Kurmi

The Kurmi () are a Hindu agricutural Jāti (community) in India.

The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra. They are regarded as being historically a Shudra (agricultural) class by academics, and as an Other Backward Class by the Indian central government, which deprecates use of the Hindu varna ritual ranks, though the community itself claims membership in the Kshatriya (warrior) class.

Etymology

There are several theories regarding the etymology of the term Kurmi. It may be derived from an Indian tribal language, or may be a Sanskrit compound term krishi karmi, "agriculturalist." Other theories include its being a derivative of kṛṣmi, "ploughman", or Kurma a tortise avatar of the god Vishnu.<ref...
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