Kunjra
Encyclopedia
The Kunjra are a Muslim
community found in North India
, Central India and Pakistan
.
word kunj, which means a group of warrior . The now prefer to call themselves Rayeen
, and claim their migration from the Rayee mountains in Arabia. This claim is rejected by the Rayeen
community, who also found in Uttar Pradesh
.
There are social divisions with in the community, such as Jaunpuria, Mirzapuria and Purbia. In Awadh
, the Kabaria
Kunjra now form a distinct endogamous group. Unlike other Kunjra groups, the Kabaria
are largely a community of peasent cultivators. The Kunjra are strictly endogamous.
and Kachhi. They are included in the Other backward caste category in the states of Uttar Pradesh
, Madhya Pradesh
, Bihar
and Delhi
.
The Kunjra are a landless community, although some have settled in villages, and have marginal land, growing fruits and vegetables. They have a traditional community council, headed by a choudhary. This community council resolves social issues such as disputes with in families, and issues such as divorces.
They are Muslims of the Sunni sect, and also follow a number of local saints such as Ghazi Mian
and Pachon Pir.
, with large numbers found in Uttar Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh
, mainly in Bhopal (old city), Saugor, Jabalpur,Rajasthan mainly in Jodhpur, Udipur, Bhilwara, pali etc and Khurai
. In Pakistan
, they are mainly settled in Sindh
.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community found in 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...
, Central India and 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...
.
History and origin
The Kunjra are a community associated with green grocing, who sell mainly vegetable and fruits. The name of the community is derived from arabicArabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
word kunj, which means a group of warrior . The now prefer to call themselves Rayeen
Rayeen
The Rayeen are a Sunni Muslim community and are found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India.Mostly educated and big cultivarors,Rayeen traces their origin from Syria Arabclaiming relationship with Pakistani landlord Rayeen Community....
, and claim their migration from the Rayee mountains in Arabia. This claim is rejected by the Rayeen
Rayeen
The Rayeen are a Sunni Muslim community and are found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India.Mostly educated and big cultivarors,Rayeen traces their origin from Syria Arabclaiming relationship with Pakistani landlord Rayeen Community....
community, who also found 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...
.
There are social divisions with in the community, such as Jaunpuria, Mirzapuria and Purbia. 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 Kabaria
Kabaria
The Kabaria, sometimes pronounced as Kabariya are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, mainly in the Awadh region. A small number of Kabaria are also found in the Terai region of Nepal...
Kunjra now form a distinct endogamous group. Unlike other Kunjra groups, the Kabaria
Kabaria
The Kabaria, sometimes pronounced as Kabariya are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, mainly in the Awadh region. A small number of Kabaria are also found in the Terai region of Nepal...
are largely a community of peasent cultivators. The Kunjra are strictly endogamous.
Present circumstances
The community is urban based, and buys vegetables from other communities such as the MuraoMurao
The Murao or Maurya are a Hindu Kshatriya caste, who are agriculturists, found in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya State in India.- History and origin :The Murao claim descent from the ancient Maurya dynasty...
and Kachhi. They are included in the Other backward caste category in the states of 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...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and 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...
.
The Kunjra are a landless community, although some have settled in villages, and have marginal land, growing fruits and vegetables. They have a traditional community council, headed by a choudhary. This community council resolves social issues such as disputes with in families, and issues such as divorces.
They are Muslims of the Sunni sect, and also follow a number of local saints such as Ghazi Mian
Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud
Ghazi Saiyyed Salar Masud was nephew of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi and a Muslim missionary. Salar Masud was a Islamic scholar who came along with his uncle Jalaluddin Bukhari and teacher Syed Ibrahim Mashadi Bara Hazari in early 11th century to the South Asia for propagation of Islam...
and Pachon Pir.
Distribution
The Kunjra are found throughout North IndiaNorth 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...
, with large numbers found 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...
and Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, mainly in Bhopal (old city), Saugor, Jabalpur,Rajasthan mainly in Jodhpur, Udipur, Bhilwara, pali etc and Khurai
Khurai
Khurai ) is a city in Sagar District and a municipality in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is located on the north east region of Madhya Pradesh.-Geography:...
. 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 mainly settled 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...
.