Karni

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Karni

This low caste of weavers lay claim to relationship with the great Tanti family, but the claim is repudiated. Nevertheless it is a curious circumstance that the Napit, Dhoba, and other servants of the clean Sudra tribes work for them, which would not be the case if they were of humble origin, yet their Purohit is peculiar to themselves.

Various derivations of the name Karni are given. According to some it is merely a corruption of the Hindi Kurmi, while others suggest it is the Sanskrit "Kar," to do, hence by metonomy to do what is forbidden.

The caste is a small one, being only met with in the western Thanas of the Dacca district, along the left bank of the Padma river, but it is more numerous in Farridpur and Pubna. It has three gotras, Bharadvaja, Aliman, and Kasyapa. Vaishnavism is the religion of the majority, Saivism of the minority.

The Karni are exclusively engaged in weaving, agriculture and fishing being strictly forbidden. They manufacture the "Dhoti" or waist-cloth, the "Gamcha," the mourning garment worn by all Hindus, as- well as chequered bed curtains (Charkhana).