Ker (tribe)
Encyclopedia
The Ker are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India
and a province of Sindh
in Pakistan
. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.
s of Sindh
. According to their traditions, the word in ker in Sindhi
means a dreadful sin. Their ancestor Mania came to Kutch in the thirteen century. He was involved in a murder of royal prince of Kutch, and as such he and his descendants became known as the Ker, i.e., the committer of a dreadful sin.
, Abdasa and Lakhpat
in Kutch District
of Gujarat, and the neighbouring districts of Badin
and Tharparkar
in Sindh
. They have three sub-divisions, the Mamda, Manai and Mode, all which have equal status. The Ker are endogamous, but do on occasion marry into other Samma communities such as the Aboda, Darad, Mandra, Mokhaji and Padiar. Historically, there were cases of intermarriage with the Hindu
Jadeja
community, but this custom has ended.
The Ker are pastoral Maldhari nomads, raising buffaloes, cows and sheep, and graze these in the Banni region. They also sell milk to Bhuj
. They often migrate to Saurashtra with to graze their cattle. Like many other Kutchis, the Ker have migrated to others parts of India in search of work. The traditional headmen of the tribe, the Jaam have converted to Hinduism
, and this has led to a rupture of the relationship of the tribe with their headman.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and a province of 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...
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.
History and origin
The Ker claim descent from the Samma RajputRajput
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 of 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...
. According to their traditions, the word in ker in Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
means a dreadful sin. Their ancestor Mania came to Kutch in the thirteen century. He was involved in a murder of royal prince of Kutch, and as such he and his descendants became known as the Ker, i.e., the committer of a dreadful sin.
Present circumstances
The community is concentrated in the talukas of 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...
, Abdasa and Lakhpat
Lakhpat
Lakhpat fort town is a small town in Kachchh district of Gujarat, India within the fort walls of the 18th-century Lakhpat fort. The literal meaning of Lakhpat is the city of millionaire, however today it is sparsely populated Ghost town, a city of ruins of buildings and a magnificent fort...
in Kutch District
Kutch District
Kutch district is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,652 km², it is the largest district of India....
of Gujarat, and the neighbouring districts of Badin
Badin District
Badin District a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The total area of the district is 6,726 square kilometres, according to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,136,636 of which 16.42% were urban...
and Tharparkar
Tharparkar District
Tharparkar District is one of twenty three districts of Sindh province in Pakistan. It is headquarters is at Mithi. It has the lowest Human Development Index of all districts in Sindh.-Demography:...
in 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...
. They have three sub-divisions, the Mamda, Manai and Mode, all which have equal status. The Ker are endogamous, but do on occasion marry into other Samma communities such as the Aboda, Darad, Mandra, Mokhaji and Padiar. Historically, there were cases of intermarriage with the 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...
Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
community, but this custom has ended.
The Ker are pastoral Maldhari nomads, raising buffaloes, cows and sheep, and graze these in the Banni region. They also sell milk to Bhuj
Bhuj
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...
. They often migrate to Saurashtra with to graze their cattle. Like many other Kutchis, the Ker have migrated to others parts of India in search of work. The traditional headmen of the tribe, the Jaam have converted to Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, and this has led to a rupture of the relationship of the tribe with their headman.