Muslim Dhagi
Encyclopedia
The Muslim Dhagi are a Muslim
community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They were also known as the Julahas.
Dhagi
caste
. They get their name from the Hindi
term dhaga, which means a thread. The Dhagi were traditionally involved in the manufacture of thread. Their area of traditional habitation is the north-western part of the Indo-Gangetic plain. They are an Urdu
speaking community, but are also conversant in Hindi
. The Dhagi are entirely Sunni Muslim
, and perceive themselves of Shaikh
status.
Their traditional occupation was, and to some extent still is weaving. But like other Muslim
artisan
communities, they have seen a severe decline in their traditional occupation, as a result of mechanism. Some Dhagi also work as masons and others bring wood from the forest and sell it. A small number have also become petty businessmen. Like other artisan groups, they have a traditional caste council, which acts as an instrument of social control. The caste council deal with issues of intra-community disputes such as elopement and divorces.
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 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 were also known as the Julahas.
Origin
The Muslim Dhagi are converts from the 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...
Dhagi
Dhagi
The Dhagi are Hindu caste, found in North India.-History and origin:The name Dhagi is derived from the Hindi word dhaga, which means thread. The community spin thread and weave cloth...
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 get their name from the 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...
term dhaga, which means a thread. The Dhagi were traditionally involved in the manufacture of thread. Their area of traditional habitation is the north-western part of the Indo-Gangetic plain. They are an 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...
speaking community, but are also conversant in 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 Dhagi are entirely 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...
, and perceive themselves of Shaikh
Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh
The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Quite a few Shaikh have immigrated to Pakistan, where they form an important element in the Muhajir community...
status.
Present circumstances
The community consist of two sub-groups, the Ansari and Bhauhanan. Each of these two sub-divisions are endogamous. They marry close kin, and practice both cross-cousin and parallel cousin marriages.Their traditional occupation was, and to some extent still is weaving. But like 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
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
communities, they have seen a severe decline in their traditional occupation, as a result of mechanism. Some Dhagi also work as masons and others bring wood from the forest and sell it. A small number have also become petty businessmen. Like other artisan groups, they have a traditional caste council, which acts as an instrument of social control. The caste council deal with issues of intra-community disputes such as elopement and divorces.