Chain (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Chain, sometimes also pronounced as Chai, are cultivating and fishing caste found in eastern Uttar Pradesh
in India. They are a sub-group within the larger Kewat
communinity of North India
.
s, who lost caste
, when they took to fishing. Other traditions make them out to be a branch of the Bind
caste
, and the two communities intermarry, with suggests a common origin. They are now recognized as a sub-group within the Kewat
community, and they intermarry with other Kewat clans such as the Banaphar and Dhivar. The majority of the Chai are now cultivators, with a small number still employed as boatmen on the Ganges. They are Hindu
, and have customs similar to other Kewat
groups.
The Chai are found mainly in southern and eastern Uttar Pradesh
, with concentrations in Mirzapur
, Ghazipur
, Varanasi
, Gorakhpur
, Basti and Faizabad
. They speak Awadhi
, although most also understand Hindi.
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...
in India. They are a sub-group within the larger Kewat
Kewat
The Kewat are a Hindu caste, found in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are the traditional boatmen of North India.-History and origin:...
communinity of North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
.
Origin
The Chai according to some traditions, were a community of VaishyaVaishya
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. According to Vedic tradition, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.-Duties of Vaishyas:...
s, who lost caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, when they took to fishing. Other traditions make them out to be a branch of the Bind
Bind (tribe)
The Bind are scheduled caste, found in North India. They are also known as Chatai Bin or Chai.-History and origin:They originate from the Vindhya hills in central India. According to their traditions, the daughter of Nisadh, on the way to her husband's house, was passing by a river, when she was...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, and the two communities intermarry, with suggests a common origin. They are now recognized as a sub-group within the Kewat
Kewat
The Kewat are a Hindu caste, found in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are the traditional boatmen of North India.-History and origin:...
community, and they intermarry with other Kewat clans such as the Banaphar and Dhivar. The majority of the Chai are now cultivators, with a small number still employed as boatmen on the Ganges. They are 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...
, and have customs similar to other Kewat
Kewat
The Kewat are a Hindu caste, found in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are the traditional boatmen of North India.-History and origin:...
groups.
The Chai are found mainly in southern and eastern 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...
, with concentrations in Mirzapur
Mirzapur District
Mirzapur district is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district is bounded on the north by Sant Ravidas Nagar and Varanasi districts, on the east by Chandauli district, on the south by Sonbhadra district and on the norhwest by Allahabad district. The district...
, Ghazipur
Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division...
, 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...
, Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...
, Basti and Faizabad
Faizabad District
See also: Faizabad Faizabad district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Faizabad city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district occupies an area of 2,764 km²...
. They speak Awadhi
Awadhi language
Awadhi is an Indo-Aryan language, part of the Hindi-Urdu continuum. It is spoken chiefly in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, although its speakers are also found in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Nepal. Furthermore, the Fiji Hindi dialect spoken by Indo-Fijians is considered a variant of Awadhi,...
, although most also understand Hindi.