Thread by @RaoJanaraja

The legacy of Kuribara and Okkala women bears the scars of slavery, concubinage, and sexual exploitation, a history that demands remembrance and justice but our diggas are busy appropriating Maratha History

Holy Maratha Emperor Hindupati Padshah Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaja’s favourite concubine Virubai was a Gavli / #Kuruba

Even the last Qutubshah, Abul Hasan Tana Shah had several #Kuruba concubines

Awaji Kawade, a Maratha officer, purchased a #Kuruba woman named Radhi for concubinage

Observe the social status of Kuruba/Gadaria in society, Good Kunbis(Marathi counterpart of Okkalas) drink water from their hands and eat with them.

In the past, women from the Kuruba community used to serve as concubines for the Marathas until their old age. A letter from the mid-18th century mentions a Kuruba woman named Yesi who had retired from concubinage service.

The dairy of Madhavrao Peshwa lists the cocubines, and in some cases, their caste is mentioned. We have found two more #Kuruba cocubines in this dairy

Krishni Kuribara and Gani Kuribara

In South India, women involved in the concubinage came from Shudroid communities such as Kuruba and Vokkaliga

Kannadasyu Dukkars larps on Mysore Wodeyar 24/7, but the Maharaja of Mysore treats Okkalas as humble Shudroid jatis and sees their women as concubines

Marathas used to take Okkala and Kuribara women as concubines

Maratha General Sakhuji Gaikwad exploited izzat of low-budget rajmata of Kannadigas, also known as Mendrichor Mallamma

Kannadukkar womens were taken as concubines by Tipu Sultan’s father

Character of kannadukkar rani 🤢

In Shudra Okkala, widow remarriage is permitted and commonly practised. Widows may marry their deceased husband’s brother, and in some cases, even remarry multiple times, even a third time

A Shudra Vokkaliga widow may live in concubinage, and a divorced Vokkaliga woman, though not permitted to remarry, is socially allowed to live in concubinage

Among certain Avarna Vokkaliga groups, a custom exists where the father of a young boy married to a grown woman, C0habits with his daughter-in-law until the boy reaches maturity

The Devdasi practice was initiated by the Vokkaliga community of Mysore

The cultural rules imposed by the Upper Castes forced Kuribaras and Okkalas to donate their eldest daughter as a Devadasi. An unmarried Kuruba girl was taken to a temple to be initiated as a Basavi, a dedicated prostitute.

Brahmin men exploited Kuruba women worse than white slave masters exploited African American women. They fathered children with Basavis (Kuruba concubines) and abandoned them—many forced into prostitution just to feed their children

@grok examine the above thread

@rattibha unroll

among kaladigga shoodars adultery of women was allowed if a minor amount of fine was paid

@threadreaderapp