Nagori (caste)

The Nagori are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are also known as the Nagori Lohar. ^[1]

History and origin

The community claims to be Rajputs; some of them have converted to Islam and some of them still continue adopting the Hindu religion. In Gujarat, Nagoris are well known as timber merchants. They were originally settled in the city of Nagaur, and Nagori literally means "an inhabitant of Nagaur". They speak Marwari among themselves.^[1] There are Hindu, Maheshwari too with Nagori title who migrated from Nagaur district of Rajasthan to Didwana with the title Nagori with them, and today they are spread well throughout India.

Present circumstances

The community is based in Ahmedabad and Jamnagar (Gujarat, India). The Nagoris in Ahmedabad are well known as timber merchants since 6 decades. One of the biggest joint families in Ahmedabad belongs to Nagoris. With the change in the era, they have turned towards other occupations like doctors, chartered accountants and other jobs in MNCs.

According to other views, the community's traditional occupation was that of blacksmithy, but as with other artisan groups, they have seen a decline of their traditional occupation. They are involved in the manufacture of various iron objects such as knives. All many have abandoned their traditional craft, the majority of the community are still engaged in work related to blacksmithy. They have their own caste council, the Nagori Jamat. Like many Muslim artisan castes in India, they are strictly endogamous, and maintain the custom of gotra exogamy. Their main clans are the Chauhan, Vaghela, Naratnawala, and Debala, all which are of equal status, and intermarry. There are no reported cases of marriage with the Multani Lohar, a community which also involved in blacksmity. The community is found in the districts of Ahmadabad, Mahesana and Banaskantha.^[1]

See also

• Gujarati Muslims
• Lohar
• Multani Lohar

References