Mercenaries in India were fighters, primarily peasants, who came from India and abroad, to fight for local rulers in India in the medieval period. This mercenary work became an important source of income for some communities. During the 16th and 17th centuries, a number of mercenaries, arriving from several countries found employment in India. Some of the mercenaries emerged to become independent or independent rulers. In southern India, there is a caste/community of mercenaries in the state of Karnataka which is called Bunt, The word "bunt" itself translates to Warrior/Mercenary, this community later elevated itself as the rulers of the land, several powerful dynasties emerged from this community, The most notable dynasty being the Alupas of Dakshina kannada, which reigned for 1300 years straight, This community still survives and has adopted the surnames shetty, Rai, Alva, chowta etc. In down south Tamil Nadu, the three crowned empires used Kongar pastro-peasantry tribes of Kongunad region and Kongar peasantry tribes of Erumainad region as their sword man mercenaries or as cavalry mercenaries or as chariot soldier mercenaries and also recruited as personal guards. Kongars worked along with their warrior kallar, maravar, Aghamudaiyar, Parkavar, Valaiya-Mutharaiyar and Mazhavar tribes. But during the time of action these kongar tribes were led only by the Chiefs of their own tribe and would not come under the command of the emperor/ his military General. Though these Kongar tribes of Kongunad were feudatories to the three crowned empires, kongunad was divided into 24 sub divisions and was only ruled by Kongars. But the Kongars (Gangars) of Erumainad established their own empire 'The Western Ganga dynasty' and ruled over it for centuries. Kongar tribes still exist in modern days they are referred as Kongu Vellala Gounder (Kongunadu) and Gangadhikar Vokkaliga Gowda (Erumainad). (en)
Mercenaries in India were fighters, primarily peasants, who came from India and abroad, to fight for local rulers in India in the medieval period. This mercenary work became an important source of income for some communities. During the 16th and 17th centuries, a number of mercenaries, arriving from several countries found employment in India. Some of the mercenaries emerged to become independent or independent rulers. (en)