Punjab: Some Professional Castes
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 |
Punjab: some professional castes
Ibbetson called them Miscellaneous Castes of Table VIII B I have given the figures for a number of miscellaneous castes which I did not think it worth while to Show in detail in Table VIII A. Many of these I cannot identify, and cannot even be sure that I have got the names right. And many more would properly fall under some one of the various groups into which I have divided my castes for the purposes of this chapter. But the numbers are so small and time so pressing that I shall take them as they come in Table VIIIB. and give briefly the infor- mation I possess regarding such of thom as I know anything about. Many of them are not castes at all, but either occupational or geographical terms,
Toba
{Caste No. 186) — Toba literally means a diver, but is used for the men who dig and clean wells, in which process diving is necessary. They generally belong to the Jhruwar and Machhi caste, and are often fishermen aswell as well sinkers.
Patwa
{Caste No. 187). — From pat silk, and means any worker in silk, but is general ly used only for those who make silken cord and waistbands, thread beads and silk, and so forth. They are called Patoi in the west. They are said often to be Khatris.
Bagri
{Caste No. I88) — Bagri means any one from the Bagar or prairies of Bikaner, but is usually confined to Jats from those parts.
Gwalpa
{Caste No. 189). — These men are apparently Tibetans, but I cannot define the meaning of the word.
Kharasia
{Caste No. 190). — The men who work the water mills so com mon in the hills. They are said often to be Daolis.
Pachhada
{Caste No. 192) — Pachhada used in Bhattiana and Mariana for Musahnau Jat and Rajput immigrants from the Satluj country to the west {pachhain), just as Bagri is used for similar Hindu immigrants from the South.
Tardora
{Caste No. 193). — These people came to Hazaia from Amb and the Buncr and Chagharza hills. They trace their descent from a Kalir convert to Islam called Dumau. They all are agricultrual by occupation.
Palledar
{Caste No. 194) — A porter, generally found in the bazaars and markets.
Kamachi
{Caste No. 196). — A class of vagrant minstrels who hcg and play at weddings.
Kuchband
{Caste No, 197). — Makers of kucli, or weaver's bruslies. They belong to the outcast and vagrant classes.
Darugar
{ Caste No. 198). — A man who makes gunpowder. Under this head is included Atishbdz, a man who makes fireworks.
Pali
{Caste No. 199). — Pali is the ordinary village word for cowherd in the east of the Panjab, But in Multun there is a separate Pali caste who have lately been converted from Hinduism and still retain many of their Hindu customs. They follow all sorts of handicrafts, and especially that of oil-pressing, and engage in trade in a small way.
Jarrah
{Caste No. 200). — The Nativc Surgeon who applies plasters, draws teeth, sets fractures, and so on. He is almost always a Nai.
Kapri
{Caste No. 201).— 'A. caste who claim Brahman origin, and whose occupation is that of making the ornaments worn by the bridegroom at weddings, artificial flowers, and similar article made of talc, tinsel, and the like. They are apparently connected, in Dehli at least, with the Jain temples, where they officiate as priests and receive offerings. They also act as Bhat-; at weddings. They are said to come from Rajputana.
Panda
{Caste No. 202). — A name commonly given to any educated Brahman who teaches or ofliciates at religious functions. Probably of the same origin as Pandit. In the hills it Ls said to be used for Dakaut Bralimans.
Sapela
{Caste No. 203).— -A snake-catcher and charmer, generally belonging to one of the vagrant tribes.
Maratha
{Caste No. 204).— Ku inhabitant of Maharasthra or the Mahratta (Jouutry.
Akhuhundzadah
{Caste No. 205). — Sec Ulama, section 517.
Sapandi
{Caste No. 206). — Probably the same as Sapela No. 203 q. v.
Diwan
{Caste No. 207). — This is the title of the revenue minister at a Native Court. There is also a Sikh order called Diwana.
Hesi
{Caste No. 203) — should have been included with No. 167 des cribed under Gip-y tribes in the next part of this chapter.
Arya
{Caste No. 209). — Probably followers of the Arya Suniaj.
Attar
{Caste No. 210). — A dispensing druggist, as distinct from the Pansdri f r an whom the drugs are bought, with the Gaudi, a distiller of essences and perfumes. The Attar however makes arracks and sherbets.
Qarol
{Caste No. 211). — These are the descen dants of the hunters and menagerie keepers of the old Mughal Court at Uehli. They are of several caite-;, but prob;ib]y for The most part Pathan ; but they have now formed a separate caste, marry oidy among thenislves, and liavc taken to agriculture. They are called after their weapon, the Imnting-knife or qarol.
Marejha
{Casta No. 212). — A class of wandering beggars who come from Rajutana and Sindh.
Marwari
{Caste No. 21.3). — Inhabitants of Mtirwar, but generally applied in the Panjab to Hrahman money-lenders or Bohra,^ from that tract.
Lahori
{Casta No, 214). — Residents of Lahore ; but perhaps Khatris, of whom there is a great Lahori aectiou, Lunia
But see Shcrring, Vol. I,, p. 274.
Lunia
(Cast o No. 215) — probably salt-makers, and should have bccu hicliulcil with Ndugar No. 176.
Gargajje
{Casfe No 216). —The samE as Garzmar, a class of faqirs who thurst irou spikes into Oieir llosh.
Bodhi
{Caste No. 217). — As it stand-; the word would mean a Buddhist. But it is perliaps a misreading for Bhoti, an iuhn!)itaut of Bliot or Tibet, who also would be Buddhist.
Naubai
{Caste No. 218). — A baker.
Jahojha
{Caste No. 21'P. — A Purbi easte who keep miloli kinc.
Munhband
(Caste No. 220). — The Jain ascetic who hand's a cloth over his mouth {munh).
Bisati
(Caste no 221). — A dealer in petty hard ware who spreads (basat) his mat (bisdt) In front of him and displays his wares upon it.
Pahari
{Caste No. 222).— A generic term for a hill man.
Hijra
{Caste No. 2-6). — A eunuch, distinct from the Hinjra wluch is a large Jat tribe and separately described in it, proper place.
Suhusar
(Caite No. 227). — A small caste in hushyar pur who were only a few generations ago Puawar Rajputs, but have been driven by poverty to growing vegetable-; and working in grass, and are now a scp.irato caste ranking with the Araina.
Gharami
{Caste No. 229). — Thatdiers, generally Jhmwar.s.
Chhatarsaz
{Caste No. 231). — Umbrella makers.
Sangtarash
{Caste No. 233). — Stone;-cutters. Cturimdr {Caste No. 234). — Bird catchers, who almost always belong to the vagrant tribes.
Chinigar
(Caste No 239). —
Sugar refiners. Suthar
(Caste No. 259). — The Bombay word for carpenters, of, Tarkhau No. 11.
Dhai Sirkiband
(Caste No. 263). — The men wlio make sirki or roof-ridges of grasi to protect carts and The like. Almost always of the vagrant classes.
Hindki
{Caste Nu- 271). — A generic term on the Upper Indus for all Musalmins of Indiande cent who speak Panjabi dialects.
Kamera
(Caste No. 280). — An agricultural labourer hired by the day, month, or year on fixed pay, not receiving a share of the produce.
Guru
(Caste No 297). — A Hindu spiritual preceptor.
Karar
(Caste No. 3OO). — More properly Kirar.Any Hindu trader in the west or in the hills.
Uzbak
(Caste No, 801). — A Turk tribe, and should have been included with Turk No. lUu.
Gwala
(Caate No. 306). — The term for a Hindu cowherd and shepherd, generally an Ahir.
Tabakhia
(Caste No 308). — A man who kccps a cook-shop and hawks cooked food about the strccla.
Kharol
(Caste No 317). — Probably the same as Qarol, No. 211, described above.
