Mogaveera

Mogaveera is community is primarily occupied in maritime and mechanised fishing activities in Tulunadu region of Karnataka.They belong to the ethno linguistic group of Tuluvas [4][5][6] traditionally they were also occupied in professions such as ship-building, Maritime traders engaging in the trade between middle east and southern india and craftsmen specialising in wooden artworks [7] they are also believed to be Naval warriors of the ancient kingdoms of Alvkheda under Alupa dynasty,and under Chowta dynasty in 1555, fought against the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira and defeated his navy bravely. [8]

Mogaveera people form a community who dominate fishing and marine activities in and around Mangalore.[9] The Mogaveeras who have taken up fishing as their profession are called Marakalas. Some have also found occupation as peasants and artisans.[8]

A community organisation called Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sabha (DKMMS) was established in 1923 with 146 gram sabha. There were other such associations previously, including one in Bombay that was founded in 1902; others included those at Mangalore, Barkur and Udupi, some of which merged. The various groups became distinguishable by the different languages.[10]

The Mogaveera Bank was established in 1946 in a suburban district of Bombay.[11] It is one of the leading co-operative banks operating in Mumbai, having branches in Borivali and other areas. It is managed by people belonging to Mogaveera community.[12][13]

The Mogaveera Kolis are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) by Government of Karnataka.[1]

Mogaveeras in the ancient times had exogenous marriages with the brahmin community though they themselves were a non Brahminical dravidian community [14]