Raj caste
Total population | |
---|---|
(70,000[1]) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
• Pakistan • India | |
Languages | |
• Urdu • Hindi • Awadhi | |
Religion | |
• Islam 100% • | |
Related ethnic groups | |
• Bhatiara • Muslim Halwai • Shaikh |
The Raj are a Hindu - Punjabi mainly community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Gujarat etc in India.This title was also used in Muslim community after getting attractive towards Hindu like title.
History and origin
There are two communities having Raj caste: Rajputs and Muslims. Raj caste is not only Muslim. There are Raj people who are rajputs. Like other Muslim artisan castes, the community has a mixed origin, with what was once a guild evolving into an caste. In western Uttar Pradesh, a fair number of the community is of Chamar origin. The community gets its name from the Hindi word rajah or headman. They are Sunni Muslims, and are found throughout Uttar Pradesh. The Raj are found in greater numbers in the districts of Moradabad, Bijnor, Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar. They speak both Urdu and Khari boli.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?peo3=17759
- ↑ Tribes and Castes of North-Western Provinces and Oudh by William Crook Volume IV pages 208