Aristocratic Marathi: History of the Ahirani Dialect (Part 2)

Literary enthusiasts from around the world will witness this grand event in the nation’s capital. On this occasion, the works of many talented literary figures from our state will be highlighted. As part of this, renowned Khandeshi writer Dr. Ramesh Suryavanshi has conducted in-depth research on the Ahirani dialect and has written extensively on Ahirani, Khandesh’s history, and the Ahirani dictionary. His work is presented here in two parts.

Khandeshi Dialects

1. Regional Variants – Baglani, Taptangi, Dogarangi, Varhlyangi, Khallyangi, Nandurbari, Jamneri/Tavdi, Dakhni, Ghatoyi
2. Social Variants – Ahirani/Khandeshi, Leva Patidar, Gujar, Lodsikki, Katoni, Tadvi, Pardeshi, Pawri, Maharau

The distinction between Khandeshi and Ahirani has never existed among the people of Khandesh. The terms have never been semantically different, and Ahirani is considered the central dialect of Khandesh. Due to its influence, dialects in neighboring regions have been named after their respective areas (e.g., Baglani, Ghatoyi, Taptangi) and caste-based dialects have been named after their communities (e.g., Maharau, Gujar, Pardeshi, Bhilau, Leva Patidar, Tadvi). However, even today, despite people widely speaking Ahirani (Khandeshi) in daily communication, they officially register “Marathi” as their mother tongue in documents, school records, and census forms. The government has not officially recognized many dialects in its language classification, leading to an underrepresentation of Ahirani speakers in records.

Researchers have identified the linguistic geography of Ahirani in the former Khandesh district, parts of Nashik (Kalwan, Satana, Malegaon), and areas near Aurangabad (Soygaon and Kannad). However, recent field studies show that this dialect is also spoken in certain areas of Amravati district (Dharni, Chikhaldara, Achalpur, and Chandur Bazar) in Vidarbha. Here, around 60–70 villages of the Gawli (cowherd) community speak the dialect, but they refer to it as “Gawli Boli” instead of Ahirani or Khandeshi. This has necessitated an expansion of the linguistic geography of the Khandeshi dialect, incorporating “Gawli Boli” under social variants and “Varhadi Ahirani” under regional variants.

Interestingly, the migration history of temple priests from Somnath to Devagiri, later to Tamil Nadu, has resulted in linguistic similarities between Ahirani and the Sourashtri language spoken in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, Ahirani shares similarities with the Nepali dialect, warranting further linguistic research.

In the Melghat region of Amravati district, Gawli Boli is spoken by over 50,000 people. Many villages, such as Devgaon, Kukru, and Khamgaon, have a predominant Gawli population. Their dialect is identical to Ahirani in phonetics, syntax, and vocabulary. However, while people in Khandesh recognize it as Ahirani, those in Vidarbha consider it “Gawli Boli.” Linguists have not yet documented this dialect in language surveys, and its presence has been overlooked from Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India to recent Indian language surveys.

According to oral traditions, the Gawli community is believed to have migrated to Vidarbha when Lord Krishna traveled there to bring Rukmini. While Krishna returned, some Gawlis remained in the region, constructing the Gawilgad fort for protection. Even today, the Gawlis in Melghat claim descent from Krishna and consider Ashirgad’s Asha Devi their deity. They maintain unique traditions related to dairy farming, marriage customs, and festivals, similar to Khandeshi Ahirani speakers. However, unlike Khandesh, the Gawlis in Vidarbha do not celebrate the Kanbai festival.

Ahirani – Past, Present, and Future

Ahirani was once the predominant dialect of the Khandesh region, spoken in daily life and by the Ahir rulers. Even today, it is spoken in Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nashik (Kalwan, Satana, Malegaon), and parts of Aurangabad (Kannad and Soygaon), covering a population of nearly 15 million. Additionally, many Khandeshi migrants in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and other countries continue to speak Ahirani at home.

Historically, Ahirani was considered a rural language, but in recent years, there has been a resurgence of regional linguistic identity. With global academic interest in dialect studies increasing, there is now a growing movement to preserve and promote Ahirani, highlighting its role in shaping standard Marathi.

Dr. Ramesh Suryawanshi
‘Abhyasika’, In front of Vani Mangal Karyalaya, Kannad
Taluka: Kannad, District: Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
PIN: 431103
Mobile: 09421432218 / 8446432218