Bhoyari Pawari (Satpuda
Zone) is the dialect of the Rajasthani Malvi continuum spoken exclusively by
the Pawar / Bhoyar Pawar (Kshatriya Pawar) community of the Satpuda region in
central India. It represents one of the most precisely bounded caste-linked
speech varieties in the central Indian linguistic landscape: no member of any
other community speaks this dialect, a sociolinguistic fact that has served as
a powerful engine of maintenance across six or more centuries of geographic
displacement from the community's ancestral heartlands in Rajasthan and Malwa.
1.1 Geographic Distribution — The Satpuda Zone
The geographic core of
Bhoyari Pawari (Satpuda Zone) spans four administrative districts that together
define what may be termed the Satpuda Zone — a coherent ecological and
socio-linguistic region defined by the Satpura hill range and its surrounding
terrain:
|
District / Region |
Character of Bhoyari Pawari
spoken |
Influence layer |
|
Betul
(Multai, Betul) |
Purest
form; considered the prestige anchor of the dialect |
Slight
Nimadi and Bundeli substratum |
|
Chhindwara |
Near-identical
to Betul; co-anchor of the standard variety |
Slight
Bundeli substratum |
|
Pandhurna |
Continuous
with Betul-Chhindwara; together form the Satpuda core |
Slight
Bundeli substratum |
|
Wardha |
Retains
Bhoyari Pawari base; shows stronger contact phenomena |
Marathi
adstrate prominent |
The
Betul–Chhindwara–Pandhurna triangle constitutes the heartland of the dialect.
Speakers and scholars alike regard the bhoyari / Pawari of these three
districts as prestige-bearing and 'pure,' while the Wardha border variety
maintains structural continuity with the core but reflects deeper contact with
the surrounding Marathi-speaking population. The distinction is not binary — it
describes a gradient of contact intensity — and both zones are treated as parts
of a single system throughout this grammar, with differential contact features
noted where they appear in the corpus.
The Satpura range itself
functions as a geographical enclosure that has historically limited the
dialect's lateral spread while simultaneously intensifying intra-community
cohesion. Lokgeet evidence shows consistent topographic vocabulary referencing
the forested hill zones — rivers (घाट 'river crossing'), the forest ecosystem
(जंगल, बन), and agricultural practice — confirming deep ecological embedding of
the speech community in this specific terrain.
1.2 Speaker Community — The Bhoyar Pawar
Bhoyari Pawari (Satpuda
Zone) is the exclusive property of the Pawar / Bhoyar Pawar (Kshatriya Pawar)
community. This is not merely a statistical observation: the corpus itself
reflects this exclusivity through its vocabulary of kinship, caste identity, and
social practice. The dialect name 'Bhoyari' derives from the community name
'Bhoyar Pawar,' while the alternate designation 'Pawari' or 'Pâwari' is the
community's own preferred self-description of their speech.
The Bhoyar Pawar identify
as Kshatriya, tracing genealogical descent to the Pawar Kshatriya / (Paramara)
clan of Rajasthan and Malwa — the same lineage associated with the legendary
king-scholar Bhoja of Dhara (r. ~1000–1055 CE). Historical and census records
(Census of India 1891, 1901, 1931) document the community's presence in the
Satpura-Vidarbha region and consistently identify their speech as a distinct
variety of Rajasthani Malvi. The lexicon compiled by Vallabh Dongre (2014)
explicitly notes that royal and warrior vocabulary in the dialect reflects
connections to both Rajput culture.
Community internal
hierarchy is reflected in the gotra (clan) system,
Pawar (72 Gotras):
1. Girhare/Girare, 2. Paradkar/Parihar, 3. Kharpuse (Chhindwara only), 4.
Badnagre/Nagre/Bannagre, 5. Ghaghare, 6. Chherke/Sherke (Chhindwara), 7. Kadwe,
8. Pathe/Patha/Pathekar, 9. Dongardiye/Dongre, 10. Dharphod/Dharpure, 11.
Chaudhary, 12. Mate/Matekar, 13. Farkade, 14. Gadge, 15. Dhote, 16. Deshmukh,
17. Khausi/Khavsi/Kaushik/Khavse, 18. Digrase/Digarase/Digrase, 19.
Bhade/Bhadekar, 20. Baranga/Barange, 21. Raut, 22. Katole/Gaghade/Gadre, 23.
Dukhi/Durve, 24. Kinkar/Kinkar, 25. Rabde, 26. Kasai/Kasalikar, 27.
Manmade/Manmude, 28. Sawai, 29. Gore, 30. Dala/Dahare, 31. Ukar/Omkar, 32.
Ughade, 33. Kardate/Date, 34. Karanjkar/Kiranjkar, 35. Kamdi, 36.
Kalbhut/Kalbhor, 37. Kodle/Korde, 38. Hingwe/Hingwa, 39. Khapariye/Khapre, 40.
Gadre, 41. Gakre/Gakhre, 42. Gohite/Gohte, 43. Chikane, 44. Chopde, 45. Tople,
46. Dhole, 47. Dhoble/Dhobare, 48. Dandhare, 49. Devase, 50. Dhondi, 51. Naditod,
52. Pathade, 53. Pinjare/Pinjarkar, 54. Barkhade, 55. Birgade, 56. Barbohare,
57. Gondiya, 58. Baigne, 59. Bobde, 60. Bhobhat, 61. Buwade/Bowade, 62.
Thawari, 63. Mune/Munne, 64. Ramdham, 65. Thussi, 66. Rodle, 67. Labad, 68.
Ladke, 69. Lokhande, 70. Sawai, 71. Sarode, 72. Hajare.
Other: 73. Bisen
(found only in Chhindwara).
Note: Some members
of the community use Panwar or Pawar as their surname instead of
their traditional gotra surname. These 72 surnames (gotras) are traditionally
regarded as the names, titles, military designations, or honorific identifiers
of Rajput warrior chiefs.
Important Notice:
Among the Kshatriya Pawar (Bhoyar Pawar) community of Betul,
Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Wardha, Amravati, and Nagpur, no original gotras are
recognized other than the above-mentioned 72 gotras (with the limited
inclusion of Bisen in parts of Chhindwara). If any other surname or
gotra is claimed, its inclusion requires independent historical and
genealogical verification. Without reliable documentary or genealogical
evidence, no additional surname or gotra should be considered part of the
original 72 Pawar gotras.
Betul Division:
Betul, Betul Bazar, Badora, Hamlapur, Sonaghati, Danora, Bhadus, Parsoda, Dhondbada,
Dahargaon, Babai, Dol, Mahadgaon, Unchagohan, Ratamati, Khedi Savaligarh, Selgaon,
Raudha, Karjgaon, Nayegaon, Savanga, Karadi, Bhogitedha, Bhavanitedha,
Lohariya, Sohagpur, Bagholi, Sapna, Malkapur, Bajpur, Bundala, Khandara, Bodi
Baghwad, Theska, Rathipur, Khedi Bhainsdehi, Shahpur, Bhaura, Ghoradongri,
Pathakhedi, Pathakheda, Shobhapur, Sarni, Bharat Bharati, Jamthi, Bagdona,
Jhagadia, Kadai, Mandai, Gajpur, Bajpur, Patarapur, Sampna, Khedla Kila,
Chikhliya (Raudha), Korat, Maudi, Kanala, Bayawadi.
Multai Division:
Multai, Thawariya, Kamath, Chandora Khurd, Karpa, Parasthani, Deori, Harnaya,
Melawadi, Bukakhedi, Chauthiya, Hardauli, Shergarh, Malegaon, Kolhaya,
Hathnapur, Savanga, Daua, Ghat Biroli, Barkhed, Pipariya, Dob, Semariya,
Pandhari Siladehi, Jam, Khedi Devanala, Chichanda, Nimbori Chilhati, Kundai,
Khambara, Malhara, Kondhar, Junapani, Semjhar, Dahargaon, Chaunpur, Tumdi, Dol,
Malharakhapa, Piparpani, Neemdana, Nidorni, Chhoti Amravati, Chhindkheda,
Gadra, Somgarh, Jhilpa, Nandbohi, Dunawa, Dunai, Gangai, Musakhapa, Khalla,
Sonegaon, Sipawa, Bhainsadand, Malolkhapa, Balkhapa, Ghat Pipariya, Sarai,
Kathi, Hardauli, Laldhana, Lilajhar, Biskhan, Mayawadi, Thari, Mundapar,
Chikhli Kala, Kapasiya, Lakhapur, Hiwara, Parbiroli, Khairwani, Savangi,
Ladagondi, Morkha, Tarunabujurg, Dudariya, Pidarai, Jaulkheda, Mohi, Heti
Khapa, Parmandal, Nagarkot, Divatya, Bundala, Heti, Khatedakala, Harnakhedi,
Arra, Barai, Jamun Jhiri, Temjhira, Badegaon, Kekadiya, Ainas, Nirgun,
Semjhira, Pohar, Saikheda, Bothiya, Brahmanwada, Khedli Bazar, Borgaon,
Babarboh, Mahatpur, Mathani, Chhindi, Khadakwar, Kehalpur, Taroda, Sondya, Ridhora,
Sonori, Semraya, Junawani, Chichanda, Humanpet, Banur, Khedi Bujurg, Ubhariya,
Khapa, Nayegaon, Sasundra, Pankha, Andhariya. Pandhurna Division: Mordongri,
Bhuli, Rajhadi Pipla, Seoni, Langha, Khairi Paika, Khairi Khapa, Rajna, Bad
Chicholi, Hiwara-Senadwar, Anjangaon, Bothiya, Pardi, Malegaon, Dadimeta, Karwar,
Pawardhana, Chichghat, Dudha, Bangaon, Biroli, Hardoli, Tigaon, Satbhai Dhana,
Borgaon, Gorli Khapa,
Chatwa, Siratha, Magurli, Junawani-Heti-Deg, Chagoba, Shendurjana, Jamlapani,
Narsala, Salai, Pathai, Jamghat, Dhanora, Ghoghri, Raybasa, Balapur, Mainidana,
Buchankhapa, Bhajipani, Sawajpani, Biroli Par, Dholni, Duddewani, Sillewani,
Gadhmau, Lendori, Kamthi Kala, Markawada, Parsodi, Gauridana.
Sausar Division:
Savangi, Pandharakhedi, Ambakhapa, Gadmuh, Panchar Khapa,
Chhatrapur, Bhumma,
Sausar, Munganapar, Chhindewani, Semra, Pawarkheda, Pipla Narayanwar, Borgaon
(Raymond).
Chhindwara Division:
Ridhora, Ridhora Raiyyat, Chawdi Kala, Chawdi Khurd, Patha,
Gulwa, Sona Pipri,
Khirsadoh, Parasia, Chandameta, Shivpuri, Mordongri Kala, Mordongri Khurd, Khajri,
Karawoh, Mujawar, Talpipariya, Gajandoh, Nagalwadi, Bijori, Kachhar, Siladehi,
Muari, Khari, Bichhua, Umreth, Rakhidhana, Chhirdhana, Kachharam, Bijalwada,
Damua, Gorpani, Kanhargaon, Patpada, Tighra, Paunar, Pura, Goni-Jakhawadi,
Shamta, Thuepani, Gonawadi, Bodi- Navalgaon, Khamarpani Gadhewani,
Bamla-Chhabdi-Nishan, Panathawadi, Samarboh, Surangi-Puntra-Antra-Kurai,
Gadhiya-Tumdagadhi, Amakuhi, Kundai Bisanpur, Palachaurai, Umaria Fadali,
Latkheda, Pipraj, Nazarpur, Khari, Junnardeo Vishala, Ikalhara, Maurtalai,
Palakhed, Rajada, Junapani, Batkajhiri, Chargaon, Kamthi, Bhagatkhapa,
Bhajipani, Chhabdi, Rajegaon, Pathra, Buchanai, Kodamau, Gorakhpur, Turkikhapa,
Sarangbihari, Gohjar, Jhiriya, Hiwara, Adwar, Khajuriya, Karer, Bhandarkund,
Umranala, Ikalvihari, Ajni, Tasra, Mau, Gadhmau, Tinkui, Tara, Khedi, Chikhli,
Lahgadua, Bothiyi, Futera, Jam, Visapur Chhota, Las, Ghoghri, Mohkhed,
Saroth,Mahalpur, Lohangi, Deogarh, Shakkarjhiri, Bhutai, Satoti, Sawari,
Paunar, Govindwadi, Karaghat Kamthi, Jhirpani, Lilahi, Lavaghoghri, Parasia
Betul, Maini Khapa, Hirawadi, Chandameta, Bhandariya, Heti Barkuhi, Badnur.
