Dafali
Encyclopedia
The Dafali are a Muslim
community found in the state Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are also known as Shaikh Derveshi or just Derveshi. The Dafali have been granted Other Backward Class
status.
and Urdu
word daf which means a tambourine, which they play. They are a community of Muslim
Faqir
s who played the daf instrument at various Sufi shrines in North India
. The community traces its descent from Roshan Darvesh, a disciple of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud
, popularly known as Ghazi Mian, the famous Sufi saint of Bahraich
, whom the community pay special reverence. The Dafali are found throughout Uttar Pradesh
, with special concentrations in Saharanpur
and Bareilly
districts in the west, where the community speak Khari boli, while in Awadh
, they are found mainly in the districts of Bahraich
, Balrampur
, Gonda
, Shravasti
and Sitapur
, where the community speak Awadhi.
artisan groups, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation. Many are now engaged in the repair and manufacture of the dholak
, an Indian musical instrument. A larger number are now involved in the manufacture of bidis, the traditional Indian cigarette. They are one of the most marginalized Muslim
community in India
, with almost all living below the poverty line.
The community live in multi caste and multi religious settlements, but occupy their own distinct quarters. Each settlement has a caste
council, known as a panchayat, which acts as an instrument of social control, and is headed by a chaudhary. The chaudhary is elected by the community elders, for a fixed term, and the panchayat deals with intra community disputes, as well as punishing those who breach communal norms. Unlike other Muslim
artisan castes in North India
, the Dafali have not set up a formal caste association. However, like other Muslim artisan groups, they are strictly endogamous, preferring to marrying close kin. The community are Sunni Muslim
s, and have practices similar to other Uttar Pradesh Muslims
.
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 the state 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 Shaikh Derveshi or just Derveshi. The Dafali have been granted Other Backward Class
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...
status.
Origin
The community have acquired their name from the HindiHindi
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...
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...
word daf which means a tambourine, which they play. They are a community of 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...
Faqir
Faqir (caste)
The Faqir are a Muslim ethnic group found in India. They are also known as Shah Alvi or Sain in North India, which is now their preferred self-designation and in West Bengal, they are known as Sahajia...
s who played the daf instrument at various Sufi shrines 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...
. The community traces its descent from Roshan Darvesh, a disciple of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud
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...
, popularly known as Ghazi Mian, the famous Sufi saint of Bahraich
Bahraich
Bahraich is a city and a municipal board in Bahraich district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Located on the Saryu River, a tributary of river Ghaghra, Bahraich is 125 km north-east of Lucknow, the state capital. The towns of Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Lakhimpur and Sitapur share...
, whom the community pay special reverence. The Dafali are found throughout 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...
, with special concentrations in 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...
and 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....
districts in the west, where the community speak Khari boli, while 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...
, they are found mainly in the districts of Bahraich
Bahraich District
Bahraich District is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Bahraich town is the district headquarters. Bahraich District is a part of Devipatan Division.-History:...
, Balrampur
Balrampur district
Balrampur district is one of the 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Balrampur town located on the bank of the Rapti is the district headquarters. Balrampur district is a part of Devipatan division, and historic Awadh region....
, Gonda
Gonda District
Gonda is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Gonda is the district headquarters, and also the administrative centre for the Devipatan Division....
, Shravasti
Shravasti District
Shravasti District is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India and Bhinga town is district headquarter. Shravasti district is a part of Devipatan Division...
and Sitapur
Sitapur District
Sitapur district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, with Sitapur town as the district headquarters. Sitapur district is a part of Lucknow division. This district covers an area of 5743 km². It has a population of 3,619,661....
, where the community speak Awadhi.
Present circumstances
There traditional occupation was playing the daf at weddings as well as at various Sufi shrines. Like other 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...
artisan groups, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation. Many are now engaged in the repair and manufacture of the dholak
Dholak
The Dholak is a North Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese double-headed hand-drum Madal. The name dholki may also refer to a slightly different instrument that uses high-pitch tabla style syahi masala on its treble skin. This instrument is also known as Naal or Dholki....
, an Indian musical instrument. A larger number are now involved in the manufacture of bidis, the traditional Indian cigarette. They are one of the most marginalized 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 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...
, with almost all living below the poverty line.
The community live in multi caste and multi religious settlements, but occupy their own distinct quarters. Each settlement has a 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...
council, known as a panchayat, which acts as an instrument of social control, and is headed by a chaudhary. The chaudhary is elected by the community elders, for a fixed term, and the panchayat deals with intra community disputes, as well as punishing those who breach communal norms. Unlike other 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...
artisan castes 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...
, the Dafali have not set up a formal caste association. However, like other Muslim artisan groups, they are strictly endogamous, preferring to marrying close kin. The community 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, and have practices similar to other Uttar Pradesh Muslims
Muslims of Uttar Pradesh
Muslims in Uttar Pradesh number about 30,740,158 , and form the largest religious minority in the state. They are also known as Urdu speakers, on account of Urdu being their native language, and have also been referred to as Hindustani Musalman. In the strict sense, the Uttar Pradesh Muslims do not...
.