The Chitpavan Brahmins or Konkanastha Brahmins, also known as KoBra, are Vasihnav Brahmin community of Kokan, coastal areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka. So it means a community with pure mind/soul. Community remains concentrated in Maharashtra but also has populations all over India and the rest of the world including the USA and UK. It is estimated that there are about 500,000 Chitpavans all ove
r the world. The Chitpavans established themselves firmly in the social hierarchy of the Marathi-speaking region, and played a major role in the political history of India. Chitpavans got noticed when Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj appointed brave Brahmin from Konkan as his Peshwas or Prime Minister. Since then many people from Konkan region migrated to Deccan and started playing prominent roles in politics and socioeconomics of the region. Later, many great revolutionaries and freedom fighters such Senapati Bapat, Lokmanya Tilak, Veer Savarkar, Justice Ranade, Maharshi Karve and many notable social activities played a prominent role in Indian freedom struggle. Chitpavan Brahmins are easily recognized by certain physical characteristics like, mostly are fair skinned, straight nose, distinctive jawline, light colored eyes and with average physique. The people belonging to this community are intelligent, meticulous, hardworking and very punctual. So you will find people of this community involved in activities which are intellectually stimulating like literature, arts, and academics. You will find many notable writers, educationists, spiritual leaders, social activists, reformers, doctors, fine actors and filmmakers from this community. Notable writers like Vinoba Bhave, Keshavsut, Sane Guruji, Vinda Karandikar, Vasant Bapat, to name a few, come from this community. Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema and Great Spiritual Leader and Social Reformer, Pandurangshastri Athavale, come from this community. Notable sportspersons like Agit Agarkar, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, DB Deodhar, Jatin Paranjpe (cricket) and Khadilkar sisters, Abhijeet Kunte (Chess) belong to this community. Many famous film actors, actress and models like Maduri Dixit, Vikaram Gokhale, Prashant Damle, Mukta Barve, Sai Paranjape, Milind Soman and many more belong to Chitpavan Community. Today the young Chitpavan is not much concerned about the community`s reduced political role and the anti-Brahmin sentiment that still lingers. In modern times Chitpavans don’t believe in caste system nor do they promote caste supremacy,
In the times of secular thinking and people migrating to foreign lands and settling down, there is a need to find roots and relate themselves to this great community. So raise the need to form a forum, a platform, like websites to make people aware of their roots, their rich culture, history and achievements to associate with.
