Dabgar
Encyclopedia
The Dabgar are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are also known as Dhalgar and have scheduled caste status.
word daravakarra, which means the makers of any spoon shaped vessels. According to their own traditions, they were originally found in Rajasthan
, and were soldiers. They took an oath to resist the Mughals
, but were defeated. A section converted to Islam
, from whom descend the Muslim Dabgar
community. The rest of the community fled in the jungles of Bundelkhand
, and slowly spread to the Doab
region of Uttar Pradesh
. They then took up the occupation of manufacturing of rawhide jars.
, except the now distinct community of Muslim Dabgar
, and their tribal deity is Satyanarain. A small number of Dabgar also belong to the Nanakpanthi sect, which is closely connected with Sikhism
. Uniquely, the Hindu Dabgar incorporate many Muslim
traditions, including a few families in Varanasi
who offer the Muslim prayer. This associations acts as both a community welfare association, as well as a pressure group for the community.
The Dabgar are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing of hide jars. They buy the hide from the Chik
wa community. Like other artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation, with many Dabgar now employed as daily wage labourers. They are found mainly in the districts of INDORE Madhya PradeshVaranasi
, Ghazipur
, Azamgarh
, Gorakhpur
, Ballia
, Allahabad
and Kanpur
. In southern Uttar Pradesh
, the Dabgar speak Brajbhasha, while those in the east speak Awadhi.
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...
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 the state 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 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...
. They are also known as Dhalgar and have scheduled caste status.
Origin
The word Dabgar is said to be derived from the SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word daravakarra, which means the makers of any spoon shaped vessels. According to their own traditions, they were originally found in 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...
, and were soldiers. They took an oath to resist the Mughals
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...
, but were defeated. A section converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, from whom descend the Muslim Dabgar
Muslim Dabgar
The Muslim Dabgar are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dalgar and are converts to Islam from the Hindu Dabgar caste.-Origin:...
community. The rest of the community fled in the jungles of Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
, and slowly spread to the Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
region 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...
. They then took up the occupation of manufacturing of rawhide jars.
Present circumstances
The Dabgar are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their main clans are the Shrivastav, Delhiwal, Dari, Sripat and Kanaujiya. Theoretically, each clans descends from a common ancestor. They are a HinduHindu
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...
, except the now distinct community of Muslim Dabgar
Muslim Dabgar
The Muslim Dabgar are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dalgar and are converts to Islam from the Hindu Dabgar caste.-Origin:...
, and their tribal deity is Satyanarain. A small number of Dabgar also belong to the Nanakpanthi sect, which is closely connected with 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...
. Uniquely, the Hindu Dabgar incorporate 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...
traditions, including a few families in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
who offer the Muslim prayer. This associations acts as both a community welfare association, as well as a pressure group for the community.
The Dabgar are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing of hide jars. They buy the hide from the Chik
Chik
The Chik are a Muslim community, found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Bakar Qasab, Buz Qassab and Chikwa. The Chik have been granted Other Backward Class status in both Bihar and Uttar Pradesh....
wa community. Like other artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation, with many Dabgar now employed as daily wage labourers. They are found mainly in the districts of INDORE Madhya PradeshVaranasi
Varanasi District
Varanasi district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, with Varanasi city as the district headquarters. Varanasi district is a part of Varanasi division. The district occupies an area of 1,535 km². The district has a population of 3,138,671 .-Divisions:The...
, Ghazipur
Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division...
, Azamgarh
Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...
, Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...
, Ballia
Ballia District
Ballia district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Ballia district is a part of Azamgarh Division situated in eastern Part of Uttar Pradesh. Main occupation is agriculture. Ballia City is district headquarters and commercial Market of this district. There are four Tehsil in...
, Allahabad
Allahabad District
Allahabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Allahabad town is the district headquarters. Allahabad district is a part of Allahabad Division.As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttar Pradesh ....
and Kanpur
Kanpur District
Kanpur district is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India. It is a part of Kanpur division and its district headquarters is Kanpur. Due to increase in population of Kanpur District, for proper administration it has been divided into two. The term Kanpur refers to the combination...
. In southern 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...
, the Dabgar speak Brajbhasha, while those in the east speak Awadhi.