_Beldar, [254] Od, Sonkar, Raj, Larhia, Karigar, Matkuda, Chunkar,
Munurwar, Thapatkari, Vaddar, Pathrot, Takari._--The term Beldar
is generically applied to a number of occupational groups of more
or less diverse origin, who work as masons or navvies, build the
earthen embankments of tanks or fields, carry lime and bricks and
in former times refined salt. Beldar means one who carries a _bel_,
a hoe or mattock. In 1911 a total of 25,000 Beldars were returned
from the Central Provinces, being most numerous in the Nimar, Wardha,
Nagpur, Chanda and Raipur districts. The Nunia, Murha and Sansia
(Uriya) castes, which have been treated in separate articles, are
also frequently known as Beldar, and cannot be clearly distinguished
from the main caste. If they are all classed together the total of
the earth- and stone-working castes comes to 35,000 persons.
It is probable that the bulk of the Beldars and allied castes are
derived from the non-Aryan tribes. The Murhas or navvies of the
northern Districts appear to be an offshoot of the Bind tribe; the
people known as Matkuda (earth-digger) are usually Gonds or Pardhans;
the Sansias and Larhias or Uriyas of Chhattisgarh and the Uriya country
seem to have originated from the Kol, Bhuiya and Oraon tribes, the Kols
especially making excellent diggers and masons; the Oddes or Vaddars
of Madras are a very low caste, and some of their customs point to a
similar origin, though the Munurwar masons of Chanda appear to have
belonged originally to the Kapu caste of cultivators.
The term Raj, which is also used for the Beldars in the northern
Districts, has the distinctive meaning of a mason, while Chunkar
signifies a lime-burner. The Sonkars were formerly occupied in Saugor
in carrying lime, bricks and earth on donkeys, but they have now
abandoned this calling in Chhattisgarh and taken to growing vegetables,
and have been given a short separate notice. In Hoshangabad some
Muhammadan Beldars are now also found.