Changar
Changhar or Changar (چنگھڑ) are an ancient mysterious vagabond Hindu tribe of India.
Changhars are mostly vagabond and speak Changhri dialect of Haryanvi or Ranghari and Marwari. About Johann Georg August Galletti and Franz Miklosich and some other early European Historians, the Romani People of Europe, are close related to the Changar (German: Tschangar).
Origin[]
According to their traditions, the Changar once was Hindu Chandala's and left Rajasthan, with their initial settlement being in the districts of Bikaner, Churu and Nagaur. From there the Changars migrated to Sindh. A further migration then took place to Punjab, where many are still found. They speak Marwari among themselves, and Urdu with outsiders.[1] Under Mughal Empire, the Changar became Muslims, but there Religion is a Mix of Hinduism and Islam.
Present circumstances[]
In India[]
The Changar are largely a landless community, with a few still involved in their traditionally occupation of lime manufacture. Most are now daily wage labourers. Like other Rajasthani Muslims, the community has a caste association or biradari panchayat, which resolves intra community disputes and enforces communal norms. Although the Changhar live in close proximity to other such Muslim castes such as the Hiranbaz, Sindhi-Sipahi and Qaimkhani, intermarriages between them and the Changar are extremely rare. The Changhar are Sunni Muslims, and their customs are similar to other Rajasthani Muslims. They have been granted Other Backward Class status, which makes them subject to a number of affirmative actions policies of the Government of India.[1]
In Pakistan[]
The Shamsi (Changar) in Punjab are strictly endogamous, and the basic social unit is the Jhugi or tent( Now new generation are mostly educated and have their own houses). Generally it is close kin who camp together, and marriages are preferred within the encampment. They do not have strong caste councils to maintain community norms. Mostly of the Shamsi called Changar in Pakistan migrated from Indian Jalindher's Tehsil Sultan Poor and District Ludhiana. They spread in all Pakistan. Mostly settled in Chiniot and Faisalabad District. The Changar are Sunni Muslims and either speak Haryanvi Punjabi or Seraiki depending on what language the settled community in which they are camped speaks (Although they speak Parsi language called by one of the old Changar). They speak this language as secret language when they inform some thing secret which each other.[citation needed]
The majority of the Changars within northern and central Punjab are agricultural labourers, visiting villages during harvest time. They have established routes that they follow, and each Changar sub-group is allocated a particular village, and often serve a particular family in that village. Their patrons tend to belong to the large Muslim Jat community. In addition to agricultural labour, the Changar are also involved in the manufacture of baskets and brooms, which they sell to settled communities. Nowadays only 10% are involving in this work. Many of Shamsi (Changar) are now in good Jobs and local business after getting education. In local Government they have their own Counselors and have Chairmanship. In 1990 many of Shamsi moved toward Dubai for better future, they earn for his family and country now getting part of i community progress. [2]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D.K Samanta, S.K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 271 to 274 Popular Prakashan
- ^ Servicing the Ordinary Folk: Peripatetic People and their Niche in South Asia by Joseph C Berland in Nomadism in South Asia Edited by Aparna Rao and Michael J Casimir
- Muslim communities of Rajasthan
- Social groups of Rajasthan
- Muslim communities of India
- Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan
- Punjabi tribes
- Saraiki tribes