Raj Mistry or Raj Mistri is a term used in Indian sub-continent for the people, who are master craftsman, expert mason, a foreman, a construction supervisor[1][2][3] or a person who has mastered his skill in filed of construction and also has a knowledge of Vastu and hence a vastukar.[4][5]
The when someone wants a house to be built, he calls the best Raj Mistry he can find, gives him an idea of the size and numbers of rooms wanted, and of such details as doors, windows, height and entrusts the whole job to him.[1]Rajmistri (master mason) works with an assistant (jogali), who is less skilled and may beome raj mistri in due time. He also hires manual labor required and a carpenter (kath-mistri) may also be hired by him. If there is to be a septic tank, Raj Mistri builds it but the soak-pit would be dug by laborers.[6]
The services of Raj Mistry, in earlier days were employed in earlier days by Kings and were appointed as head craftsman of the Kingdom, just like Mistry or Gaidher. The term Raj means King in literally terms and Mistri means a master mason. So, it seems that those Mistry, who were appointed by King as Chief Mason of the Kingdom, began to be called as Raj Mistry.
Earlier, the services of Raj Mistry, were even employed by jail authorities to get the labor and mason work done from convict prisoners.[7]
Raj Misrty Surname:-
Descendants of professional Raj Mistry or Raj Mistry caste, often started using Raj Mistry as surnames and many people of India or Indian origin use these as their last name.[8][9][10]
Raj Mistry Caste:-
Raj Mistry are a Hindu as well Muslim[11] community mainly spread in Northern and Western parts or State of India. The earlier British records of British India mentions about a tribe or cast name Raj Mistry recorded in census of 1891 but there are no mention of them in latest census of India or Pakistan.[12] The term Raj Mistri was also used by Muslim community.