Jarwar

Jarwar (Urdu: جروار ‎) is a sub-tribe from the Gazini branch of Marri Baloch.^[1] Although some families of Jarwar are still living in their native place near Kahan but they are now mainly split into various groups and living in many areas of Balochistan, Sindh and Southern Punjab. Many Jarwar elders considered this displacement from their native land and splitting into various groups is the result of a curse of a prominent religious leader (pir) named Mangho. According to the tribal oral records Mangho was a member of Jarwar tribe and he spend his last days in a small village which is now became a part of Gadap Town, Karachi. His shrine is famous for it tames crocodiles in an open pool.

Etymology

The etymology of the word Jarwar has been debated since its inception as the name of the tribe. It has no plural in any language. Currently, there is no any literary or oral record available about the inception of this name but the decedents of the tribe often say that it means "people who have clothes" as per according to Persian and it does not mean "the people who eat clothes" as many people consider this word because of its Balochi meaning which stands as "Jar" for clothes and "War" for the people who eat.

Another possible meaning of Jarwar is that it may be a case of combination of two Sindhi words "Jar" means "water" and "war" which means "the person who involved in the management". Therefore Jarwar means "the people who involved in or responsible for the management of water for the irrigational purposes.

History

Jarwar is one of the oldest sub-tribes of Marri. In the first decades of 16th century, they started a systematic migration from the barren hilly area of the Koh-e-Marri to the plain lands of “Sevi” now Sibi, Naseerabad, Jacobabad and Dera Ghazi Khan in search of a better life and to keep themselves safe from the ongoing feuds and bloody disputes among various sub-tribes of Marri. This tendency followed extremely by the next generations of Jarwar tribesmen to the last decades of 19th century. After the first migration from their native land, they did not unite on their selection of next destinations and separated from each other in various small groups to different directions and routs.

Languages

The people of Jarwar tribe speak various languages. Most of the Jarwar tribesmen, who live in various districts of Balochistan and in large communities of Sindh specially in Badin, Mirpur Khas, Digri, Judo, Kashmore and Jacobabad districts speak Balochi. Also a large community of Jarwar tribesmen living in the Rajasthan state of India speaks Balochi.

With Balochi language, there is a high percentage of Jarwar people in Shahdadkot, Kamber, Larkana, Sanghar, Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar Districts of Sindh speak Sindhi language. Some Jarwar of these districts can also speak Siraiki as a tool of communication.

A large community of Jarwar who live in Northern Punjab District speak Siraiki.

Religions

Almost all Jarwar are Sunni Muslims and they follow Deobandi and Barelvi schools of thought. Very few follow Shiaism or any other branch of Islam. Indian Jarwar believe in Hinduism and they follow various Hindu religious concepts, dogmas and practices.

Customs and Traditions

The majority of Jarwar tribesmen follow Baloch tribal customs, traditions and values and also believe traditionly in the Tribal System as like of other tribes of Baloch. Because Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri is the current chief of Marri, so Nawab Marri is not the Sardar of Jarwar tribe, In sindh Sardar Haji Muhammad Yousaf Jarwar is the Sardar (Chief) of Jarwar tribe. The Indian Jarwar follow different tribal hierarchic customs and traditions from rest of the Jarwar community.

Ethnic Qualities

Jarwar considered to be a peaceful tribe among Baloch. Majority of Pakistani Jarwar are educated and mostly involved in public and private sector services. Very few Jarwar are in business or army. Overseas Jarwar are famous for showing their good hospitality for their fellow tribesmen and countrymen in abroad, especially Saudi Jarwar.

Communities

There are many communities of Jarwar in Balochistan, Sindh and other areas of Pakistan. Some communities of Jarwar are also found overseas in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, notably in Medina, Mecca, and Jeddah.

See also

• Marri
• Marri-Bugti country
• Khair Bakhsh Marri

References