Deshwali

Deshwali

Total population
7,200 [1]
Regions with significant populations
•  Pakistan •  India
Languages
• Marwari • Urdu • Hindi •
Religion
• Islam 100% •
Related ethnic groups
• Cheetah • Merat • Qaimkhani • Sindhi-Sipahi • Meo • Khanzada• Ranghar

The Deshwali , or sometimes pronounced Deswali, are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Rajasthan in India. A small number of Deshwali are found in the city of Hyderabad in Sindh.^[2]

History and origin

The community get their name from word desh, which is the local Marwari language means land and wali, which is Persian (originally from Arabic) means lord, literally the word Deshwali means a feudal lord. The community are Rajput, and there are two traditions as to their conversion to Islam. According one of the traditions, they were soldiers in the army of Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the last Rajput ruler of North India, and were captured by Mohammed Ghori, the first Muslim invader of North India, and were forced to convert to Islam. The other tradition, they were converted to Islam, by the great Sufi preacher, Moinuddin Chishti. Deshwali community live in Rajasthan, Madhya Prades. Deshwali in Rajasthan live in Nagour, Ajmer, Tonk, Bhilwara & Jaipur districts. They speak the Marwari dialect, with many having knowledge of Urdu.^[3]

Present circumstances

The Deshwali are generally an endogamous community, although there are cases of intermarriage with the Qaimkhani and Pathan communities. They have no system of gotras, and practice both parallel and cross-cousin marriages. The community consists of large to medium-sized farmers, and like other Rajput groups in Rajasthan, have been affected by the abolishment of the Jagirdari system. A small number of Deshwali are sharecroppers and landless agricultural labourers. A few are also engaged in petty business, and the community has seen a growth in education and the start of urbanization. The community still has a caste council, which deals with inter-community disputes, as well maintaining the community traditions and customs. They also act as representatives of the community in relation to the Indian state. The Deshwali are Sunni and continue to pay special reverence to Moinuddin Chishti, the Sufi saint of Ajmer. They are relatively more orthodox then the Merat and Cheetah, neighbouring Muslim Rajput communities.^[4]

In addition to the Deshwalis in India, there is also community of Deshwali found in the city of Hyderabad and adjoining rural areas. They maintain close relations with the Qaimkhani and Khanzada, two neighbouring Rajasthani communities found in Sindh.^[5]

See also

• Merat
• Qaimkhani

References

1. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php
2. ^ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
3. ^ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
4. ^ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
5. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php