Garha
Encyclopedia
The Garha or sometimes pronounced Gara and occasionally Gada are a Muslim community or caste
found in the states of Uttarakhand
and Uttar Pradesh
, India.
community. These biradaris claim that they were called garha which means a hole in the ground in the Urdu
language, on account of the community adopting the new practice Muslim practice of burying the dead. Prior to their conversion to Islam, they were Chandravanshi Rajputs. Some Garha groups also claim descent from the Gaur Brahmin
s community, and claim Gara is simply a corruption of the original Gaur. A few groups also claim to be descended from the Shaikh
and Mughal
communities.
They have a caste association, the Anjuman Garha (Garha association), whose primary purpose is look after the socio-economic welfare. The association runs schools imparting religious education, as well as a boarding house for poor boys. They live in multi caste villages, occupying their own quarters. Each of their settlements also contains an informal caste council called biradari panchayat, which acts as an instrument of social control and resolves intra-community dispute.
The community is basically made up of small peasants, concentrated in the Doab
region of Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring Haridwar District
of ttarakhand]and yamuna nagar disttrict of haryana]. Each of their settlements contain a village based caste council, known as a biradari panchayat which exercise social control. In terms of religion, they are fairly orthodox Sunni Muslims, and have customs similar to other neighbouring Muslim peasents castes, such as the Kamboh, Jhojha
, Gujjar
, Muley Jat
and Ranghar
. They observe all the Muslim festivals, such Eid ul Fitr and eid ul adha. The Garha speak both Urdu
and the local Khari boli dialect.
, Muzaffarnagar
, Meerut
in Uttar Pradesh, and Yamunanagar District of Haryana
. In neighbouring Uttarkhand state, they are found in Haridwar District
.
According to the 1901 Census of India, they numbered 44,536 in Saharanpur District
, and were heavily concentrated in Nakur
tehsil
. In Muzaffarnagar District, they were found mainly in the east of the district.
A small number of Garha or Gada are also found in Sindh
, Pakistan, where they assimilated into other Urdu speaking Muslim peasant castes, such as the Rohilla
and Ranghar
.
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 states of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
and 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.
History and origin
The Garha have fifty one sub-divisions, known as biradaris some based on territorial groupings, and some on the sects and castes they belonged to, prior to their conversion to Islam. Their main biradaris include the Chaurasia, Multania, Bargujar, Bhal, Bhatti, Chandela and Chauhan. Most Garha sub-groups claim descent from the Hindu RajputRajput
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...
community. These biradaris claim that they were called garha which means a hole in the ground in the 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...
language, on account of the community adopting the new practice Muslim practice of burying the dead. Prior to their conversion to Islam, they were Chandravanshi Rajputs. Some Garha groups also claim descent from the Gaur Brahmin
Gaur Brahmin
The Gaur Brahmin or Adh Brahmin are a Brahmin sub-caste found in North India. Gurjar gaur Brahmins were priests of the Gurjars during the reign of the Gurjars....
s community, and claim Gara is simply a corruption of the original Gaur. A few groups also claim to be descended from the Shaikh
Shaikhs in South Asia
Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder." It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar...
and 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...
communities.
They have a caste association, the Anjuman Garha (Garha association), whose primary purpose is look after the socio-economic welfare. The association runs schools imparting religious education, as well as a boarding house for poor boys. They live in multi caste villages, occupying their own quarters. Each of their settlements also contains an informal caste council called biradari panchayat, which acts as an instrument of social control and resolves intra-community dispute.
The community is basically made up of small peasants, concentrated in 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, and neighbouring Haridwar District
Haridwar District
Haridwar district is a district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is headquartered at Haridwar which is also its largest city. The district is ringed by the districts Dehradun in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal in the east and the Uttar Pradesh districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor in the...
of ttarakhand]and yamuna nagar disttrict of haryana]. Each of their settlements contain a village based caste council, known as a biradari panchayat which exercise social control. In terms of religion, they are fairly orthodox Sunni Muslims, and have customs similar to other neighbouring Muslim peasents castes, such as the Kamboh, Jhojha
Jhojha
The Jhojha are a Muslim community or caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India. Some members of this community migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and have settled in Karachi, Sindh.-History and origin:...
, Gujjar
Muslim Gujjar (Uttar Pradesh)
The Muslim Gujjar of Uttar Pradesh are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are Muslim converts of the wider Gujjar community of South Asia. The Gujjar of Uttar Pradesh are, in fact, three distinct communities, those of the Doab region, those of Awadh and the...
, Muley Jat
Muley Jat
The Muley Jat, or sometimes pronounced as Mola/Mula Jat are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, and the province of Punjab in Pakistan...
and Ranghar
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
. They observe all the Muslim festivals, such Eid ul Fitr and eid ul adha. The Garha speak 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 the local Khari boli dialect.
Distribution
They are found in the districts of SaharanpurSaharanpur 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...
, 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:...
, 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:...
in Uttar Pradesh, and Yamunanagar District of 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...
. In neighbouring Uttarkhand state, they are found in Haridwar District
Haridwar District
Haridwar district is a district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is headquartered at Haridwar which is also its largest city. The district is ringed by the districts Dehradun in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal in the east and the Uttar Pradesh districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor in the...
.
According to the 1901 Census of India, they numbered 44,536 in Saharanpur District
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 were heavily concentrated in Nakur
Nakur
Nakur is a city and a municipal board in Saharanpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Nakur is located at . It has an average elevation of 261 metres .It is located 24 km from Saharanpur....
tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
. In Muzaffarnagar District, they were found mainly in the east of the district.
A small number of Garha or Gada are also found 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...
, Pakistan, where they assimilated into other Urdu speaking Muslim peasant castes, such as the Rohilla
Rohilla
The Rohilla are a community of Hindi-speaking Pashtun also known as Pathan, historically found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. Most are now also found in Pakistan where they are now part of the Mohajir community. At one time, they form one of the largest Pashtun diaspora community...
and Ranghar
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
.