Tamboli, Tambuli
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As in 1891
This section is an extract from
THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Tamboli, Tambuli
This caste is not numerous in Bengal, but, wherever found, is regarded as one of the clean Sudra castes, still wearing the Brahmanical cord in some parts of Hindustan, although it has been disused for ages in others. [Indpaedia.com added in 2023: Tamboli are not a scheduled caste. Many states have included them in the OBC list. TheTamboli consider themselves a Vaishya Caste that trades betel leaves.] In Bengal the term Tamboli is applied to any person engaged in retailing Pan,1 and is not confined, as it ought to be, to the members of a particular caste. The census rolls, by enumerating 59,726 persons as belonging to the caste, have endorsed this popular use of the word, while in Dacca, where there are not fifty individuals pertaining to it, the number entered is 200. The few resident in the city state that their ancestors came from the Burdwan district, where they still send for their wives, as the Hindustani Tamboli refuses to give his daughters in marriage to the Bengali.
The Hindustani Tamboli caste, members of which are occasionally met with in Eastern Bengal has seven, the legitimate number of Sreni, and preserve the connection with their original home at Benares and Mungir, by obtaining wives from these places. The seven branches are�
Maghaiya, Kurram,
Tirhutia, Karan,
Bhojpuria, Surya-dvija.
Kanaujiya,
It has only one gotra, the Kasyapa. Yellow silk is the proper bridal dress, but should the family be poor, cotton dyed with turmeric is unobjectionable. In Hindustan the Tamboli often acts as a Pansari, or druggist; when domiciled in Bengal he keeps stores, sometimes wine shops.
The Bengali Tamboli, again, have three gotras, Kasyapa, Bharadvaja, and Vyasa. Their titles, or "Padavi," are�
Sen, Singh, Pal, Chail, Khur, De, Datta, Rakhit. The most common honorary title is Chaudhari. The bride and bridegroom still dress in yellow, and ride in a alki, or Doli, a palanquin with an elongated pole, and a canopy overhead.
In Eastern Bengal the Tamboli never cultivates Pan, and, having rivals in the sale of the leaf, is gradually taking to other occupations. In Hindustan selling Pan is the privilege of the caste, but in Dacca the "Khili-walas" are Khatris, Kayasths, Namu-Sudras, and often Muhammadans. A "Khili" is a packet ready made for chewing, and four of them equal one "Dhana."
The aromatics masticated with Pan differ in Bengal from those used in Upper India. Bengalis add cloves, dill, coriander, Ajwayan,1 cinnamon, and long pepper; while the Hindustanis prefer small cardamons (Gujrati ilachi), mace, and rose water.
Only two kinds of betle-nut are known in Bengal, the Dakhani or Penang nut, which is rare, and very expensive, and the Desi, or common nut, grown in every village of Bengal, and universally chewed.
The lime, too, mixed with the "Kath" (Catechu) is of two qualities. In Dacca Silhet lime slaked, and mixed with Dahi, or curds, is in general use, while in other parts of the province lime prepared from fresh water shells by the Chunari caste, is alone used.
1 Ligusticum Ajowan, a favourite culinary and medicinal spice. It is the "Yavanika," or "Brahma-darbha," of Sanskrit writers.
1 Tambula, the leaf of Piper Betel.
Origins
Âñï R Báñ sent this information to Indpaedia:
At first, there was no Tamboli caste. It was created when a Brahmin sage was advised to go to Naglok (the world of serpents) to bring Amrita bel (betel leaf) to Earth. Nag Raja Vasuki proposed that the sage marry his daughter and take the betel plant with her. The sage's children were known as the Chaurasia.
Some time later, some of the Chaurasia divided themselves into two groups: i) the Tamboli (who traded betel leaf) and ii) the Barui (who cultivated betel leaf). However, their numbers were small, so they needed help from society. At that time, only the Kshatriya and Brahmin clans came to their aid.
Since betel leaf is an important ingredient in Yagyas, some Brahmins patronised the cultivation of betel leaf. Some Kshatriya clans decided to do business in betel leaf, so they started selling it. This is why you can still find some Tamboli clans with Kshatriya names, such as Suryavanshi Tamboli, Nagvanshi Tamboli, Chandravanshi Tamboli, and Yaduvanshi Tamboli.
Over time, these people became known as Tamboli because of their occupation. They then held the rank of Vaisya and abandoned the Upanayana sanskar ritual.
In Bengal, the Tamboli caste does not originate from the Kshatriya clan. They are from a Brahm-Kshatriya family.
Factsheet
From The Joshua Project
Main Language
Hindi
Subgroups
Subgroups: 33
Subgroup Name Population
Barai 165,000
Magahi 30,000
Tirhutia 30,000
Ashtagrami 16,000
Bardhamani 16,000
Biyallishgrami 16,000
Chaturthagrami 16,000
Chauddagrami 16,000
Rajhati 16,000
Saptagrami 16,000
Introduction / History
The Tamboli are a people of India traditionally associated with the production and distribution of the betel leaf and areca nut. Millions of people of South Asia and the Pacific chew areca or betel nut as a mild stimulant as many Westerners drink coffee or tea. In fact, the name Tamboli comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "betel leaf." Most Tamboli speak Hindi and another regional language.
Where Are they Located?
The Hindu Tamboli live across central and northern India. Most Tamboli live in the Indian states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Entire Tamboli families work in the betel nut industry. Children often quit school at the age of nine or ten to help their family business. Women and girls frequently have only minimal level of education. The betel vine must have moist, fertilized soil or the plant will not flourish. Chewing betel leaves is a common practice in social occasions in South Asia.
Thought betel nut has been their traditional work, most currently work in government jobs and many are doctors and engineers.
The Tamboli are usually monogamous, which means married to one person. They marry within their community. Only males can inherit property. A council of elder men rules and dispenses justice within a Tamboli village.
The Tamboli eat fish, chicken, mutton but refrain from beef and pork. Most of their diet consists of grains, vegetables and fruit.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Tamboli are Hindu. They worship gods and goddesses like Krishna, Shiva, Rama, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Hanuman. They observe the main Hindu holidays of Holi and Diwali. Some Tamboli cremate their dead while others bury the dead. They will probably seek the help of a shaman for their health problems before visiting a modern medical professional.
What Are Their Needs?
Long term chewing of betel nut and leaf is destructive to one's health. The side effects of chronic chewing betel include cancers of the mouth and esophagus, kidney, liver and heart disease and psychiatric disorders. The Tamboli need other business opportunities that do not damage human health.
Population
Presumably as in 2011
In India 2,208,000
Population all Countries 2,503,000
Total Countries 4
Alternate Names
Badi; Barae; Barai; Baran; Bari; Barui; Bipl uro; Chourasia; Gurav; Gurov; Gurrat; Jamboli; Kumawat; Pandaram; Panwari; Phulari; Shiva Brahman; Shiva Brahmin; Tambala; Tambat; Tambiran; Tambli; Tamboli; Tambuli; Tamdi; Tamil Jain; Tamkhera; Tamli; Tamliwandlu; Tammali; Tamoli; Tamuli; Taoli; Twasha Kambli; Twasha Kasar; [[
