Bhandaris were originally from Rajputana and were Kshatriya converts to Jainism whose occupation was trading. The author mentioned Sati and Jauhar as proof for their heritage. The article by Bodas piqued the Bhandari community and the community members met in 1922 to address the issue. Tukaram Padaval, who belonged to Bhandari caste and a close associate of Jyotiba Phule, said that the claim to Kshatriya status was common among many upper and lower castes but there was no certainty at all as to who among them are the original Kshatriyas. See also People of the Konkan Division Bhandari Militia References Further reading Social groups of Goa Indian castes Konkani Social groups of Maharashtra