Khandeshi Language Services

Khandeshi is a language spoken in the Maharashtra state of India. It is spoken in the Khandesh region (Districts Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbar [धुळे, जळगाव आणि नंदुरबार]) wedged between the territory of Bhili and that of Marathi. It consists of Khandeshi proper, and the Dangri and Ahirani dialects. The words “Ahirani” and “Khandeshi” are sometimes used interchangeably: Ahirani as the caste-based name (after Ahirs), and Khandesh as the region-based name.

Khandeshi is named after the Khandesh region. There are various theories about the origin of the word Khandesh. One theory states that the name derives from the words “Khan” (a title used by the Mughal deputies in the region) and “desh” (country). Another theory suggests the name derives from the words “Kanha” and “desh”; “Kanha” is a name for Krishna, the primary deity worshipped by the Ahir people of the region. Other theories suggests the varying origins of the word “Khan”, including “Kanbai” (a regional female deity), “Kahan” (hay or grass) and “Khaan” (“basin”, as in basin of the Waghur river). A detailed study of the various etymologies of the word Khandesh appears in the book Ahirani Boli by Dr. Ramesh Suryawanshi.

Ahirani is a major dialect of Khandeshi. It was originally spoken by the Ahirs living in the Khandesh region. It is further divided into region-based sub-dialects such as Chalisgaon, Dhule, Malegaon and Dhule group. Ahirani is spoken in the Jalgaon (except Bhusaval, Jamner, Bodwad and Muktainagar) and Nandurbar, Dhule. Outside Khandesh, it is spoken in some parts of Nashik (Baglan, Malegaon,Deola and Kalwan tehsils) and Aurangabad. People in the tehsils of Dharangaon, Chopda, Amalner, Sakri, Sindkheda, Dondaicha-Warwade, Shirpur, Taloda, Shahada, Dhadgaon, Akkalkuwa, Navapur, Raver, Parola, Erandol, In Nashik District ‘KASMADE patta’ is known as Ahirani speaking belt, region. The word ‘KASMADE patta’ patta means region of tehsils of Kalwan, Baglan, Malegaon, Deola, also speak slightly different dialect of Ahirani. In the neighbouring state of Gujarat, it is spoken in Surat and Vyara, and in Burhanpur, Ahirani is spoken in and around Amba-Varla. Research by Dr. Ramesh Suryawashi suggests that the Ahirani dialect is also spoken in Dharni tehsil of Amravati district, around the Melghat Tiger Reserve forest area. But it is known as Gavali Boli there. Around 30-35 thousand people speak Gavai boli in 40 villages.

According to the 1971 census of India, the number of people who declared Ahirani as their mother tongue was 363,780. A 2011 estimate of the population of the Dhulia, Jalgaon and Nandurbar districts, and the Ahirani speaker tehsils of Aurangabad and Nasik district was 10 million.

The non-Ahirs in the region (such as Maratha, Lewa, Wani, Bhill and Kunbi castes) started speaking variants of Ahirani mixed with their dialects while interacting with the Ahirs, which led to the birth of other dialects of the language. Chandwadi is spoken around Chandwad hills, Nandubari is spoken around Nandurbar, Jamneri is spoken around Jamner tehsil, Taptangi is spoken by the side of Tapi, Tapti river. Dongarangi is spoken by the side of forest Ajanta hills. All these are region-based names for Khandeshi sub-dialects. Ahirani, Gujar, Bhilau, Maharau, Lewa and Purbhi all are social (caste-based) categories of Khandeshi. Several castes speak their own dialect at home but use Khandeshi for their daily communication outside their communities.

The people residing in Nandurbar region of Maha-Gujrat border speak a dialect named as Gujar which is very different from ahirani and close to Gujrathi. These language also used in community and at market places at many towns such as Shahada, Taloda, Mhasawad etc.