Sipahi (caste)

The Sipahi or sipai are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are also known as Sapai or Kasbati they are descendants of Muslim Soldiers of Gujarat who served the Muzaffarid Gujarat Sultanate and other Muslim Rulers in Medieval Era. In Various parts of Gujarat^[1]

History and origin[]

The word sipahi means a soldier in the Persian language, while the word Kasbati means a town dweller. Both these terms refer to an endogamous Gujarati Muslim community of a mixed origin. Some Sipahis are Rajput ancestry, and their surnames are Chauhan, Solanki, Rathod and parmar and others.

while others are immigrants Muslims of Foreign who came to India during middle ages as a soldier in Muslim Army Specialy Muzaffarid Gujarat Sultanate period. Most of their Saiyed, Qureshi, Pathan and Khokhar and others are main Surnames .

They were established in various parts of Gujarat in the 14th, 15th and 16th Century, and served as soldiers in the armies of the various rulers in the west India.^[1]

Present circumstances[]

The Sipahis have a number of clans, the main ones being the Khan, Chauhan, Sayyid, Mughal, Qureshi, Shaikh, Pathan, Parmar, Ghori, Rathore, Kokwana, Belim, Khokhar and Soomra. Some of these clans claim Arab ancestry, and those of the Sayyid divisions are considered superior over other groups.^[1]

The Sipahi traditionally served in the armies of the various local rulers in Gujarat Sultanate During Medieval Era in Gujarat. Many are now farmers, Like other Gujarati Muslims, they have a caste association, the Samasta Sipahi Jamat or Kasbati Muslim Sipai jamat and most of time named as Muslim Sipai Jamat

Historically, membership of the jamat meant the individual could call himself a Sipahi. The community no longer recruit new members, and is now a fairly distinct Muslim caste.^[1] Sipahi are included in Central Governments list of OBC caste.^[2]

References[]