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Svetlana Velmar-Janković
Shimpi is an umbrella term for the Indian caste traditionally involved in the business of clothing and tailoring. Saint Namdev of the Bhakti movement is revered as the patron of the community.
Occupation
The traditional occupation of the community is tailoring or cloth printing. They are referred to as "Shimpi" in Marathi or "Chimpi" in Hindi.[1]
Government classification
The Shimpi are included in the central list of Other Backward Classes (OBC) by the government of Maharashtra.[2]
Varna
Shimpis are classified as being of shudra varna in the Hindu caste system.[3][1][4]
Notables
- Namdev - revered 14th-century saint of the Bhakti movement and Varkari sect[1]
- Chandrakant Mandare - Marathi actor[citation needed]
- Shashikala - Indian actress[citation needed]
- Wamanrao Mahadik - First Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c Anne Murphy (12 March 2012). Time, History and the Religious Imaginary in South Asia. Routledge. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-136-70729-2.
- ^ "Central List of OBCs For the State of Maharashtra" (PDF).
- ^ Novetzke, Christian Lee (2013). Religion and Public Memory: A Cultural History of Saint Namdev in India. Columbia University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-23151-256-5.
- ^ Francesca Orsini; Katherine Butler Schofield. Tellings and Texts: Music, Literature and Performance. Retrieved 20 April 2025.