Powari

 Bhoyari

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A language of India

ISO 639-3

pwr

Alternate Names

Pwari

Population

426,000 (2001 census). Ethnic population: 2,000,000 (1986 All India Powar Council).

Location

Madhya Pradesh state: Balaghat, Betul, Chindwara, and Seoni districts; Maharashtra state: Bhandara, Gondia, and Wardha districts.

Language Maps

India, Map 6

India, Map 7

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western

Dialects

Bhoyar Powari (Bhomiyari, Bhoyari, Bhoyaroo, Bhuiyar, Bhuria, Bohoyeri), Vyneganga Powari, Govari of Seoni, Khalari, Koshti, Kumbhari, Lodhi, Marari. Reported intelligibility between Bhoyar and Vyneganga. Balaghat District dialect considered central among Bhoyar and Vyneganga varieties. Lexical similarity: 60%–87% among dialects; 80%–83% with Koshti, Kumbhari, and Khalari sub-groups; 49%–65% with Bagheli [bfy], 46%–64% with Bundeli [bns].

Language Use

Powari use is decreasing in the Bhoyar and Vyneganga dialect areas. Half the children learn Hindi or Marathi [mar] first. Home. Neutral attitudes. Also use Hindi [hin], Marathi [mar].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 72% for Powari-speaking districts (2001 census).

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Powari

Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Younger generation is getting education. Hindu.

Source https://www.ethnologue.com/language/pwr

Maharashtra Government Gazetteer of Bhandara District says :

Maharashtra Government Gazetteer of Bhandara District says : 

" Ponvars.—The Ponvars originally belonged to Malva. The Ponvar dynasty ruled in Malva from the 9th to the 18th Century. In the twelfth Century Nagpur was included in the Malva kingdom and the first settlement of the Ponvars may probably be attributed to this period. They themselves say that they originally came to Nagardhan near Ramtek and then spread over the surrounding country. Some of the most influential members of the caste accompanied Chimnaji Bhosle on his Cuttack expedition and on their return were rewarded with grants of land in Lanji and other tracts to the west of the Wainganga river which were largely covered with forests "

This is the reason of Ponwar being Patels, Malgujars and Jamindars of Wainganga Valley area .