Vokkaliga
Group of castes in Karnataka / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Vokkaliga (also transliterated as Vokkaligar, Vakkaliga, Wakkaliga, Okkaligar, Okkiliyan) is a community, or a group of closely related castes, from the Indian state of Karnataka. They are also present in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.[1]
As a community of warriors[2][3] and cultivators[4] they have historically had notable demographic, political, and economic dominance in Old Mysore (region).[5][6][7][8][9] It is believed by some historians that the Rashtrakutas[10][11] and Western Gangas[12][13] were of Vokkaliga origin. The Vokkaligas occupied administrative positions in the Vijaynagar Empire.[14][15][16][8] They later formed the early rulers of the Nayakas of Keladi.[17] The Vokkaligas had the most families in the ruling classes of the 17th century when the Arasu caste of the Wodeyars was created to exclude them.[18][19][20][21] Under the Kingdom of Mysore they operated autonomously[22] and also served in the army and militia.[23] The Vokkaligas formed the landed-gentry[24][25][26] and warrior class[2][3] of Karnataka.[27][15][4]
Most subsects of the Vokkaliga community are designated as Forward castes[28][29][30] by the Central Government of India. While some subsects in rural areas, are designated as Other Backward Class by the Karnataka Government.[31][30] Vokkaligas of the Lingayat faith are treated separately.[32]
Vokkaligas commonly carry titles such as Gowda,[33] Hegde[34] and Gounder.[35]