A Grammar of Pattegar

Foreword The Central University of Karnataka established in 2009 by an Act of Parliament aims at addressing the concerns of equity and access. The prime objectives of the University are to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities to the students and to pay special attention to the betterment of the social and economic conditions besides affecting the welfare of the people by making contributions towards the intellectual and academic growth.

In view of the aims and in pursuance of the direction by the Government of India the University started a Centre for Endangered Languages in November 2015. The Centres main aim is the preservation and promotion of endangered languages through documentation and revitalisation for restoring the status of these languages used to enjoy in the past. The Centre also works to empower the Endangered Language communities too in possible ways by training the persons from among them for sustainable development.

Preface This book is an outcome of part of the study of Endangered Languages of Karnataka under taken by the Centre for Endangered Languages, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi. Prof. H.M. Maheshwaraiah The Vice-Chancellor of Central University and Prof. C. Ramaswamy, the Coordinator CFEL, initiated the study of Endangered Languages of Karnataka, as a result a dozen such languages are studied with documentation, Analysis and compilation of dictionary.

Pattegar is one among those languages studied. I being in touch with the speakers of this language for a long time had immense interest about it. When Centre requested me to undertake the study of Pattegar language I readily accepted the offer and did documentation work from speakers in and around Hubli Dharwad city.

Pattegar, this Indo Aryan speech variety is spoken by Pattegar people who are also called by many names like Somavamsa Sahasrarjuna Kshatriya, Savaji, Patavegar and Pattegar. Pattegars are found all over India. They are mainly found in Hubli, Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Devnagere, Ilkal, Gajendragad, Shahapur, Mysore, and Bangalore of Karnataka state.

Introduction Pattegar is one of the Kshatriyas communities. The people who belong to Somavamsa Sahasrarjuna Kshatriya, also called as SSK, Pattegar, Patvegar, and Sawaji. They are popularly known as 'Pattegar' in northern parts of Karnataka. Their main profession is weaving. These people are scattered throughout India right from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Jharkhand but majority of them live in Karnataka and Maharashtra. People of this community have taken business and trade as their main occupation and are soft spoken and noble-hearted. These people, who settled in Hubli-Dharwad and other places of North Karnataka speak a distinct language. They have developed their own Hindu culture. They follow the Hindu traditions. There are more than 1.2 lakh people in Karnataka.

This community considers 'Kartaveeryarjuna' as its Guru. It has its origins in Madhya Pradesh, from where it spread across the country. They belong to the lunar dynasty (Chandra Varsa).

Pattegar people claim their lineage to legendary king 'Kartaveerya Arjuna' of Haihayavamsha. There is a temple for 'Shri Shasrarjuna' in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. It is believed that a son named 'Arjuna' was born to 'Krutaveerya'. He had thousand shoulders and was the king of the seven continents. He won over the world, riding in a chariot which had radiance of the Sun.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages