Bawariya
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (200000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•  India | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi • Bagri | |
| Religion | |
| • Hinduism 100% | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Gawaria • Baheliya • |
The Bawariya are a Hindu caste found in the states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in India. They have scheduled caste status in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab, they are known as Bauria.[1][2][3]
Origin
The word Bawariya is set to mean people who roam in Hindi. They are a semi-nomadic group scattered over North India. The Bawariya is a community of people and not a caste although the caste system of India puts them in caste category, but they still retain their original nomadic lifestyle and keep away from the main caste systems as practiced by many people in India. This is reflected in their clans, all of whom are well known clan names common with Jats, Gujars and other north western communities of India. Their area of in habitation and migration tells the real story of their ancient nomadic identity. At present, the Bawariya are found in the districts of Meerut, Banda, Agra, Mainpuri and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring state of Haryana. They speak Bawari among themselves, which is similar to Marwari.[1]
According to traditions in Punjab, the Bawaria or Bauria as they are also known get their name from the word baur, meaning a net. As a community that was involved in hunting, the community became known as the Bawariya, but they are, in fact, Rajputs. The Bauria are found mainly in the districts of Firupzur, as well as Bhatinda, Ludhiana and Sangrur.[4]
Present circumstances
The Bawariya are strictly endogamous community, and practice the principle of clan exogamy. These clans are referred to as gotras, and their main gotras include the Chauhan, hada, badjurger, Dabas, Kohli, Solanki, Panwar, Dhandhara and Badhiyar. Each of these clans is of equal status, and intermarry.
The Bawariya are now mainly a community of marginal farmers. They produce wheat, peas, gram and now increasingly sugarcane. Some have also started rearing milch cattle and other animals. Many are still involved in hunting, particularly those settled in the Yamuna khadir. As a Dalit community, they often suffer from societal discrimination. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy distinct quarters. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.[1]
The Bawaria in Haryana have nine sub-divisions, the Rajput, Gandalli, Ghumariya, Dhumree, Banswasee, Kapadia, Bidhoth and Delhiwala. They are said to have immigrated from Rajasthan, and many still speak the Bagri dialect. Among the nine sub-groups, the Rajput Bawaria are the largest, and do not intermarry with the other groupings. The second largest group are the Ghumariya Bawaria, who are a community of peasant farmers. While the Delhiwala are cattle rearers and traders, the Gandalli are labourers, the Kapadia are pedlars while the Dhumree are involved in the selling of folk medicines. Despite their traditional occupations, almost all the Bawaria are now employed as daily wage labour. Many are employed as village watchmen, an occupation that is hereditary among many Bawaria families. Although living in multi-caste villages, the Bawaria occupy their own quarters. [5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 224 to 228 Manohar Publications
- ↑ People of India Hayana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 56 to 62 Manohar
- ↑ People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 89 to 93 Manohar
- ↑ People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 89 to 93 Manohar
- ↑ People of India Hayana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 56 to 62 Manohar