Mavala

The Mavala is a Title used for the Kolis of Maval region.[1] Most of the inhabitants of maval region were Mahadeo Kolis.[2] Maval region, also known as Bavan Mavals (52 valley), was known as Koli country and each Mavals were under the control of Koli chief or Nayaks.[3] The Koli community made a substantial contribution to the success of the Swarajya movement of Shivaji. The 'Koli Chauthara' in Shivneri fort still stands as a monument to the Kolis' love of independence.[4]

Mavala
मावळा
Active1670
AllegianceMaratha Empire
BranchMaratha Army
TypeFoot
Nickname(s)Marad Mavala
Motto(s)Jai Shivrai
EngagementsBattle of Sinhagad
Commanders
SubedarTanaji Malusare
SarnobatYesaji Kank

During the time of Maratha leader, Shivaji in 17th century, the title was exclusively used for people belonging to the peasant Kolis[5] and Kunbi community of the region but Kunbis of Maval region were Kolis who were settled as Agriculturist.[6] They were expert footmen and excelled in mountain warfare. Shivaji raised an infantry of Mavale who used guerilla tactics of hit and run to inflict heavy losses on numerically stronger enemies. The infantry was considered the backbone of his power, and according to Sabhasad Bakhar, which chronicled Shivaji's life, the Mavale and Hasham infantry of Shivaji had 100,000 men.[7][8][9] Kolis who were known as the names of Mavala Sardars earned the Naikwadis.[10]

Notable

See also

References
  1. Raeside, I. (1978). A Note on the 'Twelve Mavals' of Poona District. Modern Asian Studies, 12(3), 393-417. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/312227
  2. Srivastava, Ashirbadi Lal (1969). The Mughul Empire, 1526-1803 A.D. New Delhi, India, Asia: S. L. Agarwala. pp. 368: The people who inhabited the Maval country were Kolis, they were very hardy and industrious and formed a good army.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated (bavan mavals). New Delhi, India, Asia: Seagull Books. pp. 103: The Maval region then known as the 'Bavan Masal, or 52 valleys and Koli country. Each valley was controlled by a Koli nayak. The sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar. and presided over the goarn, or caste council. The community was both cohesive and independent." When the Mughals conquered the region in the 1630s they attempted to measure the land and fix a land. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Deopujari, Murlidhar Balkrishna (1973). Shivaji and the Maratha Art of War. New Delhi, India: Vidarbha Samshodhan Mandal. pp. 262–263.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. Burman, J. J. Roy (2002). Hindu-Muslim Syncretic Shrines and Communities. New Delhi, India, Asia: Mittal Publications. pp. 242: This also led to the tribal pockets inhabited by the politically important and powerful Mahadeo Kolis. The Mahadeo Kolis formed the important Maval army of Chatrapati Shivaji. It was also at the Shivneri fort in Junnar where Shivaji was born. ISBN 978-81-7099-839-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. Chandra, Satish (2003). Essays on Medieval Indian History. New Delhi, India, Asia: Oxford University Press. pp. 222: other tribal elements belonging to the Maval area, who were the first to rally to Shivaji's standard, were in a similar position in relation to both the Kunbis and the Marathas. Thus we are told that a Koli taking to settled agriculture may become a Maratha Kunbi. ISBN 978-0-19-566336-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. M. R. Kantak (1993). The First Anglo-Maratha War, 1774-1783: A Military Study of Major Battles. Popular Prakashan. pp. 9, 123. ISBN 978-81-7154-696-1.
  8. A.R.Kulkarni (2005). J.S.Grewal; D.P.Chattopadhyaya (eds.). The State and Society in Medieval India, Volume Vii Part I. Oxford University Press. p. 226. Shivaji made use of both sections of the Marathas in establishment of his swaraj...He drew his military strength mainly from the mawales, the kunbis of the Mawal region. In the north, particularly in the eighteenth century, the term 'Maratha' was used with reference to all the people of Maharashtra, irrespective of their caste distinctions.
  9. "Welcome to the Official Website of Pune District, Maharashtra". Archived from the original on 10 March 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  10. Institute, Deccan College Post-graduate and Research (1978). Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. Dr. A. M. Ghatage, director, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute.
  11. Roy, Shibani (1983). Koli Culture: A Profile of the Culture of Talpad Vistar. New Delhi, India: Cosmo Publications. pp. 25: The chief warrior or 'senapati' of Shivaji, Taraji Malusare (Tanaji) belonged to the Kolis of Mawli and all his followers were Koli who had fought several battles against the Muslims.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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