Ahir clans
Encyclopedia
The Ahir clans are the various subsets of the Ahir, a primarily Hindu class of herdsman in India.
Ahirs narrates that on his way to kill the raksha
s, Krishna
crossed the river Yamuna accompanied by the Gawlis; those that crossed the river with him became the Ahir Nandabanshi.
tribe of Krishna
. In Uttar Pradesh
, the Yaduvanshi branch of the Ahirs is noted as being found west of the Yamuna
and the Upper Doab
, and in the northern districts of Rajasthan
.
In Awadh and in the North Western provinces where the Yadons have numerous settlements, the clan is divided. One branch calls itself Yaduvanshi Ahirs, to distinguish it from Yadons of the Daob, who have lost status through practising Karao or widow -marriage, and through violating Rajput custom by marrying into their own clan.
The British civil servant Meadows Taylor noted of the Yaduvanshi subset of Ahirs: Some of the Jad-bansis have embraced Islam
, and, in common with certain other tribes, are known as Ranghar
s.
. They are said to have immigrated to Gujarat, where they were known as Gurjar Rajput
s. About three centuries ago, these Gurjar Rajputs settled in Awadh
. The etymology of the word Bhurtiya is that it is a corruption of the Hindi
word phurti (quickness). According to their tribal legends, an ancestor of the community was in such a rush, that she left her jewellery, and was given the nickname phurti, and this name was given to her descendents, and over time corrupted to Bhurtiya. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi
, Allahabad
, Meerut
and Mathura
.
clan. Kosli
village in Rohtak
, Haryana
, was established by Kosal Dev, grandson of Anangpal Tomar
(the last Hindu king of Delhi) and son of Ausan Singh.
wielded great influence around Junagarh
from 875 A.D. Through many centuries of migrations, mainly from the Gujarat, emigrants have spread to almost every corner of the world, with a presence in Kenya and the United Kingdom, where they have established prosperous communities. Prince Hemachandra, a Chudasama, was called Abhira and Yadav. They are also called Ahir Ranas. Ra Graharipu
the Ahir of Junagarh who fought Mularaja Solanki
in A.D 961 was a Sindh
Chudasama.
The originator of the Chudasama clan is said to be an ancient prince named Gajpat, who had hidden in the bangle (chuda) of Hinglaj Mataji to escape persecution from a Muslim invader, who wanted to convert all the people to Islam. They are a branch of Samma Rajput clan of Sindh, descending from Yadav clan in which Krishna was born. The surname itself indicates this Chuda-Samma now written as Chudasama.
Clan. During the Muslim invasions of India, many Kshatriya had scattered to the forests. In order to re-organise all the scattered Chandravanshi Kshatriyas a Hindu Maha Sammelan was held in 1911 in Jaipur. Consequently, of Maha Sammelan of Jaipur in 1911, the two Mahasabhas were established. One with the name of Akhil Bhartiya Pal Kshatriya Mahasabha and other was Akhil Bhartia Yadav Mahasabha.
Because the Chandravanshis were further divided in two groups one is Kuruvanshi and another is Yaduvanshi.They are also known as Pal Kshatriya, Pal Thakurs, and Pali Rajput in western part of the country.
taluka, twenty four Anjar talukas and twelve villages in Nakathrana. A few are also found in Saurashtra. The Paratharia are a Gujarati speaking community. The Paratharia community consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Baththa, Gegal, Dheela, Dhangar
, Changha, Varjun, Matha and Chod. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy. The Paratharia are a community of small and medium sized farmers. Milk selling is an important subsidiary of the community, while small number are now petty businessmen.
Some Sorathia claim to be Rajput, while others claim descent from the Soomra Dynasty
. The community left Junagadh to escape prosecution at the hands of the Nawabs and settled in Kutch District. They are now found mainly in the Anjar and Bhuj talukas of Kutch District. The Sorathia speak Kutch. The Sorathia community consist of eight clans, the main ones being the Der, Baldania, Hadia, Chotara, Gudasarania, Vaghamashi and Malsatar. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy.
The Sorathia are a community of small and medium sized farmers. They are involved mainly in the growing and selling of vegetables. The vegetable trade in Anjar town is almost entirely in the hands of the Sorathia. Some of them earn a living as contractors and work as construction workers.Their looks quite vary compared to other castes like Caucasian, especially their straight nose, tall, thin lips, is believed to have Scythian origin.
, Amreli
and Bhavnagar
Districts
The Pancholi community consist of forty four clans, the main ones being the Kalosoriys, Kataria, Dhola, Vania, Kasadh, Vasoyo, Jholandra, Nakhom, Hadia and Buldania. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry, like neighbouring Hindu communities,
The Maschoiya Ahir are found mainly in Rajkot District
, with a few also found in Junagadh District
. They are a Gujarati-speaking community. The Maschoiya are divided into a number of clans, all of which are of equal status. The main ones being the Dangar, Chavda, Kuvadiya, Sonara, Chhaiya, Boricha, Balasara, Bakutra, Makvana, Dav, Lavadiya, Metra, Humbal, Khungla, Birda, Meta, Herrla, Kelodia, Kangadh, Khokatara, Shiayar, and Chudasama. Unlike other Ahir communities in Gujarat, the Maschoiya practice consanguineous marriages.
, Sargodha
and Mianwali districts. They are differing and conflicting theories about their origin, as is the case with many other Punjab tribes. One of the tradition connects them to Qutab Shah, the ancestor of the Awan and Khokhar tribes. According to another tradition, they are Yaduvanshi Rajputs, and descended from the Krishna. Aheer is also a principle Muslim Jat clan found in various parts of Pakistan. In the Pothohar region, the Aheer have a small presence, with just two villages, Bher Ahir and Ahir in the Gujjar Khan Tehsil.
, while many also now have some knowledge of Urdu
. The community are converts from the Ahir caste, and said to have converted to Islam in the 16th Century.
Like other Shaikh groups, they are strictly endogamous, and continue the practice of clan exogamy. They are Sunni Muslims, but their beliefs incorporate many local customs and traditions. The community live in villages which are single caste, and are largely small and medium sized farmers. Despite living near the Bengali, there are no intermarriages between the two groups.
Ahirs of Maharastra are also called Dhangars. The Ain-i-Akbari
describes them as being a proud, refractory and domineering race of Rajputs, living in the Basim Sircar and, with numerous armed forces, occupying the forts and controlling the surrounding districts. Rajputs and Dhangars have same or common gotra
s. There were twelve tribes of Dhangar and they had a division of labour
amongst brothers of one family. This later formed three sub-divisions and one half division. These three being Hatkar
(shepherds), Ahir (cowherds) or Mhaskar (Gujjar
) (buffalo keepers), and Khutekar (wool and blanket weavers). The half division is called Khateek
or Khatik (butchers). All sub-castes fall in either of these divisions. All sub-divisions emerge from one stock and all sub-divisions claim to be a single group of Dhangars.
, hailing from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka
, and other Maratha-dominated Indian regions. Jadhav originates from the royal Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri, however historian Reginald Edward Enthoven said that Yadavs of Devagiri were Ahirs.
, and "Kuruhu" means "trust" in Kannada. According to British historian Reginald Edward Enthoven, Kurumdas are none other than Ahirs of the south. "Kuruba" can be inferred to mean "doers" or "trustworthy (male person)". Kuruba can also be inferred to mean "seeker of knowledge": kuru (seek), bha (knowledge, light). Kurubas are the most ancient and original inhabitants of India and were a pastoral community.
are a Hindu
caste found in North India. They are said to was descend from Ahir tribe. Ahar comes under Chandravanshi Rajput clans. The Ahars are one of the most ancient martial tribes of India, who ruled over different parts of India and Nepal since ancient times. A community of Hindu Kshatriya belong to Ahirwada (Jhansi) are known as Ahar Kshatriya, by Rajput clan belonging to the Chandravanshi Kshatriya lineage. Many Ahar live in different regions of India including Delhi
, Mathura, Ahmedabad
, Murena
, Agra
, and Jhansi
.
, Sargodha
and Gujranwala
Districts of Punjab are also said to be a sub-caste of the Aheers and comes under Chandravanshi Rajput clans.
The community is now settled in the districts of Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat. They speak Gujarati. In Maharashtra
, the Barda are considered to be a sub-group of the Bhil ethnic group. According to their traditions, the community descend from Sabri Bhil
, a well known character from the Ramayana
. The Bardas are concentrated in the districts of Dhule
, Jalgaon, Nasik, Osmanabad, Sangli
, Kolhapur and Sholapur. They speak Barda bhasha, which is related to Marathi. Most Barda also speak Gujarati. The Barda are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. There major clans are the Ahir, Baria, Dangia, Gaikwad, Mali
, Mori, and Thakur, all of whom intermarry.
province of Pakistan. The Ghosi claim descent from both the Gujjar
and Ahir communities.
Nandvanshi
A legendary story of the origin of the NandvanshiNandvanshi
Nanda or Nandagopa, according to the Harivamsha and the Puranas, was the head of the gopas .It is said that Nand Baba owned 9 lakhs of cows Nandvanshi Ahirs are descendants of Nand....
Ahirs narrates that on his way to kill the raksha
Raksha
In Hindu mythology, a Rakshas is a kind of evil demon.-Ramayana:According to the Ramayana, the Raksha people were the mythical inhabitants of Sri Lanka who were said to have lived among the Naga, Yakkha, and Deva, and governed Sri Lanka in 2370 BCE...
s, Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
crossed the river Yamuna accompanied by the Gawlis; those that crossed the river with him became the Ahir Nandabanshi.
Yaduvanshi
The Yaduvanshi Ahir claim descent from the ancient YadavaYadava
The Yadavas were an ancient Indian people who believed themselves to be descended from Yadu, a mythical king. The community was probably formed of four clans, being the Abhira, Andhaka, Vrishni, and Satvatas, who all worshipped Lord Krishna. They are listed in ancient Indian literature as the...
tribe of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. In Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, the Yaduvanshi branch of the Ahirs is noted as being found west of the Yamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
and the Upper Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
, and in the northern districts of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
In Awadh and in the North Western provinces where the Yadons have numerous settlements, the clan is divided. One branch calls itself Yaduvanshi Ahirs, to distinguish it from Yadons of the Daob, who have lost status through practising Karao or widow -marriage, and through violating Rajput custom by marrying into their own clan.
The British civil servant Meadows Taylor noted of the Yaduvanshi subset of Ahirs: Some of the Jad-bansis have embraced Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and, in common with certain other tribes, are known as Ranghar
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
s.
Bhurtiya
The Bhurtiya are a sub-division of the Ahir community, and like other Ahirs, they claim descent from the god KrishnaKrishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. They are said to have immigrated to Gujarat, where they were known as Gurjar Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s. About three centuries ago, these Gurjar Rajputs settled in Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
. The etymology of the word Bhurtiya is that it is a corruption of the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
word phurti (quickness). According to their tribal legends, an ancestor of the community was in such a rush, that she left her jewellery, and was given the nickname phurti, and this name was given to her descendents, and over time corrupted to Bhurtiya. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi
Varanasi District
Varanasi district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, with Varanasi city as the district headquarters. Varanasi district is a part of Varanasi division. The district occupies an area of 1,535 km². The district has a population of 3,138,671 .-Divisions:The...
, Allahabad
Allahabad District
Allahabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Allahabad town is the district headquarters. Allahabad district is a part of Allahabad Division.As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttar Pradesh ....
, Meerut
Meerut District
Meerut district , is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Meerut is the district headquarters. Meerut district is a part of Meerut division.-Demographics:...
and Mathura
Mathura District
Mathura District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of northern India. The historic town of Mathura is the district headquarters.The district is bounded on the northeast by Aligarh District, on the southeast by Hathras District, on the south by Agra District, and on the west by Rajasthan and...
.
Bharwad
The Bharwads are found in the state of Gujarat in India. Those of Saurashtra use Ahir as a surname, Bharwad consider themselves as Nandvanshi Ahirs.Tomara
According to the Mahabharat, the Tomara clan was once a part of YadavYadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
clan. Kosli
Kosli
Kosli is a Tehsil in District Rewari of state Haryana in India. It is situated 80 km from Delhi in National Capital Region .According to Mahabharat, Tomar Clan was once a part of Yadav Clan...
village in Rohtak
Rohtak
Rohtak City is a Municipal Corporation in Rohtak district that styles itself as the "Heart of Haryana". It is located 70 km Northwest of New Delhi and 210 km South of the state capital Chandigarh at the NH 10...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, was established by Kosal Dev, grandson of Anangpal Tomar
Anangpal Tomar
Anangpal Tomar or Anangpal I was the first ruler to make Delhi his capital. Anangpal, a Rajput Chief of Tomar dynasty, who came from Kanauj built his capital in Delhi was rebuilt again in 731-36 AD, Anangpal II again rebuilt it in 1052 AD. He was followed by Prithvi Raj who was killed in a battle...
(the last Hindu king of Delhi) and son of Ausan Singh.
Chudasama
The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. The Chudasama dynasty, originally of Abhira clan from SindhSindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
wielded great influence around Junagarh
Junagarh
Junagarh may refer to:* Junagarh, Kalahandi, a town in Kalahandi district, Orissa, India* Junagarh Fort, a fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India...
from 875 A.D. Through many centuries of migrations, mainly from the Gujarat, emigrants have spread to almost every corner of the world, with a presence in Kenya and the United Kingdom, where they have established prosperous communities. Prince Hemachandra, a Chudasama, was called Abhira and Yadav. They are also called Ahir Ranas. Ra Graharipu
Ra Graharipu
Ra Graharipu was an Abhira king and ruler of Saurastra. He had a good relationship with Lakha, the son of King Phula of Kutch, and other kings such as Turks. Somnath Temple was under the Graharipu. He also fought Mularaja Solanki in A.D 961 and was also known as Chudasama...
the Ahir of Junagarh who fought Mularaja Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
in A.D 961 was a Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
Chudasama.
The originator of the Chudasama clan is said to be an ancient prince named Gajpat, who had hidden in the bangle (chuda) of Hinglaj Mataji to escape persecution from a Muslim invader, who wanted to convert all the people to Islam. They are a branch of Samma Rajput clan of Sindh, descending from Yadav clan in which Krishna was born. The surname itself indicates this Chuda-Samma now written as Chudasama.
Pal-Kshatriya
Pal ("Protector") is the name of a Chandravanshi KshatriyaKshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Clan. During the Muslim invasions of India, many Kshatriya had scattered to the forests. In order to re-organise all the scattered Chandravanshi Kshatriyas a Hindu Maha Sammelan was held in 1911 in Jaipur. Consequently, of Maha Sammelan of Jaipur in 1911, the two Mahasabhas were established. One with the name of Akhil Bhartiya Pal Kshatriya Mahasabha and other was Akhil Bhartia Yadav Mahasabha.
Because the Chandravanshis were further divided in two groups one is Kuruvanshi and another is Yaduvanshi.They are also known as Pal Kshatriya, Pal Thakurs, and Pali Rajput in western part of the country.
Paratharia
The community is believed to have derived its name from the Parathar region, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna to the Parathar region of Saurashtra. The Paratharia then migrated to Kutch around 1500-1600 AD. They are now distributed in eighty four villages in Kutch District, out of which thirty four are in BhujBhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
taluka, twenty four Anjar talukas and twelve villages in Nakathrana. A few are also found in Saurashtra. The Paratharia are a Gujarati speaking community. The Paratharia community consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Baththa, Gegal, Dheela, Dhangar
Dhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
, Changha, Varjun, Matha and Chod. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy. The Paratharia are a community of small and medium sized farmers. Milk selling is an important subsidiary of the community, while small number are now petty businessmen.
Sorathia
The Sarothia are a sub-group of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. The community is believed to have derived its name from the Sorath region, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna.Some Sorathia claim to be Rajput, while others claim descent from the Soomra Dynasty
Soomra Dynasty
The Sumra dynasty , was established by Rajput Soomro tribe of Sindh. They were the first Emirs and ruled Sindh from their vibrant capital Mansura. Mansura was the largest and most wealthiest inhabited city of its time...
. The community left Junagadh to escape prosecution at the hands of the Nawabs and settled in Kutch District. They are now found mainly in the Anjar and Bhuj talukas of Kutch District. The Sorathia speak Kutch. The Sorathia community consist of eight clans, the main ones being the Der, Baldania, Hadia, Chotara, Gudasarania, Vaghamashi and Malsatar. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy.
The Sorathia are a community of small and medium sized farmers. They are involved mainly in the growing and selling of vegetables. The vegetable trade in Anjar town is almost entirely in the hands of the Sorathia. Some of them earn a living as contractors and work as construction workers.Their looks quite vary compared to other castes like Caucasian, especially their straight nose, tall, thin lips, is believed to have Scythian origin.
Ahir Pancholi
The Pancholi are a sub-division of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. The community is believed to have derived its name from the Panchal region in Saurashtra, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna to the Parathar region of Saurashtra. They are distributed over eighteen villages in the Saurashtra region. The community are found mainly in JunagadhJunagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
, Amreli
Amreli
Amreli is a city and a municipality in Amreli district of the Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It is believed that during the year 534 AD Amreli existed was formerly known as Anumanji, Amlik and then Amravati. The city is named in ancient Sanskrit ass Amarvalli. Initially...
and Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
Districts
The Pancholi community consist of forty four clans, the main ones being the Kalosoriys, Kataria, Dhola, Vania, Kasadh, Vasoyo, Jholandra, Nakhom, Hadia and Buldania. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry, like neighbouring Hindu communities,
Maschoiya
The Maschoiya are a sub-group of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. The Maschoiya are a community of Ahirs who are said to have settled along the banks of the Machhu-katia river, and the word Maschoiya literally means those from Macchu-katia. According to the traditions of the Maschoiya were originally Soomra Rajputs, and an ancestor left Sindh for Saurashtra, where he married an Ahir girl; his descendents thus became Ahirs.The Maschoiya Ahir are found mainly in Rajkot District
Rajkot district
Rajkot district is one of the 26 districts of the Indian state of Gujarat. Rajkot city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is the third-most advanced district in Gujarat....
, with a few also found in Junagadh District
Junagadh district
Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District...
. They are a Gujarati-speaking community. The Maschoiya are divided into a number of clans, all of which are of equal status. The main ones being the Dangar, Chavda, Kuvadiya, Sonara, Chhaiya, Boricha, Balasara, Bakutra, Makvana, Dav, Lavadiya, Metra, Humbal, Khungla, Birda, Meta, Herrla, Kelodia, Kangadh, Khokatara, Shiayar, and Chudasama. Unlike other Ahir communities in Gujarat, the Maschoiya practice consanguineous marriages.
Aheer
The Aheer have been referred to as "Musalman peasants, like their neighbours." They are essentially a tribe of the Thal region, with villages in KhushabKhushab
Khushab is a city of Khushab District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city serves as the headquarters of Khushab Tehsil an administrative subdivision of the district....
, Sargodha
Sargodha
Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries...
and Mianwali districts. They are differing and conflicting theories about their origin, as is the case with many other Punjab tribes. One of the tradition connects them to Qutab Shah, the ancestor of the Awan and Khokhar tribes. According to another tradition, they are Yaduvanshi Rajputs, and descended from the Krishna. Aheer is also a principle Muslim Jat clan found in various parts of Pakistan. In the Pothohar region, the Aheer have a small presence, with just two villages, Bher Ahir and Ahir in the Gujjar Khan Tehsil.
Shaikh of Bihar
The Kulhaiya Shaikh are found mainly in Araria District and in Kadwa. They get their name from the custom of not marrying within their clan (kul), or within their village. They speak MaithiliMaithili language
Maithili language is spoken in the eastern region of India and South-eastern region of Nepal. The native speakers of Maithili reside in Bihar, Jharkhand,parts of West Bengal and South-east Nepal...
, while many also now have some knowledge of Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. The community are converts from the Ahir caste, and said to have converted to Islam in the 16th Century.
Like other Shaikh groups, they are strictly endogamous, and continue the practice of clan exogamy. They are Sunni Muslims, but their beliefs incorporate many local customs and traditions. The community live in villages which are single caste, and are largely small and medium sized farmers. Despite living near the Bengali, there are no intermarriages between the two groups.
Dhangar
Ain-i-Akbari
The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak...
describes them as being a proud, refractory and domineering race of Rajputs, living in the Basim Sircar and, with numerous armed forces, occupying the forts and controlling the surrounding districts. Rajputs and Dhangars have same or common gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
s. There were twelve tribes of Dhangar and they had a division of labour
Division of labour
Division of labour is the specialisation of cooperative labour in specific, circumscribed tasks and likeroles. Historically an increasingly complex division of labour is closely associated with the growth of total output and trade, the rise of capitalism, and of the complexity of industrialisation...
amongst brothers of one family. This later formed three sub-divisions and one half division. These three being Hatkar
Hatkar
-History:A British commentator, Captain Fitzgerald, once an assistant commissioner in Berar Division, made the following observation:...
(shepherds), Ahir (cowherds) or Mhaskar (Gujjar
Gujjar
The Gurjar are an ethnic group in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Gurjjara and Gūrjara. The spelling Gurjara or Gurjar is preferable to the rest....
) (buffalo keepers), and Khutekar (wool and blanket weavers). The half division is called Khateek
Khateek
The Khatik is a Kshatriya, Rajput ancestry and the etymology of the word Khatik comes from Sanskrit Khat+eek, which means orders of Priest in the Yaga Mandapam to stroke sacrifice of animal during Vedic Yagas by none other than Rajput, Kshatriya i.e...
or Khatik (butchers). All sub-castes fall in either of these divisions. All sub-divisions emerge from one stock and all sub-divisions claim to be a single group of Dhangars.
Jadhav
Jadhav are members of the Maratha clan systemMaratha clan system
The Marāthā clan system refers to the network of families and surnames within the Maratha culture of India. The Maratha primarily reside in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa and Tamilnadu...
, hailing from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, and other Maratha-dominated Indian regions. Jadhav originates from the royal Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri, however historian Reginald Edward Enthoven said that Yadavs of Devagiri were Ahirs.
Kuruba
The word Kuruba means "warriors" and "trustworthy people." The word "Kuru" means "do or seek" in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, and "Kuruhu" means "trust" in Kannada. According to British historian Reginald Edward Enthoven, Kurumdas are none other than Ahirs of the south. "Kuruba" can be inferred to mean "doers" or "trustworthy (male person)". Kuruba can also be inferred to mean "seeker of knowledge": kuru (seek), bha (knowledge, light). Kurubas are the most ancient and original inhabitants of India and were a pastoral community.
Aharwar
Historians Henry M Elliot, W.E Purser and Herbert Charles Fanshawe regards Ahars with Ahirs and had proved that Ahirs were ancestors of Ahars. The AharAhar
Ahar is a city in and the capital of Ahar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 85,782, in 20,844 families.Ahar is known on the market place for its Ahar rugs...
are a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste found in North India. They are said to was descend from Ahir tribe. Ahar comes under Chandravanshi Rajput clans. The Ahars are one of the most ancient martial tribes of India, who ruled over different parts of India and Nepal since ancient times. A community of Hindu Kshatriya belong to Ahirwada (Jhansi) are known as Ahar Kshatriya, by Rajput clan belonging to the Chandravanshi Kshatriya lineage. Many Ahar live in different regions of India including Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Mathura, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Murena
Murena
Murena is a name used by a Roman plebeian family from Lanuvium belonging to the gens Licinia. It is supposed to be derived from the fondness of a family member for lampreys ....
, Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, and Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
.
Haral
The Harals of ChiniotChiniot
Chiniot is a city and administration headquarter of Chiniot District, in the state of Punjab, Pakistan. Located between the heart of river Chenab with the heads of small rocky hills, it is known for its wooden furniture architecture which has a great attraction in all over the world.- Name and...
, Sargodha
Sargodha
Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries...
and Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
Districts of Punjab are also said to be a sub-caste of the Aheers and comes under Chandravanshi Rajput clans.
Barda
The Barda are a Hindu tribal community found in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in India. The community is also known as Adibashi or Khandeshi Bhil.The community is now settled in the districts of Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat. They speak Gujarati. In Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, the Barda are considered to be a sub-group of the Bhil ethnic group. According to their traditions, the community descend from Sabri Bhil
Bhil
Bhils are primarily an Adivasi people of Central India. Bhils are also settled in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages....
, a well known character from the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
. The Bardas are concentrated in the districts of Dhule
Dhule
Dhule is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Dhule district in northwestern part of Maharashtra state, India. It is one of the very few well-planned cities of India before Indian Independence.-Geography:Dhule is located at...
, Jalgaon, Nasik, Osmanabad, Sangli
Sangli
Sangli is a city in the state of Maharashtra of India. Sangli is known as the Turmeric city for its vast production of Turmeric. Sangli is situated on the banks of river Krishna and is the largest market place for Turmeric in Asia and houses many sugar factories, which it is also noted for...
, Kolhapur and Sholapur. They speak Barda bhasha, which is related to Marathi. Most Barda also speak Gujarati. The Barda are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. There major clans are the Ahir, Baria, Dangia, Gaikwad, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Mori, and Thakur, all of whom intermarry.
Ghosi
The Ghosi are a Muslim community found mainly in North India. They are associated with the occupation of selling milk. A small number of Ghosi are also found in the PunjabPunjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
province of Pakistan. The Ghosi claim descent from both the Gujjar
Gujjar
The Gurjar are an ethnic group in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Gurjjara and Gūrjara. The spelling Gurjara or Gurjar is preferable to the rest....
and Ahir communities.