- Mair Sunar
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Mair Sunar are a Sunar sub-caste social group in India. They are Hindu by religion and comprise of the warrior race of Rajputs who had originally migrated from Rajasthan with the movement of the armies that brought Rajput rule over Punjab and had settled down in Punjab generations ago. The Mair Sunar lay claim to Kshatriya (warrior) status.[1]
During the ensuing prolonged period of lasting peace thereafter when they could not be supported by the armies and could not find any work as warriors they chose to work as Sunars to survive. "Sunar" is a Hindi word for goldsmith or jeweler in India.
Mair Rajput Sunar living in the Punjab are not a large community; they are small fraction of total Mair community. They migrated from Rajasthan, but the bulk of the community still resides there, mainly in Bikaner and Jodhpur.[citation needed] The word mair or maide is originated from mewad[clarification needed] or marwad of Rajasthan because of origin. They are not Punjabi Rajput, they are Mair Rajput of Rajasthani origin and later who setteled in Punjab adopted Punjabi lifestyle and culture even some adopted Sikhism.
The word mair also refers to decoration such that which is detailed on gold, additionally to the Mair Rajput Sunars there are also Taunk Rajput Sunars.
References
- ^ E A H Blunt. The Caste System of Northern India. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 8182054958, 9788182054950. [Pg 211]
Categories:- Social groups of India
- Social groups of Rajasthan
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