Patni Jamat
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (100,000+[1]) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•  India •  Pakistan •  United Kingdom •  South Africa | |
| Languages | |
| • Gujarati • Hindi • Urdu • Kutchi | |
| Religion | |
•  Islam 100% • | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Gujarati Muslims • Memon • Khoja • Bohra |
The Patni are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and Sindh in Pakistan.[2]
History and origin
The Patni are a trading community who are said to have settled in the town of Patan, the historic capital of Gujarat, during the rule of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. They originated in the town of Patan in Gujarat. The community spread from Patan to the cities of Veraval, Govindpura, Naodra, Kalji, Chourvad, Keshod and Junagadh. They speak Urdu and Kathiawari Hindi The Patni Jamat is now made up of a number of clans, the main ones being the VARIN, Sassa,Mughal, Chauhan, Panja, Karvat, Kapadiya, Bhoda, Nakhwa, Khokhar, Sumra, Mevati, Chachya, Bagji, Agwan, khathaai, Diwan, Bandhani, Khan, Bekar Pirosh, Batli, Bharari, Chaga,Virbhar, Thoiry Wala, Bagas, Chawda, Kothari, Khanjamal, Mirza, Kuresi, Karwat, Sherpakka, Chinai, Jangsai, Pyarji, Alvi, Sayanji, Kakasiya, Parmar, Jamadar, Babi, Kutub, Khamma, Malek, Gadai,adhi etc. All these clans are of equal status and they marry each other, They are an indigenous community although they do marriages in the larger Sunni Muslim community.
Present circumstances
The Patni's are essentially a community of traders and Fish merchants a profession they have practiced for generations. They are Sunni Muslims and their customs are similar to the other Gujarati Muslims communities. Presently they are situated in different parts of India, mainly in Mumbai and to some extent in Hyderabad, some 200 years ago they have also migrated to some coastal regions of Tarapur in Maharashtra. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947 many members of the Patni Jamat migrated and settled mainly in Karachi. Many for business and education purpose people have migrated to abroad in places of Middle East, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Europe and North America.
In older days community was dealing in sea transportation by wooden country-crafts and the owner of country crafts were known as Vahanvatu and they were rich and went to Gulf as well as Africa. There were no mechanised vessel at the time and the journey and communication was tough with homeland. There after time has changed and other communities have entered into this business with mechanised vessels and the traditional trades of wooden country crafts ended.
Today mainly Patni's are doing fisheries business In very large numbers they have fish shops,freezing plants for exporting fish to entire world and also fishing boats, Veraval is very much known as fisheries hub in India and fortunately this trade is by and large under patni's community others are doing transport business all over India there are some Patni's who have remarkable setup & big name in transport world .
See also
Khokhar (surname) Vhora (surname)
References
- ↑ http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php
- ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1130-1134