Maldhari

{{Short description|Gujarati term used for herdsmen}}

{{Infobox tribe|name=Maldhari|local name=માલધારી|type=Term, or title of Pastoralist and animal husbandry castes in Gujarat|

language=*Koli

• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Sindhi
• English|religion=*Hindu
• Islam|image=File:Maldhari grazing buffaloes AJTJ.jpg|caption=Maldhari grazing buffaloes}}

The Maldhari is a occupational term or title used by several herdsmen or animal husbandry castes.{{Cite journal |last=Ganguly |first=Varsha |date=2005 |title=Displacement, Rehabilitation and Resettlement: The Case of Maldhari Families of Gir Forest |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23620582 |journal=Sociological Bulletin |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=3–17: The Maldhari in Gir are Kolis who are dependent on animal husbandry and farming for |doi=10.1177/0038022920050101 |jstor=23620582 |issn=0038-0229|url-access=subscription }}

Most Maldhari live in Kutch district in Gujarat and the Maldharis are spread over 48 hamlets that are organized into 19 Panchayats. Their populations have increased to around 25,000 with 90 per cent belonging to the Muslim community and 10 per cent to the Hindu community.{{Cite web| title=The Maldhari Touch to Kutchi Performing Arts | url=https://www.sahapedia.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/The%20Maldhari%20Touch%20to%20Kutchi%20Performing%20Arts.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231929/https://www.sahapedia.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/The%20Maldhari%20Touch%20to%20Kutchi%20Performing%20Arts.pdf | archive-date=2023-08-10}}{{cite web | url=https://www.sahapedia.org/maldharis-the-silvipastoralists-of-the-banni-grasslands | title=Maldharis, the Silvipastoralists of the Banni Grasslands }}{{cite web | url=https://www.gaonconnection.com/lead-stories/international-womens-day-8march-maldhari-rural-community-changemakers-banni-grassland-patrolists-grassland-kachchh-gujarat-gender-empowerment-51778 | title=Maldhari Women Changemakers of Banni Grasslands in Kachchh | date=7 March 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://m.thewire.in/article/environment/maldharis-gujarat-land-right | title=How Gujarat's Maldharis Are Asserting Their Rights over the Banni Grasslands }} Other caste such as the Koli, Kathi, Charan, Rabari and Bharwad reside in Kutch district of Gujarat, India.{{Cite book |last=Chaudhury |first=Sukant K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i1YlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT155 |title=Readings in Indian Sociology: Volume VII: Sociology of Environment |date=2013-12-31 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-81-321-1841-1 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=Maldhari is occupational term used for pastoralist and animal husbender castes such as Koli, Kathi, Charan, Rabari and Bharwad in Kutch of the state |language=en}} The Gir Forest National Park is home to around 8,400 Maldharis as of 2007.{{citation |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/01/02/us-india-forests-idUSDEL25463820070102 |title= Rights gained by the Maldhari tribe over the Gir forest |author=Rupam Jain Nair |publisher=Reuters |date=2007-01-21 |accessdate=2012-02-23 }}

The Maldhari Muslim tribes in Kutch include Halepotra, Raysipotra, Mutva, Jat, Hingorja, Node, Sumra, Juneja, Jiyenja, Theba, Saiyyad, Korad, Khaskeli, Bambha, Pathan, Sameja, Bafan, Bayad, Ker, Meta Qureshi, Mutwa, Node, Raysipotra, Royma, Hingora, Chakee, Samma, Sanghar, Soomra, Baloch and Munjavar. While the Hindu Maldhari are from the Meghwal and Vadha Koli communities.{{cite web | url=https://www.sahapedia.org/maldharis-the-silvipastoralists-of-the-banni-grasslands | title=Maldharis, the Silvipastoralists of the Banni Grasslands }}{{cite web | url=https://banni.in/people-of-banni/pastoralist-communities/ | title=Pastoralist Communities | Banni Breeders' Association }}