Gopal (caste)

"Gauda (caste)" redirects here. For similar name pastoralist society of Jharkhand, see Gour (caste). For its namesake other uses, see Gopal.

Gopal (Gauda)
ClassificationAhir (Yadav)
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesOdia
Populated statesOdisha
Population431,474 (1901 census)[1]
890,702 (1931 census)[2]
SubdivisionsMathurapuria
Gopapuria
Magadhaa
Related groupsAhir, Sadgope

Gopal or Gouda is an Indian caste,[3][4][5] from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupations include dairy farming, cattle herding, cultivation and carrying palanquins of deities.[6][7] They also worked as Paikas (soldiers) under the kings.[8][9] Gopal is the name of the milkmen or herdsmen caste in Odisha, which is known by other names (such as Ahir, Yadav, Goala etc.) in various parts of India.[10][11]

According to 1931 census of India, they are second largest caste by numbers and comprise around 9% of Odisha's population.[12]

  1. ^ Gait, E. A. (1909). Census of India – 1901, Vol- VIA – The lower probinces of Bengal and their Feudatourie (Part II, The Imperial Tables). Bengal Secretariat Press. pp. 212–213.
  2. ^ Lacey, W. g (1932). Bihar and Orissa – Census Of India 1931. Vol. 7. Part II, Tables. p. 137.
  3. ^ Dipti Ray (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. pp. 90–. ISBN 9788172111953.
  4. ^ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press. p. 168.
  5. ^ Nishamani Kar (2002). Animal Husbandry and Rural Development: Restructuring and Planned Development of the Bovine Economy. Deep and Deep Publications. pp. 206–. ISBN 9788176293587.
  6. ^ Rabindra Nath Pati; Jagannatha Dash (2002). Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. APH Publishing. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-7648-322-3.
  7. ^ Mahapatra, M. (1981). Traditional Structure and Change in an Orissan Temple. Indische Studien. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  8. ^ Akio Tanabe (29 July 2021). Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-00-040933-8.[page needed]
  9. ^ Surajit Sinha; Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (1987). Tribal Polities and State Systems in Pre-colonial Eastern and North Eastern India. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. ISBN 9788170740148.[page needed]
  10. ^ Rolamba. Joshi Research Institute. 1982.
  11. ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 9788121003254.
  12. ^ Kumar, Sanjay (2004). "JANATA REGIONALIZED: CONTRASTING BASES OF ELECTORAL SUPPORT IN BIHAR AND ORISSA". In Rob Jenkins (ed.). Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States (PDF). Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 6.