Traditional Indian
society was made up of jatis ("births"), which were endogamous
subgroups (i.e., marriages were only permitted between members of the same
group by law).
The group's hereditary occupation, over which each group had
a monopoly, was how these jatis were structured (and how their social rank was
decided).
In Maharashtrian civilization, the Mahars were an
untouchable jati, providing various tasks and labor for the landlord
communities.
Chokamela, a medieval bhakti poet, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a
contemporary lawyer and social reformer, are two Mahars who are well-known.
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