Kewat

The Kewat, also spelled Kevat, is a Hindu caste, found in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are the traditional boatmen of northern India, and also in neighbouring country Nepal. Kewat are recognised as Other backward class in central list but were promised Scheduled Caste status by Samajwadi party. Kewats are recognised as Scheduled Caste in the states of Assam, West Bengal and Tripura as Keot, Keyot or Jalkeot. The name "Kevata" was first appeared in the Pillar Edict V of Emperor Ashoka. "Kevata-bhoga" referred to places or bhuktis where this community resided. The people whose livelihoods centred around water or aquatic bodies used to be called Kevat. Their main sub-groups are the Banaphar, Dhivar, Balavarna, Chay, Sorahiya, Kairata, and Tiar. The Banaphar consider themselves to be superior to the other groups. The Kewat of Uttar Pradesh mostly live near the river Ganges. They are the traditional businessman. They are among 17 OBC communities that have been proposed for Scheduled Caste status by the Samajwadi Party-controlled Government of Uttar Pradesh. However, this proposal, which relates to votebank politics and has been made in the past, has been stayed by the courts; a prior attempt was also rejected by the Government of India. The Kewat in Rajasthan are found in along the banks of the rivers Chambal, Benas and Kalinath rivers, in the districts of Kota and Sawai Madhopur. They are divided into eighty four clans, and their origin myth refers to them being created by god Vishnu. The community speak the Hadoti dialect of Rajasthani. There traditional occupation of being boatmen has declined. In Bihar, they are both cultivators and businessman. The community are also known as Kewat Kaut. There is considerable difference of opinion as to the origin of the word Kewat. They are found in almost all the districts of Bihar but mostly in Madhubani , Jhanjharpur, Nirmalli, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Katihar, Darbhanga, Munger, Muzaffarpur and Khagaria, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura .