Mirasi
Encyclopedia
The Mirasi are a Muslim
or Sikh
caste
, found in Northern India and Pakistan
. They are also known as Pakhwaji, Kalawart and Qawwal.The Mirasi community are the genealogists of a number of communities in Northern India and Pakistan
. Most Mirasis are Muslim
, but Rababi and Dhadi sub-groups are entirely Sikh
. Their preferred self-designation in Pakistan
is now Qureshi.
converts from the Hindu
Dom
caste, while others claim to have originally belonged to the Hindu
Charan
community. They are said to have converted to Islam
at the hands of Amir Khusro
, the 11th Century Sufi poet. The word mirasi is derived from the Arabic word miras, which means inheritance or sometimes heritage. They are the heredity genealogists of many communities in North India
, and as such the keepers of the heritage or Mirasi. The North Indian Mirasi are divided into five main sub-groups, the Abbal, Posla, Bet, Kattu and Kalet. In customs, they are similar to the Muslim Raibhat
, another community of genealogists. Also related to the Mirasi are the Kingharia
, another community that once employed as musicians and entertainers.
, the Sikh
Mirasi claim Jatt origin and call themselves 'Mirasi Jatt'. While in Pakistan, they claim Arab
origin. According to their traditions, the Prophet Mohammad once whipped a Muslim
of Medina
, by the name of Akasa. At his death bed, the Prophet asked that anyone who might have been injured by him, to take revenge. The said Aksa, instead of taking revenge, eulogised him. The community has from that time claimed to have entertained kings and nobles for a living.
They are sub-divided into the following sub-divisions, the Rai-Mirasis, who were the genealogists of the Jats, the Mir-Mirasis who participates in Ashura
activities, the Dhadhi, the Kalawant, the Khariala, the Kamachi, who were the traditional genealogists of the Brahmin
s, the Mutrib, Naqqal
, Qawwal, singers of devotional singers of Sufi poetry, and the Rababis, who play the musical instrument the rabab. Unlike the other Mirasi communities, the Rababi are Sikh
, and trace their descent from Bhai Mardana
, a Mirasi who used to play the rebab before Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism
.
Other minor groups include the Poslas, the genealogists of the Sayyid
, the Kulet the Mirasi of the Mughal
s,, the Malet the Mirasi of the Qureshi, the Baral
, the Mirasi of the Pathan
, the Dair the Mirasi of the Rajput
and Latkanian the Mirasi of the Mali
.
In south Punjab
, the Mirasi are a Seraiki
speaking community, with the following sub-divisions:
, Bihar
, Gujarat, Haryana
, and Western Uttar Pradesh
.
, the community is concentrated in western Uttar Pradesh
, found mainly in the districts of Meerut
, Muzaffarnagar
and Bulandshahr
. Historically, the Mirasi were the genealogists of the Rebari community, whom they accompanied from Rajasthan
. They have a traditional caste council, headed by headman known as a mukhiya. The caste council deals with infringement of community rules, settle disputes and prevent immoral activity. They are Sunni Muslim
s, but also worship Sikh Gurus
and Hindu
gods. The Mirasi speak standard Urdu
, although most can speak the various dialects of Hindi
. The Naqqal
of Lucknow
are an important sub-group of the Mirasi of Uttar Pradesh
.
, the Mirasi claim to have come from Uttar Pradesh
in the 16th Century. Many were musicians at the court of the many zamindar
s of Bihar. With the abolishment of the zamindar
i system, the Mirasi have taken to farming. A few are still called to sing songs at special occasions, such as weddings and funerals. Many Mirasi are now Shia, and play an important role in the Moharam
festivities. They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur
, Bhojpur
, Gaya
, Munger
, Nalanda
and Patna
districts. The Mirasi speak Magadhi among themselves and Urdu
with outsiders. Unlike other Mirasi communities, the Bihar Mirasi have never been genealogists. The Pamaria
community are a major sub-division of the Mirasi of Bihar
.
claim descent from the Charan
caste. They are found in the localities of Seelampur and Shahdara. They affix the surnames khan and Mallick. The Delhi Mirasi are singers and musicians, and were associated with the Mughal
court in Delhi
. Many Mirasi khandans (families) attained great fame at the court of the emperors, while others were devotional singers (qawwals) at the various Sufi shrines, such as that of Nizamuddin. The community, like many Muslim
communities in Delhi
suffered at the time of partition of India
, with many members emigrating to Pakistan
. Many are now involved in petty businesses, like selling vegetables and repairing umbrellas.
are found in the districts of Bikaner, Jodhpur
, Nagaur
, Chittorgarh
, Ajmer
and Jaiselmer. They are said to be have converted to Islam
about eight Centuries ago, and said to have originally belonged to the Hindu
Dhadi caste. The Mirasi have a number of exogamous gotra
s, the main ones being the Gorel, Bhabra, Suel, Pohra, Kawa, Ghocha and Dhaosi. Their traditional occupations is singing and a playing drums at weddings. They were also genealogists of the Chhipa
and Jat communities. Many are now tenant farmers. They speak Bikaneri dialect of Rajasthani
.
mirasi are also founfdin jalore dist of rajasthan
are also known as Dom. They are found mainly in Mewat
, Rohtak
, Faridabad
, Hissar
, Karnal
, Kurukshetra
, Sonepat and Mahendergarh districts. The community speak Haryanvi, and many can also speak Urdu
. They are mainly a landless community, and were traditionally employed as singers and entertainers, as well as serving as genealogists of the Jat community. Most have now abandoned their traditional occupation, and are employed as wage labourers. They are an extremely marginalized community. The community is endogamous, and practice clan exogamy, and consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Bhat, Borda, Nimaba, Sanp and Seol. Each of these is of equal status, and intermarry.
. They are traditionally the genealogists of a number of communities such as the Rabari
. The community is found mainly in the districts of Ahmadabad
, Bharuch
, Surat
, Junagadh
, Kutch and Palanpur. There main clans are the Kalat, Chamanga, Dodia, Barbas, Ganglora and Chertia. The Gujarat Mirasi are entirely Sunni, and speak Gujarati
.
are Muslim
, Hindu
and Sikh
. They are the heredity genealogists of the various communitues of Jat and Rajput
in the state. The community is divided into three groups, the Balmiki, Dom
and Muslim
Mirasi. The Balmiki Mirasi consist of a number of gotra
s, and marriage is forbidden within the gotra. While the Muslim Mirasi marry among close kin. The Mirasis of Punjab
are a Punjabi
speaking community, although most speak and understand Urdu
. They consist of a number sub-groups, the main ones being the Rai Mirasi, Mir Mirasi,, Rababis, Kamachis, Dhadi, Kumachi, Kulawant and Mir Mang. The Dhadi and Rababi are Sikh
, while the other groups are Hindu
and Muslim
. They have produced a number of folk singers, and unlike their counterparts in West Punjab
, the majority of the community are still involved in their traditional occupation.
caste
. They claim to have been Brahmin
, and continued to compose and recite kabits after their conversion. The community are strictly endogamous, and are Shia Muslim
s.
The Mir Mirasi are said to have gotten their name on account of the fact that they were the genealogists of the wealthy inhabitants of the city of Ludhiana. Their sub-division, the Dhadi are Sikh
, and their heredity occupation was singing praises of Sikh
heroes.
The Kumachi Mirasi are the genealogists of the Brahmin
community. According to their traditions, the community were once Brahmin
, who converted to Islam
on the condition that they would remain the genealogists of the Brahmin.
The Rababi are Mirasis who play a musical instrument known as a rabab. They trace their descent from Bhai Mardana, a Mirasi who used to play the rabab as an accompaniment to Guru Nanak. The Rababi are Sikh
.
The Posla are Muslim
Mirasis and consist of four sub-divisions, the Ghorian, Kharia, Malhar and Gurbal, and were the heredity genealogists of the Sayyid
. Related to the Posla are the Malet, the genealogists of the Qureshis and Sohal, the genealogists of the Punjabi Shaikh
s. With the departure of their patron communities at partition
, these communities are now mainly musicians.
The Naqqal Mirasis were a community of mimics, and were found mainly in Ludhiana. They were associated with the courts of the Mughal
Emperors, were they employed as entertainers. The community is strictly endogamous, and marry close kin.
Other sub-groups include the Kulawant, the genealogists of the Rajput
s, Mir Mangs, who were a community of beggars, Naqarchi who played a musical instrument known as a naqqara, the Naqib and Mirzada.
, the Mirasi are now mainly a community of entertainers, having providing many of the country's singers and entertainers. The community's preferred self-designation is Qureshi. Most Mirasi are now bilingual, speaking both Urdu
and Punjabi
. They are found throughout Punjab, and most villages contain their settlements.
The Mirasi are no longer just the traditional genealogists of the Jat and Rajput communities, and many village Mirasi are now agricultural labourers, as the traditional payment in kind paid to village artisans, has been replaced with commercial transactions. Beside their traditional occupations, the Mirasi are involved in diverse types of hawkers jobs. Finally, the community are professional musicians, who still entertain other communities in the village.
Many members of the community have completely abandoned their occupation, and have attempted to change their caste identity. This is known to anthropologists as ashrafization, where a Muslim
community, which is perceived of being of lower status, tries to improve its status. This has included conversion to the Shia sect, by many members of the community.
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...
or Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
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...
, found in Northern 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...
. They are also known as Pakhwaji, Kalawart and Qawwal.The Mirasi community are the genealogists of a number of communities in Northern 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...
. Most Mirasis are Muslim
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...
, but Rababi and Dhadi sub-groups are entirely Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
. Their preferred self-designation 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...
is now Qureshi.
In North India
Included within the name Mirasi are a number of sub-groups, each with their own history and origin myths. Some Mirasi groups are MuslimMuslim
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...
converts from 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...
Dom
Domba
The Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes.The Domba are sometimes also called "Chandala". Both terms also came to be used in the sense of "outcaste" in general...
caste, while others claim to have originally belonged to 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...
Charan
Charan
Chāraṇ is the term for a caste living in the Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. According to Shrimada Bhagwata Skand Charans were created along with other divine forms such as Yaksha, Gandharvas, Kinnara, Sidhdhas, Apsara, etc. and lived with them in Heaven...
community. They are said to have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
at the hands of Amir Khusro
Amir Khusro
Ab'ul Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrow , better known as Amīr Khusrow Dehlawī , was an Indian musician, scholar and poet. He was an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent...
, the 11th Century Sufi poet. The word mirasi is derived from the Arabic word miras, which means inheritance or sometimes heritage. They are the heredity genealogists of many communities 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...
, and as such the keepers of the heritage or Mirasi. The North Indian Mirasi are divided into five main sub-groups, the Abbal, Posla, Bet, Kattu and Kalet. In customs, they are similar to the Muslim Raibhat
Muslim Raibhat
The Muslim Raibhat are a Muslim community found in North India. They are converts to Islam from the Rai Bhat community. The Muslim Rai Bhat are the heredity bards and genealogists of many communities in India...
, another community of genealogists. Also related to the Mirasi are the Kingharia
Kingharia
The Kingharia are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Panwariya.- Origin :The Kingharia are a community of singers and beggers. Their name is derived from the word kingri, which is a type of a violin. The word Kingharia literally means someone...
, another community that once employed as musicians and entertainers.
In Punjab
In Indian PunjabPunjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Mirasi claim Jatt origin and call themselves 'Mirasi Jatt'. While in Pakistan, they claim Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
origin. According to their traditions, the Prophet Mohammad once whipped a Muslim
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...
of Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
, by the name of Akasa. At his death bed, the Prophet asked that anyone who might have been injured by him, to take revenge. The said Aksa, instead of taking revenge, eulogised him. The community has from that time claimed to have entertained kings and nobles for a living.
They are sub-divided into the following sub-divisions, the Rai-Mirasis, who were the genealogists of the Jats, the Mir-Mirasis who participates in Ashura
Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
activities, the Dhadhi, the Kalawant, the Khariala, the Kamachi, who were the traditional genealogists of the Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, the Mutrib, Naqqal
Naqqal
The Naqqal are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as the Kashmiri Bhand and recently as Kashmiri Shaikh. The Naqqal are a sub-group within the larger Bhand community. -Origin:...
, Qawwal, singers of devotional singers of Sufi poetry, and the Rababis, who play the musical instrument the rabab. Unlike the other Mirasi communities, the Rababi are Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, and trace their descent from Bhai Mardana
Bhai Mardana
Bhai Mardana was the first follower and longtime companion of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. He was with Nanak in all of his journeys across India and Asia...
, a Mirasi who used to play the rebab before Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
.
Other minor groups include the Poslas, the genealogists of the Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
, the Kulet the Mirasi of the Mughal
Mughal (tribe)
The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...
s,, the Malet the Mirasi of the Qureshi, the Baral
Baral
Baral is a surname found in people from Nepal, India, and individuals of Jewish ancestry.There are over 100,000 Nepalese Barals who mainly constitute of the chetriya, brahmin and magar castes in Nepal. The surname Baral is found predominantly in India in individuals from Orissa and Bengal. Many...
, the Mirasi of the Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, the Dair the Mirasi of the 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...
and Latkanian the Mirasi of the Mali
Mali caste
The Mali are an occupational caste found among the Hindus who traditionally worked as gardners. They also call themselves Phul Mali, who derived their names from their occupation of growing flowers. The Mali are found throughout North India, East India as well as the Terai region of Nepal and...
.
In south Punjab
Punjab (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...
, the Mirasi are a Seraiki
Saraiki language
Saraiki , transliterated as Sirāikī and sometimes spelled Seraiki and Saraiki, is a standardized written language of Pakistan belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages. It is a language spoken in the heart of Pakistan...
speaking community, with the following sub-divisions:
- The Doran and Kanotra, who the genealogists of the SayyidSayyidSayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
and JohiyaJohiyaJohiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
s. - The Sewak, who are the qawwals at various Sufi shrines that are situated in the MultanMultanMultan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
region. - The Jathi who are the genealogists of the Sial.
- The Kharaila are the genealogists of the KumharKumharKumhar or Kumbhar ; also known as Prajapati, is a caste or community of India, mainly belonging to the Hindu religion. The word "Kumhar" literally means "potter" in Indian languages, pottery being the traditional occupation of the Kumhars....
s. - The Lachh who are traditionally beggars at the various Sufi shrines in the region.
- The LanghaLangha (tribe)The Langha or Langah are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. They are unrelated to the Langah tribe of southern Pakistan.- History and origin :...
are immigrants from RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān 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...
. They are the genealogists of the DaudpotaDaudpota- History :The Daudpota Abbasi's are Arabic origin and descent from Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib , , a paternal uncle and Sahabi of Muhammad as well as a progenitor of the Abbasi Khalifa of Baghdad and Qahira. Sultan Ahmad II, son of Shah Muzammil of Egypt left that country and arrived in Sind...
s. - The LoriLori (ethnic group)The Lori are a nomadic community found in the Balochistan region of Iran and Pakistan. They must not be confused with Lurs, who are an entirely distinct people.- Origin :...
, a gypsy tribe, originally from BaluchistanBalochistan (region)Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
, are the genealogists of the various Baluch tribes settled in the region. - The Posla, who are immigrants from central Punjab, and live by begging.
Mirasi of North India
The Mirasi are found throughout Northern India. In Punjab, the community were genealogists of the Jat communities. They were traditionally ballad singers, and would often sing at weddings. The community were also connected with the manufacture of paper flowers. They can be seen performing in fairs in the rural area of Punjab. As an urban community, found at the edges of towns, many are now employed as wage labourers.Some Mirasis have migrated from Punjab to the neighbouring states - RajasthanRajasthan
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...
, 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....
, Gujarat, 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...
, and Western 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...
.
In Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar PradeshUttar 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 community is concentrated in western 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...
, found mainly in the districts of 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:...
, Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar District
Muzaffarnagar district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. It is part of Saharanpur division. The town of Muzaffarnagar is the district headquarters.-Communication:...
and Bulandshahr
Bulandshahr District
Bulandshahar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Bulandshahr city is the district headquarters.-Geography:...
. Historically, the Mirasi were the genealogists of the Rebari community, whom they accompanied from 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...
. They have a traditional caste council, headed by headman known as a mukhiya. The caste council deals with infringement of community rules, settle disputes and prevent immoral activity. They are Sunni Muslim
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...
s, but also worship Sikh Gurus
Sikh Gurus
The Sikh Gurus established Sikhism from over the centuries beginning in the year 1469. Sikhism was founded by the first guru, Guru Nanak, and subsequently, all in order were referred to as "Nanak", and as "Lights", making their teachings in the holy scriptures, equivalent...
and 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...
gods. The Mirasi speak standard 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...
, although most can speak the various dialects of 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...
. The Naqqal
Naqqal
The Naqqal are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as the Kashmiri Bhand and recently as Kashmiri Shaikh. The Naqqal are a sub-group within the larger Bhand community. -Origin:...
of Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
are an important sub-group of the Mirasi 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...
.
In Bihar
In BiharBihar
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....
, the Mirasi claim to have come from 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...
in the 16th Century. Many were musicians at the court of the many zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
s of Bihar. With the abolishment of the zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
i system, the Mirasi have taken to farming. A few are still called to sing songs at special occasions, such as weddings and funerals. Many Mirasi are now Shia, and play an important role in the Moharam
Mourning of Muharram
The Mourning of Muharram is an important period of mourning in Shia Islam, taking place in Muharram which is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is also called the Remembrance of Muharram...
festivities. They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
, Bhojpur
Bhojpur district, Bihar
Bhojpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Arrah town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:...
, Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
, Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
, Nalanda
Nalanda
Nālandā is the name of an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India.The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from the fifth or sixth century CE to 1197 CE. It has been called "one of the...
and Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
districts. The Mirasi speak Magadhi among themselves and 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...
with outsiders. Unlike other Mirasi communities, the Bihar Mirasi have never been genealogists. The Pamaria
Pamaria
- Origin :The Pamaria are said to be Muslim converts from the Parmar Rajput community. This conversion is said to have taken place during the rule of the Mugal Emperor Akbar. The Pamaria are then said to have left Rajasthan, their own original home, and moved to Bihar. When in Bihar, the community...
community are a major sub-division of the Mirasi of 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....
.
In Delhi
The Mirasi of DelhiDelhi
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...
claim descent from the Charan
Charan
Chāraṇ is the term for a caste living in the Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. According to Shrimada Bhagwata Skand Charans were created along with other divine forms such as Yaksha, Gandharvas, Kinnara, Sidhdhas, Apsara, etc. and lived with them in Heaven...
caste. They are found in the localities of Seelampur and Shahdara. They affix the surnames khan and Mallick. The Delhi Mirasi are singers and musicians, and were associated with the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
court in 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...
. Many Mirasi khandans (families) attained great fame at the court of the emperors, while others were devotional singers (qawwals) at the various Sufi shrines, such as that of Nizamuddin. The community, like many Muslim
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...
communities in 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...
suffered at the time of partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, with many members emigrating to 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...
. Many are now involved in petty businesses, like selling vegetables and repairing umbrellas.
Rajasthan
The Mirasi of RajasthanRajasthan
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...
are found in the districts of Bikaner, Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, Nagaur
Nagaur
Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagaur District. The Nagaur city lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It was founded by the Naga Kshatriyas.- History :...
, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar...
, Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
and Jaiselmer. They are said to be have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
about eight Centuries ago, and said to have originally belonged to 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...
Dhadi caste. The Mirasi have a number of exogamous 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, the main ones being the Gorel, Bhabra, Suel, Pohra, Kawa, Ghocha and Dhaosi. Their traditional occupations is singing and a playing drums at weddings. They were also genealogists of the Chhipa
Chhipa
The Chhipa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few Chhipa are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:Chhipa is also hindu community which belives in Sant Namdev...
and Jat communities. Many are now tenant farmers. They speak Bikaneri dialect of Rajasthani
Rajasthani language
Rajasthani Rajasthani Rajasthani (Devanagari: , Perso-Arabic: is a language of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 50 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
.
mirasi are also founfdin jalore dist of rajasthan
In Haryana
The Mirasi of HaryanaHaryana
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...
are also known as Dom. They are found mainly in Mewat
Mewat
Mewat is a historical region of Haryana and Rajasthan states in northwestern India. The loose boundaries of Mewat are not precisely determined but generally include Mewat District of Haryana and parts of Alwar, Bharatpur, and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan...
, 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...
, Faridabad
Faridabad
Faridabad is a city in the south-east of Haryana state in northern India, in Faridabad district. It lies at 28º 25' 16" N Latitude and 77º 18' 28" E Longitude. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and...
, Hissar
Hissar
Hissar means Fort or Castle in Arabic. Many forts in Ottoman, Safavi and Mughal empires are named Hissar. Hissar could refer to:*Hisar, India, a city in Haryana state in India.*Hisar District in Haryana state in India...
, Karnal
Karnal
Karnal is an important city and the headquarters of Karnal District in the Indian state of Haryana.Karnal is said to have been founded by the Kauravas in the Mahabharata era for the king Karna, a mythological hero and a key figure in the epic tale...
, Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
, Sonepat and Mahendergarh districts. The community speak Haryanvi, and many can also speak 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...
. They are mainly a landless community, and were traditionally employed as singers and entertainers, as well as serving as genealogists of the Jat community. Most have now abandoned their traditional occupation, and are employed as wage labourers. They are an extremely marginalized community. The community is endogamous, and practice clan exogamy, and consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Bhat, Borda, Nimaba, Sanp and Seol. Each of these is of equal status, and intermarry.
In Gujarat
The Mirasi of Gujarat are also known as BarotBarot (Caste)
Barot are a caste of Rajasthan, who were involved in profession as bards and especially as Vahivanchas: meaning traditional genealogists. They also additionally worked as Mythographers. They were also known by name of Bhat or Brahmbhatt.- Origin :...
. They are traditionally the genealogists of a number of communities such as the Rabari
Rabari
Members of the Rabari or Rewari live throughout the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states in India...
. The community is found mainly in the districts of Ahmadabad
Ahmadabad
Ahmadabad may refer to:Afghanistan* Ahmad Abad, Afghanistan, a place in AfghanistanAzerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Goranboy, Azerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Sabirabad, Azerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Tovuz, AzerbaijanIndia* Ahmedabad , a major city in India...
, Bharuch
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
, Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, Junagadh
Junagadh
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,...
, Kutch and Palanpur. There main clans are the Kalat, Chamanga, Dodia, Barbas, Ganglora and Chertia. The Gujarat Mirasi are entirely Sunni, and speak Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
.
The Mirasi of Indian Punjab
The Mirasi in Indian PunjabPunjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
are Muslim
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...
, 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 Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
. They are the heredity genealogists of the various communitues of Jat and Rajput
Punjabi Rajput
Rajputs during the medieval period were a dominant caste in Northwestern India, including the Punjab region.According to the 1911 census in British India, the total Rajput population in the Punjab was 1,635,578, of which 1,222,024 were Muslim, 388,744 were Hindu and were Sikh.Traditionally,...
in the state. The community is divided into three groups, the Balmiki, Dom
Dom
- People :* Dom people, an ethnic group in the Middle East* Doms, people of indigenous origin found in the Indian state of West Bengal* Domba or Dom, an ethnic group of India...
and Muslim
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...
Mirasi. The Balmiki Mirasi consist of a number of 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, and marriage is forbidden within the gotra. While the Muslim Mirasi marry among close kin. The Mirasis of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
are a Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
speaking community, although most speak and understand 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...
. They consist of a number sub-groups, the main ones being the Rai Mirasi, Mir Mirasi,, Rababis, Kamachis, Dhadi, Kumachi, Kulawant and Mir Mang. The Dhadi and Rababi are Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, while the other groups 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 Muslim
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...
. They have produced a number of folk singers, and unlike their counterparts in West Punjab
Punjab (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...
, the majority of the community are still involved in their traditional occupation.
Major Sub-groups
The Rai Mirasi are the genealogists of the Jats, and claim to have converted from the Rai BhatRai Bhat
The Rai Bhat are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Dasaundhi, Bandiji, Barna, Barwa, Bhargava, Bhatela, Maharaj, Raja and Raoji. The community have been the heredity bards and genealogists of many castes in India...
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...
. They claim to have been Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, and continued to compose and recite kabits after their conversion. The community are strictly endogamous, and are Shia Muslim
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...
s.
The Mir Mirasi are said to have gotten their name on account of the fact that they were the genealogists of the wealthy inhabitants of the city of Ludhiana. Their sub-division, the Dhadi are Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, and their heredity occupation was singing praises of Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
heroes.
The Kumachi Mirasi are the genealogists of the Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
community. According to their traditions, the community were once Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
on the condition that they would remain the genealogists of the Brahmin.
The Rababi are Mirasis who play a musical instrument known as a rabab. They trace their descent from Bhai Mardana, a Mirasi who used to play the rabab as an accompaniment to Guru Nanak. The Rababi are Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
.
The Posla are Muslim
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...
Mirasis and consist of four sub-divisions, the Ghorian, Kharia, Malhar and Gurbal, and were the heredity genealogists of the Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
. Related to the Posla are the Malet, the genealogists of the Qureshis and Sohal, the genealogists of the Punjabi Shaikh
Punjabi Shaikh
Sheikh , is an Arabic word meaning elder of a tribe, lord, Honorable revered old man, or Islamic scholar. In South Asia it is used as an ethnic title generally attributed to Muslim trading families....
s. With the departure of their patron communities at partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, these communities are now mainly musicians.
The Naqqal Mirasis were a community of mimics, and were found mainly in Ludhiana. They were associated with the courts of the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperors, were they employed as entertainers. The community is strictly endogamous, and marry close kin.
Other sub-groups include the Kulawant, the genealogists of the 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, Mir Mangs, who were a community of beggars, Naqarchi who played a musical instrument known as a naqqara, the Naqib and Mirzada.
The Mirasi of Pakistani Punjab
In Pakistani 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...
, the Mirasi are now mainly a community of entertainers, having providing many of the country's singers and entertainers. The community's preferred self-designation is Qureshi. Most Mirasi are now bilingual, speaking both 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...
and Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. They are found throughout Punjab, and most villages contain their settlements.
The Mirasi are no longer just the traditional genealogists of the Jat and Rajput communities, and many village Mirasi are now agricultural labourers, as the traditional payment in kind paid to village artisans, has been replaced with commercial transactions. Beside their traditional occupations, the Mirasi are involved in diverse types of hawkers jobs. Finally, the community are professional musicians, who still entertain other communities in the village.
Many members of the community have completely abandoned their occupation, and have attempted to change their caste identity. This is known to anthropologists as ashrafization, where a Muslim
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, which is perceived of being of lower status, tries to improve its status. This has included conversion to the Shia sect, by many members of the community.