The Dharala,[1]orDhurala is a surname / title used by KolicasteofGujarat and Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu who were professional soldiers and were experts in sword fighting.[2] During the British Raj in India, the 80% of the total population of Kolis in Kheda district were Dharala.[2] The Koli Dharalas plundered the British trading ships because they were turbulent people and considered as bad tribe.[3] The Koli Dharalas also served in British Indian Army as trackers and village guard and were occasionally used as soldiers in wartime by British government in return of sum.[4]
The most of the Koli Dharalas were from Chunvalia,[5]Talapada subcaste of Kolis who were prosperous and respected in society and ruled over petty Princely States during British regime.[6]
The Dharala Vero was a type of tax collected by Kolis of Gujarat to allowed the other caste people to live in their villages.[7] in 1920, the MahatmaGandhi tried to reform the Koli Dharalas to get ride of Anti social activities such as gang Robberies and tax collection from other caste people.[8]
^Saṅghavī, Nagīnadāsa Purushottamadāsa (1995). Gujarat: A Political Analysis. New Delhi, India: Centre for Social Studies. pp. 71:Dharala Koli who were of Talapada subcaste of Koli caste - s are the most prosperous group among the community and enjoy the highest status within the community because a few of them were petty princes during the British regime . A group of castes ( 25% ) of Hindus ...{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
