Mahar
"A Mahar woman",
a watercolour by M. V. Dhurandhar, 1928 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 10 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Maharashtra | 8,006,060 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 819,416 |
| Chhattisgarh | 245,220 |
| Karnataka | 66,068 |
| West Bengal | 34,793 |
| Gujarat | 28,417 |
| Odisha | 21,304 |
| Andhrapradesh (including Telangana) | 12,872 |
| Goa | 8,536 |
| Rajasthan | 1,980 |
| Assam | 1,822 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 224 |
| Daman and Diu | 110 |
| Languages | |
| Marathi, Konkani, Varhadi dialect, Ahirani, Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, English | |
| Religion | |
| Majority: Buddhist Minority: Hinduism • Sikhism • Christianity | |
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Mahar is one of the Indian caste found largely in the state of Maharashtra and neighbouring areas. Most of the Mahar community followed B. R. Ambedkar in converting to Buddhism in the middle of the 20th century. As of 2017 the Mahar caste was designated as a Scheduled Caste in 16 Indian states.
Most Mahars converted to Buddhism in response to the injustices of the caste system practiced within Brahmanism. Thus, the practice of untouchability began and continued for generations. It was the primary reason for most of the Mahar community to follow Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in embracing Buddhism and re-establishing it in the middle of the 20th century.