Dhobi
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/A_dhobie_%28washerman%29_ironing_in_the_early_1870s.jpg/220px-A_dhobie_%28washerman%29_ironing_in_the_early_1870s.jpg)
Dhobi (transl. 'washerman'), known in some places as Dhupi or Rajaka ('remover of dirt'), is a group of castes in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are washing and ironing clothes.[1][2]
They are a large community, distributed across northern, central, western and eastern India; as well as in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.[1][3] A majority of the community associate themselves with Hinduism.[3] Many religiously follow Sant Gadge (Gadge Maharaj), whose jayanti (birth anniversary) they celebrate every 23rd of February.
The word dhobi is derived from the Hindi word dhona, which means 'to wash'. As such, Dhobi communities in many areas today come under the status of schedule caste (sc).
Throughout India and south-central Asia, dhobi ghat is to refer to any laundry- or washing-place where many launderers or clothes-washers (either as ordinary people or professionals) wash clothes and other linen. The most notable of these is Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai.
Demographics[]
State/Territory | Known as | Description | Status[4] |
---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | Rajaka | In Andhra Pradesh, the Rajakas do farming and agriculture, as well as washing, and ironing. However, there are many Rajakas in all sectors, such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists, social services, IT, and politicians.[5] | OBC |
Assam | Dhupi | In 2001, Assam's Dhupi population was at 49,929, accounting for 2.7% of the total Scheduled Class (SC) population.[6] A high of 27.9% of this population was urban. The literacy rate among this group was 76%, above both the state figure (66.8%) and the aggregated national figure (54.7%) for SCs. | SC |
Bihar | The Dhobi community in Bihar makes up around 18% of the state's total population, with maximum concentration in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Siwan, Purnia and East Champaran districts, respectively. Bihar's Dhobi community is included in Scheduled Caste from OBC Status due to socioeconomically low. Now, they are in all sectors, but mainly as government employers, doctors, IT engineers, social service, agriculture, farming and politicians. Among the numerically larger castes of SC, Dhobi have registered the highest overall literacy rate.[7] | SC | |
Jharkhand | SC | ||
Madhya Pradesh | In Madhya Pradesh, Dhobi are a Scheduled Class in the districts of Bhopal, Raisen, and Sehore.[4] | SC and OBC elsewhere] | |
Manipur | Dhupi | SC | |
Meghalaya | Dhupi | SC | |
Mizoram | Dhupi | SC | |
Odisha | Dhoba, Dhobi, Rajak, Rajaka | Odisha has a significant population of Dhobi people in its coastal belt, i.e. eastern Odisha (Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Ganjam) and a smaller population in its central and western areas. They are included in Scheduled Caste list of Odisha.[8] | SC |
Rajasthan | SC | ||
Tripura | Dhoba | SC | |
Uttar Pradesh[9] | The Dhobi population in the state has been classified as SC and OBC. | OBC and SC | |
Uttarakhand | SC | ||
Delhi | SC |
Notable peoples[]
- Chintamoni Dhoba - ruler of Dhalbhum region and established capital at Ambikanagar
See also[]
- List of Dhobis
- Pardeshi, 2015 movie
- Dhobi ghat
- Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai
- Dhobi Ghat, 2010 movie
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Dhobi". People Groups of India. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Channa, Subhadra Mitra. 1991. "Caste, 'Jati' and Enthnicity [sic]—Some Reflections Based on a Case Study of the Dhobis." Indian Anthropologist 21(2):39-55. JSTOR 41919653.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in India". Joshua Project. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b http://socialjustice.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Compendium-2016.pdf
- ^ "National Commission for Backward Classes" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in.
- ^ "Assam - Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes." 2001 Census of India. 2001.
- ^ http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_bihar.pdf
- ^ http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1766850/
- ^ "central list of OBCs Uttar Pradesh". National Commission for Backward Classes, India.
External links[]
- India stubs
- Social groups of Pakistan
- Social groups of Haryana
- Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh
- Scheduled Castes of Bihar
- Scheduled Castes of Rajasthan
- Social groups of Odisha
- Social groups of Maharashtra
- Social groups of Tamil Nadu
- Social groups of Punjab, India
- Social groups of Karnataka
- Social groups of Andhra Pradesh
- Dalit communities