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Rathi

The Rathi is an Indian breed of dairy cattle (Bos indicus) native to the arid Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, particularly the districts of Bikaner, Ganganagar, and Jaisalmer. Named after the pastoral Rath tribe of Muslim Rajput descent who selectively bred it for survival in harsh desert conditions, the breed is valued for its heat tolerance, disease resistance, and dual-purpose utility in milk production and light draft work. Cows typically exhibit a distinctive red-and-white coat pattern, with average lactation yields of around 1,560 kilograms of milk per cycle, featuring 4.5-5% fat content suitable for products like ghee and yogurt, though performance varies with management and nutrition. While not as prolific as some temperate breeds, Rathi's resilience in low-rainfall environments has supported nomadic herding economies, contributing to rural livelihoods without reliance on intensive inputs.

People

Surname

Rathi is an surname primarily associated with the and Jat communities in northern regions such as and . It originates as an occupational name derived from the term rath, meaning "," denoting makers or users of chariots, often linked to warriors or charioteers in historical contexts. The surname is most prevalent in , where it ranks among the more common family names, with concentrations in states including , , , and due to historical migration and settlement patterns among these castes. Globally, it appears in communities, particularly in the United States, where bearers are overwhelmingly of Asian/ ethnicity, reflecting Indian origins, and number around 500 individuals as of recent data. In Jat clan structures, Rathi functions as a , signifying a lineage subgroup with ties to agrarian and martial traditions in and . Historical references suggest connections to medieval warrior families, though primary evidence remains tied to regional genealogies rather than centralized records.

Given name

Rathi is a feminine predominantly used in among Hindu communities. It originates from , where it is linked to "ratha," denoting a , evoking associations with warfare, mobility, and status in ancient Vedic texts and epics like the . Alternative interpretations attribute the name to meanings such as "a ," symbolizing illumination or vitality, though this appears less directly tied to primary etymological roots. The name's usage reflects cultural reverence for attributes of strength and grace, with chariots historically signifying royal or martial prowess in Indian tradition. While not among the most common Indian given names, Rathi has been borne by figures in entertainment, such as Malaysian-Tamil actress (born September 23, 1972), known for roles in films from 2002 to 2010. Its popularity remains modest, with numerological associations in some Hindu naming practices linking it to the number 11 for traits like intuition and independence.

Rathi cattle

Origin and history

The Rathi cattle breed derives its name from the , a nomadic community of Muslim descent in , , who traditionally rear these animals as part of their migratory herding practices. The tribe's ownership and contributed to the breed's development in the harsh arid environment of the . Geographically, Rathi cattle originated in the northwestern districts of Rajasthan, with the core breeding tract centered in Lunkaransar tehsil of Bikaner district, extending to adjacent areas in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, , and Churu districts. This region features extreme climatic conditions, including summer temperatures up to 50°C, winter lows around 2°C, and annual rainfall below 200 mm, to which the breed has adapted through for drought resistance and heat tolerance. The breed is considered a mosaic of indigenous (Bos indicus) types, resulting from historical intermixing of , , , and Dhanni strains, with genetics predominating and imparting superior milk production traits. This evolutionary process occurred over generations among nomadic herds, favoring animals suited for dual-purpose use in draft work and dairy under resource-scarce conditions, without documented large-scale artificial selection programs until modern conservation efforts. Formal recognition of Rathi as an indigenous breed came through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBAGR), which lists it among registered cattle breeds of India. Conservation initiatives began in 2002 under the (NDDB) in and Ganganagar districts, focusing on breed improvement and preservation amid threats from crossbreeding with exotic stocks; these efforts continued under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Physical characteristics

Rathi cattle are classified as a medium-sized , adapted for production in arid environments. The typical coat color is brown with white patches distributed across the body, although solid brown or black coats with white markings occur; the ventral regions, including the and lower legs, are generally lighter shaded. Horns are short to medium in length, curving outward, upward, and inward, with approximately 76% exhibiting even curvature; polled or absent horns appear in some individuals. The head features a broad, straight facial profile, flat forehead, and wide-set eyes, often with a slightly dished conformation between the eyes. The muzzle is predominantly black (observed in 47.6% of surveyed animals), followed by brown (34.5%). The is fine and pendulous, while the navel flap is notably long; a medium-sized is common, present in about 49.5% of the population. Body conformation includes well-developed forequarters and hindquarters, supporting efficient , along with a . Breeding bulls exhibit morphometric traits such as average body weights ranging from 281 to 316 kg across districts, with variations in and contributing to .

Production and uses

Rathi cattle are produced through selective breeding by farmers in the arid regions of northwest , , primarily via intermixing of , , , and Dhanni breeds, with Sahiwal influence predominant. This natural and farmer-led selection emphasize traits like heat tolerance and consistent milking under low-input systems, with organized herds showing improved yields through better management of calving seasons and nutrition. The breed serves dual purposes, with cows valued for dairy production and bulls for draft work in agriculture, such as plowing in semi-arid conditions where mechanization is limited. Cows average 1,560 kg of milk per lactation, ranging from 1,062 to 2,810 kg, though select animals under improved conditions can achieve up to 4,800 kg; daily yields typically fall between 5 and 10 liters. The milk features a fat content of 4.5-5%, rendering it suitable for traditional products like ghee and yogurt due to its nutritional profile and processing qualities.

Conservation and breeding

The Rathi cattle breed is threatened by from indiscriminate crossbreeding with exotic breeds, reduced economic viability for maintenance, and dilution of traditional breeding tracts in arid , placing it at risk of without intervention. Conservation efforts emphasize preservation through farmer-led programs and ex situ germplasm repositories, supported by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources under ICAR. The (NDDB) launched a dedicated Rathi conservation and development program, distributing 132 superior Rathi bulls for semen production and natural service as part of indigenous breed enhancement initiatives reported in August 2025. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a national scheme, promotes Rathi improvement via progeny testing, pedigree selection, and high-genetic-merit bull production to bolster population viability and milk productivity in native arid zones. Breeding management by Rathi owners in prioritizes natural service with purebred bulls to maintain genetic purity, with 98.12% detecting estrus visually and 62.50% inseminating at early heat stages using where available. diagnosis is practiced by 68.12% of rearers, often via rectal , to optimize calving intervals and reduce losses, complemented by ICAR-backed for disease-resistant, heat-tolerant bulls suited to desert conditions. These practices aim to counter risks from small effective population sizes while enhancing traits like yield averaging 1500-1600 kg per under field conditions.

Other entities

Businesses and organizations

Anand Rathi Group operates as a prominent conglomerate in , encompassing , , , and commodities trading. Founded in 1994 by Anand Rathi and Pradeep Gupta, the group has expanded to serve high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients through subsidiaries like Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers Ltd., which functions as an online trading platform. Rathi Steel and Power Limited, established with roots tracing back over six decades, specializes in manufacturing steel products including TMT bars, rebars, and for applications. The company, part of the broader Rathi family enterprises originating in around 1942, emphasizes high-strength secondary steel production and maintains operations focused on quality and market competitiveness in . Other entities include Rathi Group , a of four companies dedicated to and practices, such as waste and innovative material processing. In , Rathi Group functions as one of the oldest industrial conglomerates based in , overseeing 13 companies in electrical accessories manufacturing and related sectors. Diversified family-run operations under the Rathi name also extend to jewelry, , , and industrial products in .

Miscellaneous

In the Mahabharata, the term rathi denotes a class of warrior proficient in combat, defined as capable of simultaneously engaging 5,000 armed opponents. This classification forms part of a hierarchical system outlined by Bhishma in the Udyoga Parva, assessing martial prowess ahead of the Kurukshetra War, with rathi ranking below atirathi (equivalent to 12 rathis) and above lesser tiers like ardharathi. Warriors such as Duryodhana's 97 younger brothers (excluding ), Shakuni, Jayadratha, Vikarna, and Sudakshina were categorized as rathis by Bhishma, indicating competence in wielding various weapons but limited strategic command compared to higher ranks. The metric emphasizes individual fighting capacity in chariot-based warfare, reflecting ancient rather than modern empirical measures. No primary textual variants dispute this definition, though interpretations vary in secondary analyses of epic valor.

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