Prelude

One cannot say that a community which does not have its exclusive written history from the inception did not exist from the beginning of civilization. In other words, the existence of the community is certain but for lack of recorded facts; it is difficult to trace its roots. In such a case, the only way to bridge the gap between known and unknown periods is to fall on reasonable hypothesis and draw reasonable conclusions. Under these circumstances, a Mogaveera due to proximity to the community is better placed to write a comprehensive Mogaveera history. Taking all these factors into account and likely pitfalls clearly in mind, I am making a beginning.

Lack of Education

Mogaveeras do not have written history documented by their own people. This is because of the fact that the Mogaveera community was exposed to modern education much later as compared with neibourhood communities. In fact, in the beginning, the school education did not attract the community because the occupation of fishing fetched food and cash for their survival. As compared to fishing, other opportunities for the educated were limited and the effort needed to get educated, it appears, did not commensurate with the time and cost involved.  A little education in the beginning only fetched them the job of Senava (accountant of Grama Sabhas and later Rampani) and then of the primary teachers etc. But these people either could not feel or never felt the need to record the details of the history of their community.

Analysis of Available Records

Before touching upon the subject, enlisting of the available information is necessary. These can be categorized as writings of foreign travelers, eminent indigenous scholars, research scholars and Mogaveera writers who have written about Mogaveera community. Without going into details of their writings, these sources are referred hereafter.

Foreign Travelers’ Writings

During the course of understanding the above subject, I had gone through several books written by other than Mogaveeras. Important ones which refer to the origin of Mogaveeras are that of foreign travelers, such as, Francis Buchanan (A Journey Through the Provinces of Mysore, Malabar and Coimbatore – 1807), J. Sturssock (Madras District Manuals – South Kanara -1894), E. Thurston (Castes and Tribes of South India – 1909) etc. Many authors have also quoted Madras Province Gazette notification of the state and district of undivided South Kanara. It is important to note that these were extensively quoted by all the later authors.

Eminent Local scholars’ writings

Two eminent researchers of coastal Karnataka, Rasthra Kavi Shri Govinda Pai (Tuluva) and Prof. Gururaj Bhatt (Studies in Tuluva History and Culture – 1975) have also made reference to Mogaveera community but it may be taken as a passing reference.

Research Scholars’ writings

There are a few recent research works of Venkatraj Punichattaya (Mogaveera Samskrithi – Karnataka Sahitya Academy - 1993 ), School of Social Works (A study of Ullal Village, Mangalore – 1976), M. Verite (A research Dissertation on the Fishing Community at Bengre, Mangalore – 1968) and Dr. G.R. Krishna (Castes and Tribes of Fishermen – 1993) have given first hand information about Mogaveera community. One good thing about all these books is that the authors travelled and lived among Mogaveeras in their villages. One significant fact emerges is that all have referred to the same sources mentioned in the penultimate paragraph.

Mogaveera writers’ contribution

Our own Mogaveera writers have also given account of the Mogaveera History. S. B. Kundar (ex-editor of Mogaveera) who is the first person to study the subject thoroughly and written extensively on the origin of Mogaveeras, their customs etc. Shankar Hosbettu (ex-editor of Mogaveera ) has practically documented the entire Mogaveera organization, such as, Shreemadhbharath Mandali , Mumbai, Shree Kulamahastri Ammanavara Temple, Bennekuduru, Kulaguru Parampara, Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali, Mumbai and Mogaveera Yuvaka Sangha, Mumbai etc. T. C. Shriyan, Thonse (Surtkal),  Narayana Bangera, Mithrapatna, Ramachandra Baikampadi, Upendra Hosabettu (Suratkal), Bhaskara Bangera, Ullal, Ashok Suvarna, S K Uchila (Author) etc. have also shed considerable of light on the subject of Mogaveera history. This list is not exhaustive but given only to indicate that our own people too have also started contributing on the subject.

Written History refers to Parashurama Shristi only

Written material on Mogaveera community covers mainly their existence at so called Parashurama Shristi i.e. in undivided South Kanara district. It also suggests that history of Mogaveera community during this period is invariably inter-mingled with the history of Tuluva communities. In other words, the Mogaveera history during their stay at the seashore and interiors of Parashurama Shristi was recorded and beyond their existence at Parashurama Shristi remained unrecorded.

Tracing the Origin

Careful analysis of the available records and writings on mythological, historical, cultural and sociological factors in respect of the fishermen community to which Mogaveera community belong provide enough information to trace the origin of Mogaveeras. All the information points out that the fishermen community was part of Sindhu River basin (Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro) civilization. Then the fishermen moved to Gangatic basin and later towards the Deccan Plateau. There is also ample evidence that later fishermen lived in the Deccan Plateau before migrating into the land of Parashurama Shristi . In this exercise, two basic facts we should remember. The first aspect to be noted isthat the fishermen community has always been connected to fishing and navigation from inception as they lived either in river basins or near other water resources. The second aspect is that Mogaveeras are part of the broad category of fishermen community and they have no separate identity till they settled down in the interiors of Tuluva Nadu and coastal Karnataka. With these remarks, the forward journey from Sindhu River basin to seashore of coastal Karnataka is dealt with.

Origin in the Sindh River Basin

It is a fact that two third of the world is covered by water. This is also true that India is also covered from three sides by sea and several major and minor rivers flow into seas. There are umpteen numbers of other water resources, such as, swamps, lakes, tanks and artificial water resources, such as, reservoirs, water transport canals etc. All these are potential sources of fish and opportunities for navigation. These basic sources of water are the places where fishermen always lived by fishing and navigation. After 1920, when series of excavations took place and first discovery of Sindu Valley or Harappan civilization was made, the assumption that origin of civilization started around the river Sindhu consisting of a portion of Afghanistan from west, whole of present Pakistan and North India up to the Gangetic basin was established. The old sites unearthed namely Mohenjo-Daro on the river Sindhu basin and Harappan on the Ravi river basin were considered to have been well advanced cities of that period. The beginning of this civilization is around 5000 B.C. (some scholars say 7000 B.C. to 3000 B.C). Without going into how many years the above civilization was in existence, it is sufficient to take note of the fact that Sindhu Valley civilization was the cradle of civilization from where civilization spread virtually into whole Indian continent. Another important fact to note here is that this civilization flourished around water resources of river Sindhu and its tributaries. Many artifacts found include the ‘fish’ and hunting tools which shows that fishing was one of the occupations in that civilization. The vast net works of rivers substantiate this fact. Therefore, the fisherman community was part of this civilization is to be accepted. One of the Mogaveera writers, S.B. Kundar, Ex-Editor of Mogaveera , is of the opinion that ancestors of Mogaveeras may have originally came from Sindh Valley. The presumption appears to be correct.

At Sindhu River Basin

According to some historians, the spread of Harappan civilization was from Afghanistan from southwards to the beginning of Gangetic belt. Some scholars believe that after its peak period or a little earlier, this civilization spread to Gujarat (east) and Gangetic belt (north). This civilization started declining around 3000/2000 BC and the settlers in this region spread to other parts of India. Eventually, a section of the fishing communities like Mogaveeras were likely to seek re-location at Gangatic belt where ample opportunity for fishing and navigation existed. This period of stay of fishermen (including Mogaveeras) at the Sindhu river basin may be placed from 5000 BC to 3000/2000 BC.

Journey towards Gangetic Basin

The Harappan civilization started declining from this region in its original form around 3000 BC due to various reasons which are not necessary for this discussion here. When the civilization was fading away, the people from this region started migrating to the Gangetic basin. Some scholars are of the opinion that mighty river Saraswathi, which is often referred to in Vedic literature, particularly in Rig-Veda, flowed from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan into Gujarat (length was around 700 miles 420 kilo meters approximately) to join Arabian Sea near Somnath (Prabhas Pathan). This mighty river had vanished around b 1900 BC but is now established to exist 18 meters below the surface by satellite photography. Therefore, migrating towards Gujarat for fishermen may not have been beneficial as river basin was not available. The fishermen among these migrating people may have chosen to migrate into Gangetic basin as there existed ample opportunity to carry on their fishing and navigation along with agricultural operations on river water fed the fertile land. The other fact to be taken into account is that Gujarat has deep water seashore which is not conducive for fishing at that time simple fishing tools were only available. The fishermen who migrated to the Gangetic basin were also good navigators who ferried the travelers and goods across the rivers. These aspects were referred to in several scriptures also. Many incidents can be cited from Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.

Journey towards Deccan Plateau

This brings us to the next question why these fishing communities migrated to Deccan Plateau?  Narayana Bangera is of the opinion that the Mogaveeras have migrated from Gangetic basin following Shree Rama (when he on his way to Sri Lanka) during his banishment to forest. Vagaries of unpredictable tributaries of Ganga were a constant threat for the people living in Gangetic basin. These uncertainties may also have been one of the reasons for seeking a better place for residence by the fishing community.

At Deccan Plateau

Now, we have statistical data about the Inland Fisheries of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh States which demonstrate that more fishermen still live by fishing in water resources like lakes, tanks, rivers etc. compared to the fishermen engaged in marine (sea) fishing. It is also a fact that there are more than 39 fishermen communities still living in Deccan Plateau of Karnataka State alone. For more details, please see the discussion under the Chapters “Mogaveera Community” and “Fishing” (Statistical Information, “Mogaveera Occupation”). A significant fact is that in the Deccan Plateau we still find fishermen communities known as Gangamath, Ganga Makkalu (Ganga Makkalu mean children of river Ganga ). The fact is that now all the 39 fishermen communities of Inland and Marine regions consider themselves as brotherhood communities and want to be considered as one community which was called in different names at different geographical centres. Major portion of these fishermen communities are still residing at Deccan Plateau pursuing inland fishing. For more details, please see the Chapter “Mogaveera Community”.

Migration to Parashurama Shristi

It is also a fact that all the communities lived in Parashurama Shristi were migrants as Parashurama Shristi was a fallow/marshy land. This fact was accepted by all that the land reclaimed by Shree Parashurama and the story need not be repeated here. Whether the story is true or false, the fact is that the so called Parashurama Shristi was either covered by sea or marshy land which was not fit for living in the beginning and was reclaimed gradually. Therefore, the Tuluva communities lived here certainly must have come from other place. A sure shot inference should be that all these communities have come from Deccan plateau into Parashurama Shristi cannot be refuted. T. C. Shriyan has always maintained that this theory appears to be correct as the people from Deccan Plateau looking down from Western Ghats were enticed by the prospects of fishing and opportunity for agricultural operations. The swamp land with lot of opportunity to fish might have attracted predominantly fishing community of Mogaveeras into this land. Fishermen’s (Mogaveeras) stay at Deccan Plateau may be placed between 2000 BC to the beginnings of AD.

At Interiors of Tulu Nadu

Mogaveeras before migrating toward seashore and adopting fishing as their primary occupation have lived deep inside Tulu Nadu, but within the Parashurama Shristi . This period can be fixed between beginnings of AD to 1000 AD. During this period, Mogaveeras have dependent upon inland fishing and agriculture for supplementing their requirements from fishing activities. During this period, Mogaveeras were part of the Tuluva community worship of Bhootharadhana (Daivadharana), Aadi etc. The detailed discussion on Bhootharadhana (Daivadharana), Aadi etc. is given in the Chapter “Mogaveera Religious Practices” which may please be referred. It is not out of place to add here that Mogaveera Moolasthanas are replica of Aadi except Siri every other divinity are worshipped including Kumara in some Moolasthanas. For more details about Moolasthanas , please see the Chapter “Mogaveera Religious Practices”. All the religious practices of Mogaveeras and other Tuluva communities were the same during this period. All the temples in this region are places of worship for all communities.

Journey towards Seashore

Tuluva communities settled in interior places of Parashurama Shristi who had a common religious practice but were divided into several communities based on the work they adopted for earning their living. A common means of living remained to be agriculture which was practiced by most of them. At this period, a distinct Mogaveera community came into existence adopting fishing as a main occupation.  The Mogaveeras being fishermen started to explore the option of fishing at sea as it was a vast source of fish. The improvements in nets and boats encouraged them to consider fishing at sea a better option. Gradually, the seashore became their destination. This tempted them to settle down near seashore particularly when Rampani was introduced. A further incentive was that the land near seashore was unmarked and was available for constructing their home and creating fishing related facilities. The Mogaveeras address the sea as Ganga Matha and not Arabian Sea.

Coastal Karnataka seashore

The Mogaveeras lived in coastal Karnataka from about or earlier to a thousand years. The histories of Bennekuduru Temple at the north end and Ullal village Daivasthanas at southern end corroborate this fact. Some Mogaveera Moolasthans claim to be in existence for more than 600 years i.e. since 1500 AD. Many more can be cited. Mogaveeras presence in Mumbai can be placed at around 1530 AD. The concentration of Mogaveera settlements near the coastal area was intensified after 1900 AD when Rampani was introduced. Therefore, Mogaveeras stay near seashore around their temples, Moolasthans, Daivasthanas can be reasonably placed at from 1000 AD till date.

Road Map only

This prelude is only a road map and broad description of the route traversed by our ancestors who were part of fishermen community. Many information, facts and data which need documentation have not been discussed, as it might lead to unwarranted debate. I hope in future Mogaveera scholars will write well documented and detailed ancient history. With this hope, as I have already stated, a beginning is made to present the current history of Mogaveera Community.