Dharkar

The Dharkar are a Hindu caste found in North India, and those in Uttar Pradesh have scheduled caste status .^[1]

Origin

The word dharkar comes from the Hindi words dhar meaning rope and kar meaning manufacturer, denoting their occupation which was rope-making.^[2] They are said to be a sub-group of the Dom community.^[3] The Dharkar are found mainly in the villages of Shivpur, Ekawna, Bisheshwarganj and Mihirpura of Bahraich District. A small number are also found in the districts of Azamgarh, Allahabad, Gonda and Gorakhpur. The Dharkar speak the Awadhi dialect of Hindi.^[1]

Present circumstances

The Dharkar are strictly endogamous community, and are divided into four sub-groups, the Benbansi, Lakharhara, Kharush and Bansphor. These groups are hierarchical in nature, with the Benbansi considering themselves superiors to the other groups. Each of these four sub-groups are further divided into clans, known as kuris. Their main clans are the Aril, Neoriya, Daurihar and Nargarha. Marriages are forbidden within the kuris.^[1]

The Dharkar are a landless community, and are involved mainly in the manufacturing of baskets and mats. They also supplement their income by begging. A great number are now employed as agricultural labourers. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.^[1]

See also

• Basfor

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 441 to 445 Manohar Publications
2. ^ [1] Caste: observation of I.C.S. officers and others since 1881 By V. Kannu Pillai, Page:118
3. ^ [2] The Caste System of Northern India