Kunbis

Kunbis are a rural agrarian community in western India, primarily in the state of Maharashtra. Traditionally, they were peasant farmers, and the term Kunbi is used to designate several related farming groups across the region. In Maharashtra, Kunbi communities have formed an important element of the state's rural population. The relationship between Kunbis and the broader Maratha identity is historical and complex; some Kunbi groups identify as Maratha or as part of a broader Maratha-Kunbi continuum, while others maintain a distinct Kunbi identity. Scholars describe Kunbi as a socio-cultural category that has evolved over centuries through processes of social mobility, landholding, and political change.

Geographically, Kunbis are concentrated in rural and peri-urban areas of Maharashtra and are Marathi-speaking. Smaller populations are found in neighboring states, where migration and regional histories have spread the name. In contemporary India, Kunbi status is not uniform across regions; sub-groups may be classified differently by official lists, and identity may be linked to landholding, clan lineage, or temple associations.

Economically, Kunbis have historically depended on agriculture and related activities. With modernization, many Kunbi families have diversified into other occupations, education, and public service, while others remain primarily engaged in farming. Culturally, Kunbis share traditions with Marathi rural communities, including Hindu religious practices, village rituals, and annual festivals, and many maintain clan-based kinship networks.

Overall, Kunbis represent a longstanding agrarian community whose identity intersects with regional history, social change, and evolving caste dynamics in Maharashtra.