Non-local communities in Punjab, 1883
This article is an extract from PANJAB CASTES SIR DENZIL CHARLES JELF IBBETSON, K.C. S.I. Being a reprint of the chapter on Lahore: Printed by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Punjab, 1916. Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees |
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Miscellaneous Castes
The castes which I have included in Abstract No. 9.5 on the next page* are of a miscellaneous nature, and would not con veniently fall under any of the main divisions under which I have grouped my castes. I have divided them into two classes. The first, which includes Kashmiris, Dogras, Gurkhas, and Parsis, are Indian castes who live on the borders of the Panjab but are only present in the Province as immigrants ; though indeed some of the Kashmiri colonies are now permanent and con tain large numbers of people. The second, which includes Kayaths, Bishnois, Chahzangs, and Kanchans are inhabitants of the Panjab, though no one of them except the Ksiyath of the plains can be said to be a true caste.
The Dogras
The Dogras are Rajputs who inhabit Jaminu, and have returend themselves as such to the number of 1,415 seattered about the Province, the largest numbers in one district being 891 in Rawalpindi. Thus our separate figures mean little, and might well have been included with Kajputs. The word Dogra, however, is commonly used for any inhabitant of Jammu whatever bo his caste, Dogar being another word for the Jammu territory. Dogras are probably present in the Panjab as settlers from across the border, as famine fugitives, ;and in the Dogra regiments of our army. I believe their Rajput origin is undoubted ; but that it is equally certain that they are not pure Rajputs.
The Gurkha, Parsi, and Bangali
Caste Nos. 148, 184, and 168
The Gurkhas are the ruling and military race of Nepal, and are only found in the Panjab as members of our Gurkha regiments. They are of mixed Aryan and Turanian blood, and an admirable and interesting account of them will be found in that one of Hodgson's eassays which deals with the military tribes of Nepal. The Paisis are the Zoroastrian class of that name who have come from the Bombay Presidency into the Panjab as merchants and shop-keepers. The Bangalis are the Bengali Baboos of our offices. They are I believe for the most part either Brahmans or Kuyaths, Bengali being of course a purely geographical term. They are only found in offices and counting houses.
The Kayaths
Caste No. 90
The Kayath is the well-known writer class of Hiudustan. He does not appear to be indigenous in the Panjab, and is found in decreasing numbers as we go westwards. Pie is only lo be found in the administrative or commercial centres and is being rapidly displaced, so far as Government service is concerned, by Paujabi clerks. His origin is discussed in Colebrook^s essays.
But in the Panjab hills Kayath is the term of an occupation rather than of a caste, and is applied to members of a mixed caste formed by the inter marriage of Brahmans and Kayaths proper, and even of Banyas who follow clerkly pursuits. Their caste would be Mahajan (Pahari) and their occupation Kayath. Mr. Barnes says : The Kayath of the hills is not identical with the Kayath of the plains. He belongs to the Vaisya or commercial class, and is entitled to wear the janeo or sacred thread. The Kayath of the plains is a Sudra, and is not entitled to assume the janeo} (See also Pahari Mahajan,
The Bishnoi
Caste No. 106
The Bishnois are really a religious sect and not a true caste. Their tenets and practice have been briefly sketch ed at page 123 in the Chapter on Religion. Almost all the followers of this sect are either Jats or Tarkhans by caste, and come from the Bagar or Bikaner prairies , but on becoming Bishnois they very commonly give up their caste name and call themselves after their new creed. This is, however, not always so ; and many of the Bishnois will doubtless have returned themselves under their caste names. I do not know whether the Jat and Tarkhan Bishnois intermarry or not. But a Bishnoi will only marry a Bishnoi. They are only found in Hariana, and are all Hindus.
The Chazang
Caste No. 138
This again Is not a true caste, for it is confined to the Buddhists of Spiti, among whom caste is said to be unknown. The word Chahzang means nothing more or less than land-owner, from chah owner and zang land, and includes all the land-owning classes of Spiti, where everybody owns land except Hesis and Lohars. These people are by nationality Tibetan, or as they call themselves Bhoti, and should perhaps have been returned as such. Mr. Anderson says : Chuhzang means the land-holding class, and the people towards Tibet, Ladakh, and Zanskar are known as Chahzang. It appears to be used in a very wide sense to mean all that speak Bhoti, just as Monpa means ' the people that do not know,' that is; the Hindus.
The Kanchan
Caste No. 96
This again is hardly a caste, Kanchan simply meaning a Musalman pimp or prostitute, and being the Hindustani equivalent for the Panjabi Kanjar. The figures for Kanjar, ex cept in the Dehli, Hissar, and Ambala divisions, have been included under this heading (see section 590). The word kanchan is said to mean '^pure and illustrious. The Hindu prostitute is commonly known as Ramjani and
This last assertiou is contested in a pamphlet called Kayastha bthnology lucknow, 1877). it appears that They have generally returned themselves under their proper castes.^ Such few as have not shown themselves as Ramjani have been included with Kanchan. Randi is also used for a prostitute in the east of the Province, but it means a widow throughout the Paujub proper. It will be observed that two-fifths of the Kanchans are males. These people form a distinct class, though not only their offspring, but also girls bought in Infancy or joining the community in later life and devoting themselves to prostitution, are known as Kanchans.
