Parvatiyar
Parvatiyar denotes a sub-caste belonging to Ambashtha caste of Bihar, India. Ambashtha is, in turn, a sub-caste of Kayastha community. The system of sub-castes in the Ambashtha caste is known as the "Khaas Ghar" system.
Ancient Geographical Origins
Parvatiyar Ambashtha Kayasthas, normally, trace their origins to the Magadha region of Bihar. Perhaps, originally, their forefathers were from "Parvatti" or "Parvati" village of "Magadha"; hence, they were known and designated as "Parvatiyar". However, in the absence of any documentary or historical proof, it would be difficult to prove the true origins of the word "Parvatiyar". It may be noted that the Ambashtha sub-caste or tribe were inhabitants, in ancient times, of northwestern India in the lower Chenab region. They migrated eastwards, in course of time, to finally settle in the Magadha region of Bihar. This fact is evident from descriptions of their country in the Mahabharata(II,48,14) and in the Bhagavata Purana(X, 83,23). They are also mentioned in the Brahmanda Purana(III,74,22), Matsya Purana(48,21), Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana(II,3,18). Panini also refers to them in one of his sutras (VIII, 3,97). The Mahabharata mentions (II,52,14-15) Ambashthas as one of the northwestern tribes. During the first quarter of the 2nd century A.D., the Ambashthas are referred to by the geographer Ptolemy as settled in the east of the country. (Ref: McCrindle authored 'Ancient India as described by Ptolemy', pp 311–312)[1]
Recent Origins
At present, two prominent Parvatiyar families trace their roots to Rohini village (near Jasidih) and Cheria Bariarpur Village (Begusarai) of Bihar.
Social practices
Parvatiyars follow a system of exogamous marriage, called "Ghar-Varjini", i.e., (i) not marrying within the "Parvatiyar" sub-clan and (ii) also not marrying persons belonging to the "Khaas Ghar" of their father, mother, grandmother (both maternal and paternal) and so on, tracing upwards for three generations up the genealogical line (both maternal and paternal). This system is peculiar to the Ambashtha caste. However, other castes, too, follow variants of this system.
Prominent Parvatiyars
Most members of the Parvatiyar sub-clan serve in government service in Bihar and New Delhi. Though, of late, they have spread all over the world and serve in many divergent professions. Atul Parvatiyar, Deepak Parvatiyar, Anu Parvatiyar, Pankhuri Parvatiyar, Divya Parvatiyar, Kislay Parvatiyar, Swati Parvatiyar, Tanya Parvatiyar, Abe Parvatiyar, Soumya Parvatiyar, Michelle Parvatiyar, and Survi Parvatiyar are a few of the Parvatiyars who can be dubbed as "googlable" Parvatiyars. There are many other Parvatiyars, but they do not use the surname "Parvatiyar", hence making it difficult to identify them. The Parvatiyars generally use surnames such as "Ambastha", "Ambasta", "Sinha", "Sahay", "Kumar", "Prasad", etc., i.e., popular surnames belonging to the Kayastha Caste. One such Parvatiyar family, using the surname "Kumar", is based in New Delhi. The patriarch of this family is Sh. Ashok Kumar—a retired IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, who served as District Magistrate of Muzaffarpur in the mid-1990s. His son, Amit Kumar, for example, though a Parvatiyar, does not use the surname Parvatiyar despite belonging to a Parvatiyar family. He is an Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India. Similarly, Anant Kumar, CEO of Lifespring Hospitals, is also a Parvatiyar. It is notable that Anant Kumar is also a TED Fellow.
Notes
- ↑ McCrindle, J.W. (1885). Ancient India, as Described by Ptolemy. Search this book on
Bibliography
- Ambastha Kayastha (The Evolution of a Family and Its Socio-Cultural Dimensions)/K.N. Sahay. New Delhi, Commonwealth, 2001, xxi, 344 p., $42. ISBN 81-7169-660-0.
- Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography
- The Indian Encyclopaedia
- Ancient India Described by Ptolemy
- http://www.kayastha.org/kayastha_chitragupta.html#Ambasta Archived 2009-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
- http://parvatiyar.net/
- http://www.lifespring.in/our-team.html Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
- https://www.facebook.com/search/?flt=1&q=parvatiyar&o=2048
- http://www.ted.com/pages/view/id/396
- TED (conference)
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