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A century-old document, the Hyderabad Gazette of 1918 classified several agrarian communities in Marathwada as Kunbis while identifying them as cultivators
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil breaks his hunger strike by sipping fruit juice offered by Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil after the state government accepted most of his demands, including giving out Kunbi caste certificates for reservation under OBC category, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on September 2. (Image: PTI)
The Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra has taken a decisive turn with the state government agreeing to enforce provisions from the Hyderabad Gazette of 1918. A century-old document issued during the Nizam’s rule, it classified several agrarian communities in Marathwada as Kunbis while identifying them as cultivators.
For thousands of Marathas seeking entry into the reserved category of other backward classes (OBC), this gazette has become the cornerstone of their legal and political claim. By promising to issue a government resolution (GR) for its implementation, the Maharashtra government has opened what many see as a practical and historically grounded route to securing quota benefits.
The impact of this announcement was immediately visible at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, where thousands of protesters led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, celebrated with gulal hailing it as a victory for the community. Jarange, who had placed five demands before the government, asked his supporters to return home and ended his five-day hunger strike.
The Maratha quota cabinet sub-committee has promised to study and clear the Satara Gazette within a month, withdraw all cases registered against protesters by the end of September, and extend financial aid to families who lost members during the agitation. These gestures, coupled with the government’s acceptance of the Hyderabad Gazette, have been described as the most significant since the protests began.
WHAT IS THE GOVT’S PROMISE?
The road ahead, however, is fraught with challenges. The biggest hurdle lies in the verification process.
The state government has promised that village committees – headed by local revenue officers – will examine family records, kinship ties, and land documents to determine Kunbi status.
While this localised process ensures transparency, it is slow and prone to disputes. Many families lack old records, some documents are damaged or missing, and errors in caste notations are widespread.
During the Population Census under the Nizam’s rule in 1881, people recorded their names and not surnames that were then documented in the Hyderabad Gazette. Since surnames started getting registered in revenue records from 1970, obtaining Kunbi certificates based on old records will be a difficult task for the Marathas.
HOW WILL A MARATHA GET KUNBI STATUS?
To obtain a Kunbi caste certificate, the state government has decided that applications should be submitted to the local committee for verification through a home inquiry.
This will reduce processing time, but it will still be mandatory for applicants to provide family and kinship records. Often, official records do not contain details of such relations and, if there is no mention of Kunbi lineage in a person’s family records, a caste certificate cannot be issued.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
The Hyderabad Gazette of 1918, which recognises Kunbis as a cultivating caste, has already been upheld by the courts but it cannot be directly applied without supporting records. Jarange has demanded that Marathas should be recognised as Kunbis and included in the OBC category based on this gazette.
The government has said because the issue is complex, a conclusive decision will take at least one to two more months. Further, OBC groups have raised concerns that large-scale inclusion of Marathas will eat into their existing quota share, diluting opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.
This means that every caste certificate issued under the gazette will be closely watched and could face legal challenges. The Supreme Court’s 2021 decision striking down the Maratha quota still looms large, reminding all that the final word rests not with politicians but with the judiciary.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLONIAL-ERA DOCUMENT?
For the Marathas, the Hyderabad Gazette is more than a colonial-era document that represents official recognition of their agrarian roots and offers a legitimate pathway into the OBC fold.
For the state, the gazette provides a defensible framework to manage a politically sensitive issue without breaching constitutional limits.
Whether the Hyderabad Gazette can withstand legal challenges and administrative hurdles will decide if it truly brings closure to one of Maharashtra’s longest-running agitations. For now, it has given protesters hope and forced the government to anchor its next steps in a century-old record that may hold the key to ending a decades-long struggle.
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More
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