). "Archeological remains of Dhenkanal" (PDF). 5: 201. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Pati, Rabindra Nath (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  7. ^ Mohanty, Pramod Kumar (2007). Colonialism and South Asia: Cuttack, 1803-1947. R.N. Bhattacharya. ISBN 978-81-87661-52-8.
  8. ^ Mohanty, Ramesh P.; Biswal, Durgesh Nandini (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. p. 40. ISBN 978-81-8324-199-1.
  9. ^ Sircar, D. C. (2017-01-01). Indian Epigraphy. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-4103-1.
  10. ^ Cultural Heritage of [Orissa]: pts. 1-2. Katak. State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad. 2002. ISBN 978-81-902761-5-3.
  11. ^ Williams, Joanna Gottfried (1996-01-01). The Two-headed Deer: Illustrations of the Rāmāyaṇa in Orissa. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08065-2.
  12. ^ "Reign of Patnaiks: 40 years and counting". The Times of India. 2019-04-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  13. ^ "How the Patnaiks, despite being 2% of Odisha's population, ruled the state for 45 years, and maybe beyond". The Economic Times. 2024-05-11. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  14. ^ "rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.