Bhoyari Pawari (Satpuda Zone)

 

 

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,

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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.