Khandayat or Khandait is a landed militia caste from Odisha, East india. They were feudal chiefs, military generals, zamindars, large land holders and agriculturalists. During British raj, they ruled many tributary states in odisha including Khordha. Numerically they are the largest caste of the state. Etymology The name Khandayat is originated from the word "Khanda" which means Sword and khandayat means sword wielding. History Medieval Odisha Early mention of Khandayats as feudal chief and military personnel is found during the rule of Eastern Ganga Dynasty. According to Odia historian K. N. Mohapatra, Khandayat strategies were established in Bhubaneswar and near by areas to protect the Lingaraja Temple. During the mediaeval period the Landed militia Khandayats acquired good amounts of Agricultural land and became local zamindars. Fakir Mohan Senapati while Quoting Abul Fazal mentioned Khandayats as a landowning caste that dominated the politics and military of Gajapati Empire. Mughal chronicle Ain-i-Akbari gave a clear picture of Odisha after the broke down of Gajapati Empire. It mentioned about different forts ruled by Khandayat Zamindars along with their King Mukund Dev. Modern Odisha British conquered Odisha in 1803 & started new land reforms to increase tax revenue. Khandayats enjoyed tax free lands in Khurda Kingdom in strictly military tenure. British abolished these tax free jagirs and that led to Paika Rebellion in 1817. However according to 1897 land settlement report, Khandayats still owned highest number of zamindaris in odisha. During British rule, some wealthy people from peasant castes started identifying themselves as Khandayat in order to gain social status and Zamindar land rights in some princely states of west odisha. Society and culture Khandayats were the land-owning & Socio-economically dominant caste in most of the villages of Odisha. In coastal Odisha Khandayats treat Brahmins as Priests, Service castes (washermen, barbers, herders etc.) as servants & untouchable castes as agricultural labourers. Such age old customs & dominance often lead to violence against marginalized castes and seen as customary bondage system. Khandayats are also known as Kshatriyas in the traditional social hierarchy of Odisha.According to Bisomay Pati, they are the orissan variant of kshatriyas who along with Brahmins enjoyed power & dominance in past.Praharaj in his Odia Bhasakosha mentioned them as, "A Kshatriya caste in Orissa" however he also opined that the word was a Title and people of other castes could enjoy it in Past. They claim themselves to be of Kshatriya status but