Pinjara
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi • Marwari • Marathi | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Behna • Mansoori • Ansari |
The Pinjara are a Muslim community found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in India. They are also known as Shaikh Mansoori, especially in Gujarat, where the name Pinjara is no longer used. The Pinjara is the traditional cotton carder of Central India, just like the Behna are the traditional cotton carders of North India.[citation needed] Some members of Pinjara community have migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947 and have settled in Karachi, Sindh.[citation needed]
Present circumstances
In Rajasthan, the Pinjara are found mainly in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Alwar and Bikaner districts. They speak a variety of Rajasthani, and have a working knowledge of Urdu. The community are divided into two major exogamous groups, the Baone and Terpane, the former is further divided into fifty two clans, and the latter is divided into fifty three clans. Some of their major clans are the Sherani, Asan, Galhot, Bhati, Chauhan, Aravalli, Tak, Aguan, Khokhar, Ajmeria, Bhulta, Bahaleem, Chitta and Multani. These clans are exogamous in nature...[1] The main situated area of clan sherani's is a town "kanore" near Udaipur.Wasim Ahamad sherani is a teenager in Sherani clan. In Maharashtra, the community is found mainly in the districts of Bhandara, Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha. They speak Marathi, although most also speak Dakhani. Unlike the Rajasthan Pinjara, the Maharashtra Pinjara do not practice clan exogamy. Most prefer marrying close kin, and practice parallel cousin marriage. The Pinjara are Sunni Muslims, although they incporporate a number of folk beliefs.[2]
In Rajasthan, the Pinjara are a landless community, and live by cotton ginning and making quilt and pillows. The Pinjara purchase cotton from the villages in their neighbourhood. They also started selling quilts in the local towns. A small minority of the Pinjara are now cultivators. The community is Sunni Muslim and perceives itself of Shaikh status.[3]
In Maharashtra, the Pinjara have abandoned their traditional occupation of cotton gining and the manufacture of quilts and pillows. A process that began in the 19th Century, when many members of the community took to agriculture has accelerated. Most Pinjara are now small and medium sized farmers. Most live in multi-caste villages which they share with the Maratha, Mang, Gond and Bandha communities.[citation needed]
References
- ^ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 750 to 755 Popular Prakashan
- ^ People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part Three edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 1733- 1737
- ^ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 750 to 755 Popular Prakashan