Ethnic groups in Delhi

Delhi’s ethnic groups may be sub-divided into two categories, indigenous and migrant. The indigenous people are those who belong to the Delhi-middle Yamuna basin, a region which spreads radially from the capital up to a distance of approximately 200 kilometres.^[1] The migrant population consists largely of Punjabis,^[2] Bhojpuris and Biharis, Bengalis and Malayalis.^[3]

Natives and migrants

The union territory of Delhi was not established on vacant, virgin land; it has always had human habitation, with the river Yamuna as its sustainer. Delhi existed even in the epoch of the Mahabharata; its name then was Indraprastha. The population that has traditionally resided in the region of the middle Yamuna qualifies for the appellation ‘indigenous people’; the belief that everybody in the city is an ‘outsider’ is therefore incorrect.^[4]

Delhi’s native people share common ties of descent only with the population of Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and the north-eastern sections of Rajasthan.^[1]

Recent developments

Nativist sentiments have begun to be heard.^[5]

Rural Ethnicity

There are 450 villages in the union territory of delhi according to 1986 and 1961 census.^[6][7]

• Jat - 104
• Gurjar - 65
• Ahir/yadav - 40
• Rajput - 26
• Brahmin - 15
• Chamar - 6
• Tyagi - 5
• Muslim - 5
• Others - 54

Jat and Yadav villages are located to the west of Yamuna river, Gurjar villages are generally located to the south and east of the river.^[8]

References

External links

Delhi District Gazetteer 1883