Bunt (community)

Bunt (   previously spelled Bant) are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala. The Bunts claim Kshatriya descent from the Nagavanshi lineage  and are classified as Forward caste  by both the national andstate governments of India. They traditionally follow a matrilineal system of descent and kinship and were endogamous
Etymology

The word Bunt means powerful man or warrior in the Tulu language. 

History

According to S. D. L. Alagodi, the Bunts "... originally belonged to the warrior class. Being the martial race of Tulu Nadu, they served the ruling chiefs which brought them considerable benefits and allowed them to become the landed gentry of the region," 

Some notable Bunt clans who were sovereign of these states are the Honneyakambalis of Hosangadi, Samantha Rajas of Mulki,  Bhair Arasas of Karkala,  Arasas of Kumbla,  Ajilas ofVenur,  Tolaharas of Suralu near Udupi, Heggades of Vitla,  Chowtas of Ullal/Moodabidri,  and the Bangas of Bangadi.  The feudal life and society of Bunts began to disintegrate in the succeeding colonial British Raj period and the Bunts today are a largely urbanized community. 
Subdivision

Traditionally the Bunt community was divided into various sub divisions. The principal among these are: 

• Masadika Bunt:The single largest subdivision of the community.an overwhelming majority of Bunts belong to this subdivision.the Masadika Bunts natively speak the Tulu language and follow the aliya santana system of matrilineal inheritance. They inhabit or originally hail from the region between Kasaragod town in Kerala and Brahmavar in Udupi district, Karnataka
• Nad Bunt : The Nad Bunt also known as the Nādava are the second largest subdivision among the Bunts and form a sizeable minority within the Bunt community.The Nad Bunt natively speak Kundagannada, a dialect of the Kannada language, and follow the aliya santana system of matrilineal inheritance. They inhabit or originally hail from Kundapura taluka in Udupi district, Karnataka (north of Brahmavar)
• Parivara Bunt : The Parivara Bunt are a minuscule minority within the Bunt community and number around few thousands.The Parivara Bunt natively speak the Tulu language but unlike other subdivisions they follow the makkala santana system of patrilineal inheritance. Scattered populations of the Parivara Bunt are mostly found in the taluka of Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, and also adjoining parts of Kodagu district, Karnataka and Kasaragod taluka of Kerala. Their customs and traditions are a mixture of Bunt customs and those of the shivalli brahmins.
• Jain Bunt: the Jain Bunts are traditionally defined as a distinctive subdivision of the Bunt community and sometimes classified as a separate community in itself because they are Jains by faith while the other subdivisions are Hindu. The subdivision arose when some Bunt feudals embraced Jain traditions during the rule of the Hoysala Empire who propagated Jainism. They number around few thousands and speak either the Tulu language or Kannada language. They follow the aliya santana system of matrilineal inheritance, except for a few families who have taken to priestly duties. Their customs are a blend of the Jain customs and those of the Hindu Bunts.

Until the 20th century the rules of intermarriage and interdining were in existence and strictly followed. The community as a whole practised endogamy but subdivisional exogamy was practised only by the Masadika and the Nad who freely intermarried with each other. The Parivara and Jains favoured endogamy and though interdined with other subdivisions but did not intermarry except for rare instances where a woman from the Parivara subdivision could enter into marriage with a man from other subdivisions and a man from the Jain subdivison could enter into matrimonial alliance with a woman from other subdivisions. Apart from the above mentioned principal subdivisions there are about 90 clans found among the Bunts 

These clans claim descent either from the Alupas or Perumal kings  and were feudatories or rulers of small principalities that existed in Tulu Nadu until the period of British Raj.The Ballal Bunts until the 20th century as a rule neither interdined with other Bunts since they are strictly vegetarian and preferred endogamy.  The heads of ballal families mandatorily undergo theUpanayanam ceremony and wear the sacred thread called Janivara or Janeyu. Wearing of the sacred thread and practising vegetarianism is not a compulsion for other Bunts,but apart from the Ballals. Heads of other Bunt families who were erstwhile royalty or have the privileges of “Pattam” (the highest Hereditary title of nobility in Tulu Nadu region)  as also certain families called “Shetty Vala’’ and “Hegde’’ who are “Mukteshwar’’ or Muktesar (Administrative Trustees) of temples and solved civil or criminal disputes of areas they had jurisdiction in former times also wear the sacred thread.

Cuisine

Bunts form one of the major communities of Coastal Karnataka. Their cuisine draws inspiration from the local produce and fruits found in this region. Rice is used imaginatively to create a vast range of delicacies.Apart from certain clans among Bunts who strictly follow a vegetarian diet most Bunts aren't strictly vegetarian and eating of meat mainly of Fish and Fowl is permitted,But as caste Hindus consumption of Beef and meat from certain animals such as Pork is strictly prohibited  and doing so often resulted in excommunication or undertaking purificatory rituals during the pre-independence era.The most favoured meat preparaton of the Bunts is the chicken curry called kori gasee. Jackfruit, Banana, Mango etc., are used in various forms to prepare a wide variety of detectable dishes ranging from Kundapur to Kasargod, the Bunt cuisine contains many variations in use of ingredients and methods of preparation. This has only enhanced the distinctive flavors of each region and lent freshness to the culinary marvels of the community

The cuisine of Bunts is popular all over India especially in and around Mumbai where many Bunts own a number of hotels and restaurants . Bunts specialise both in vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.Among non-vegetarian dishes, Kori Rotti,Kane Gasee,Neer Dosa and kori gasee are well known. Vegetarian dishes include Gullāa Chutney,Pāthrode and Neer dosa Chutney

Traditional houses

Such traditional Bunt houses can still be seen across the Tulu Nadu region. One of the well preserved houses, Kodial Guthu, stands at the centre ofMangalore city. Other examples can be seen at Badila Guthu  in Kannur, Dakshina Kannada "Ullipady Guthu" near Bantwal, Kolnadguthu nearMulki, Bettampady Guthu, Thokur Guthu, Paddana Guthu, BavaGuthu, Bellakonja Guthu, on the outskirts of Mangalore city, Balladi Guthu and ShirvaNadibettu  near Udupi,Kodethuru Guthu near Kinnigoli as well as "Yedthre", "Kandavara" ,"Kolkebail" houses in Kundapura and "Santhya guthu" nearMangalore. Yelluruguthu is notably the largest house,representing six adjoining villages (Maganes) namely Kunjuru,Yelluru, Kolachuru, Ulluru, Majuru, Maniyuru etc. in the second largest village of Udupi Taluka, Yellur with the hereditary Mukteshwara of Yellur Vishweshwara temple.Prominent royal houses of the Bunts called Aramane are the Mulki Aramane, Kuthyar Aramane, Vitla Aramane, Kannajar Doddamane and the Maipady palace near Kasaragod,  among others.
Organisation

There are many organisations that cater to the needs of the community. The oldest among them is the Bunts Mathr Sangha based inMangalore. Since the 20th century when Bunts began to emigrate out of their native Tulu Nadu region various organisations were formed outside Tulu Nadu, such as the Bunts Sangha Mumbai established in 1927 in what was then known as Bombay. There are also organisations abroad, such as the Bunts Sangha of Kuwait and Bunts Sangha of the United Kingdom