Arain
Encyclopedia
The Arain are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab
, with significant numbers also in Sindh
. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindar
s.
and as a corollary, reference is also made to Hindu and Sikh sections of the tribe which make up 3% of Arains, with 97% Sunni Muslims.
Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening.
The census reports of 1883 and 1892 record their Hindu origins and kinship with the Kamboh and Saini
caste groups.
Most Arain however propose descent from Arabs belonging to Muhammad bin Qasim's expeditionary force to India. Such claims are given credance by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts; Tareekh-e-Arain, Sham Ta Multan, Tareekh Frishta, Tohfa Tul Ikram and Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa, that reliably trace the lineage of many notable Arain including Zia Ul-Haq and the famous Mian Family of Bhaghbanpura
. According to these sources, the word Arain is derived from Areeha which is the Arabic name for the city of Jericho
in the West Bank, Palestinian Territory, the place from where they allegedly came.
The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified zamindars such as the feudal Rajput
landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as "...dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages..".
The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.
The Arain were classified as a "non-martial race
" by the British, a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time (see Martial Race
).
It is important to note however Arain contributions to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikely acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation." Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One notable rebellion occurred in the Revolt of 1857, when the Arain Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi led an inter-communal uprising in Ludhiana against the British East India Company
.
, that claim kinship with the Arain of Punjab
. The Arain
of Delhi
claim to be descended from Arains, who settled in Delhi
during the rule of the Mughal
Emperor Akbar.
Another community that claims a connection with the Arain are the Rayeen
are Muslim
tribe found in Bareilly
, Pilibhit
, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Rampur
and Saharanpur
districts of Uttar Pradesh
, India
.
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, with significant numbers also 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 are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or 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.
Origin
In the Punjab Census Report (1911), Pandit Harikishan Kaul points out that members of the Arain tribe are “mostly Muhammadans,” (in the Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, Denzil Ibbetson also refers to the Arains as, “Almost to a man Muhammadans”),and as a corollary, reference is also made to Hindu and Sikh sections of the tribe which make up 3% of Arains, with 97% Sunni Muslims.
Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening.
The census reports of 1883 and 1892 record their Hindu origins and kinship with the Kamboh and Saini
Saini
Saini is a Rajput descent caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh...
caste groups.
Most Arain however propose descent from Arabs belonging to Muhammad bin Qasim's expeditionary force to India. Such claims are given credance by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts; Tareekh-e-Arain, Sham Ta Multan, Tareekh Frishta, Tohfa Tul Ikram and Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa, that reliably trace the lineage of many notable Arain including Zia Ul-Haq and the famous Mian Family of Bhaghbanpura
Mian Family Baghbanpura
Mian family of Baghbanpura is a Pakistani noble family. It has enjoyed a prominent role in Punjabi and Pakistani politics since the days of the Mughal Empire...
. According to these sources, the word Arain is derived from Areeha which is the Arabic name for the city of Jericho
Jericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
in the West Bank, Palestinian Territory, the place from where they allegedly came.
The Arain during the British Raj
The British considered the Arain as a landholding 'agricultural' caste. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and alongside the Jats were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain, all of whom were Muslims, received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified zamindars such as the feudal 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...
landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as "...dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages..".
The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.
The Arain were classified as a "non-martial race
Martial Race
Martial Race was a designation created by Army officials of British India, where they classified each ethnic group into one of two categories: 'Martial' and 'Non-Martial'. A 'martial race' was typically considered brave and well built for fighting. The 'non-martial races' were those whom the...
" by the British, a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time (see Martial Race
Martial Race
Martial Race was a designation created by Army officials of British India, where they classified each ethnic group into one of two categories: 'Martial' and 'Non-Martial'. A 'martial race' was typically considered brave and well built for fighting. The 'non-martial races' were those whom the...
).
It is important to note however Arain contributions to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikely acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation." Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One notable rebellion occurred in the Revolt of 1857, when the Arain Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi led an inter-communal uprising in Ludhiana against the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
.
Related communities in North India
There are a number of communities in 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...
, that claim kinship with the Arain of 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 Arain
Arain (Delhi)
The Arain of Delhi are an Urdu speaking Muslim community found in Delhi, India. They are descended from the Arain community of Punjab. The Rayeen community of Uttar Pradesh also claim common ancestry with this community...
of 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...
claim to be descended from Arains, who settled 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...
during the rule 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...
Emperor Akbar.
Another community that claims a connection with the Arain are 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....
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...
tribe found in Bareilly
Bareilly District
Bareilly district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. City of Bareilly is the district headquarters. The district consists of six tehsils. These are: Aonla, Baheri, City of Bareilly, Faridpur, Meerganj and Nawabganj. Bareilly district is a part of Bareilly Division....
, Pilibhit
Pilibhit District
Pilibhit district is one of the districts in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, and Pilibhit city is the district headquarters. Pilibhit district is a part of Bareilly Division.The city is famous for its contribution to Bollywood, Urdu literature and its involvement in Politics of India...
, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Rampur
Rampur District
Rampur district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Rampur town is the district headquarters. Rampur district is a part of Moradabad division. The district occupies an area of 2,367 km²...
and Saharanpur
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
districts 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...
, India
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...
.
Notable Arains
- Mian Muhammad Aslam AdvocateMian Muhammad Aslam AdvocateMian Muhammad Aslam is a well known lawyer and was the Vice President of Lahore High Court Bar Accociation for the year 2008-09.-Early life and education:...
Former Vice President of High court Bar Association. - Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, a renowned politician and painter belonging to district KasurKasurKasur , the capital of Kasur District in Pakistan. Kasur is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags lowering ceremony...
. - Chaudhry Muhammad AliChaudhry Muhammad AliChaudhry Muhammad Ali Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (Punjabi, ; (July 15, 1905 - December 2, 1980) was a Pakistani statesman who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1955 to 1956.-Early life:...
, Prime Minister from 1955 to 1956. - Justice Mian Shah DinJustice Mian Shah DinMian Shah Din was born at Lahore in 1868. He belonged to the well-known Arain Mian family of Baghbanpura, Lahore. In 1887, he graduated from the Government College, Lahore, and left for higher study of Law in England, being the first Muslim from the Punjab to go abroad for this purpose...
, the first Muslim judge in British India. - Lieutenant Karam ud DinKaram ud DinLieutenant Hajji Karam ud Din TK was a Pakistani naval officer. He fought the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971...
, Tamgha-i-Khidmat(M)Tamgha-i-KhidmatTamgha-i-Khidmat or Tamgha-e-Khidmat, which translates as the medal of services , is 7th highest honour given by the Government of Pakistan to both the military and civilians....
, ex Pakistan Navy officer - Muhammad FarooqMuhammad FarooqMuhammad Farooq is a journalist, Qari, Naat Khawan and newscaster from Pakistan. He was the founder editor of first Pakistani evening newspaper, Daily Evening Special from Quetta. He also worked as Joint Executive Editor Daily Mashriq Quetta. Nowadays he is working in Daily Pakistan Lahore as a...
, journalist, Qari and Naat Khawan. - General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, president of Pakistan from July 1977 to 1988.
- Sir Fazli HusainFazli HusainSir Fazli Husain, KCSI, Kt. was a Muslim politician in Punjab in the 1920s. He is credited with having been the main engineer of the scheme to establish employment quotas for Muslims in the Indian civil service....
, an eminent British Indian politician and a founder of the Unionist Party. - Mian Iftikharuddin, a politician and landlord who played an important role in turning the Muslim community of urban Punjab towards favouring an independent Pakistan.
- Mian Tufail MohammadMian Tufail Mohammad-Early life and education:Mian Tufail Mohammad was born in Kapurthala, Punjab State, India in an Arain family. He received his B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Government College, Lahore, with distinction in 1935 and completed his LL.B. in 1937 from the University Law College, Lahore,...
, lawyer and politician, former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami. - Mian Sir Muhammad Shah NawazMian Sir Muhammad Shah NawazMian Sir Muhammad Shah Nawaz born in the famous, affluent Arain Mian family of baghbanpura Lahore. He was a prominent and influential politician of Punjab in the 1920s....
, an influential politician of the Punjab in the 1920s. - Pir Shah Inayat QadiriShah Inayat QadiriShah Inayat Qadiri Shatari was a Sufi saint of the Qadiri-Shatari lineage who lived in Qasur, in the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan. Shah Inayat Qadiri is famous as the spiritual guide of the Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah....
Shattari, a Sufi saint and the spiritual guide of Baba Bulleh ShahBulleh ShahBulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher.-Early life:Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, in present day Pakistan. His father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a teacher and preacher in a village mosque...
. - Khalil-ur-Rehman RamdayKhalil-ur-Rehman RamdayChief Honourable Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday is an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He remained permannet judge of Supreme Court from 2002 to 2010. He was born in Lahore on January 13, 1945 in the famous Ramday Arain family of Justice Mr. Muhammad Siddique as the fifth child and...
, a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. - Sir Abdul Rashid, first Chief Justice of Pakistan.
- Mohammed Sarwar, the first British Muslim member of the UK Parliament.
- Qudrat Ullah ShahabQudrat Ullah ShahabQudrat Ullah Shahab was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan. He is best known for his autobiography Shahabnama.-Early life:...
, a bureaaucrat, scholar and mystic. - Sir Muhammad ShafiMuhammad ShafiSir Mian Muhammad Shafi, KCSI, CIE was an Indian Muslim politician. He belonged to the well-known Arain Mian family of Baghbanpura, Lahore. He went to England to study for the Bar in August 1889. He also took active interest in Anjuman-i-Islamiya of London and was elected its President for a term...
, president of the All India Muslim League. - Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff.