The Patil[1] (also known as Gaonpatil and Sarpatil)[2] is a title used by Koli chiefs of villages in Maharashtra.[3]

Koli Patil
Honorific title of Koli caste
EthnicityKoli people
Location
VarnaAgriculturist
Parent tribe
  • Mahadev Kolis
  • Son Kolis
  • Malhar Kolis
  • Pardeshi Kolis
  • Tokre Kolis
DemonymKolis
Branches
  • Koli Patil
  • Koli Paatil
Language
ReligionHinduism

the Janjira island was built and fortified by Koli chieftain Ram Patil.[4] Koli Patils sometimes called as Gaonpatil which means 'village head' and it is found among both Hindu and Christian Kolis. Patil is hereditary title to the Koli families of Maharashtra.[5] In Koli society, there were several types of Patil[6]

  • Police Patil: Police Patil was a service position in Kolis during British Raj and Maratha rule. Kolis who were serving as in-charge of police knowns as Police Patil.[7]
  • Zemidar Patil: the Kolis who were village headman or landlord were known as Zemidar Patil. They received the grants of villages from rulers for their services in Princely states, kingdoms and Sultanates.[8]
  • Samajik Patil: the Koli people who were responsible to maintain order in Koli society and resolve their problems were called as Samajik Patil.[9]

Kolis of Maharashtra served in Maratha Empire and a Koli Patil who was naval chief in Maratha Navy named Laya was honoured by Shivaji with the title of Sarpatil and grants of villages for his courageous actions and Siddis of Janjira.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh; Bhanu, B. V.; India, Anthropological Survey of (2004). Maharashtra. New Delhi, India, Asia: Popular Prakashan. p. 1884. ISBN 978-81-7991-102-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ Punekar, Vinaja B. (1959). The Son Kolis of Bombay. New Delhi, India: Popular Book Depot. p. 301.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 132 - 133: A Koli Patil of his own village of Devgaon let him, Bhau Dungar and Khundu Sable hide out in a cattle shed which he kept in the mountains of Baglan, on the border with Khandesh. In September, after the monsoon was over, Raghu ... ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ Ali, Shanti Sadiq (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. New Delhi, India, Asia: Orient Blackswan. p. 158. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Sharma, Kalpana (2000). Rediscovering Dharavi: Stories from Asia's Largest Slum. New Delhi, India: Penguin Books India. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-14-100023-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ Robinson, Frederick Bruce (1978). Adaptation to Colonial Rule by the "wild Tribes" of the Bombay Deccan, 1818-1880: From Political Competition to Social Banditry. New Delhi, India: University of Minnesota.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ Sharma 1978, pp. 148.
  8. ^ Sharma 1978, pp. 149.
  9. ^ Sharma 1978, pp. 317.
  10. ^ Khandpekar, Neeta M (September 2018). "India's Maritime History: Sea-faring groups and Maritime Icons". Reasearchgate – via University of Mumbai.