Deshwali

Deshwali
Total population
(9,52,0000 In Both Countries[1])
Regions with significant populations
•  Pakistan •  India
Languages
• Marwari • Urdu • Hindi •
Religion
• Islam 100% •
Related ethnic groups
• Cheetah • Merat • Qaimkhani • Sindhi-Sipahi • Meo • Khanzada• Ranghar

The Deshwali (Sindhi: ديشوالي‎), or sometimes pronounced Deswali, are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Rajasthan in India. A small number of Deshwali are found in the city of Hyderabad, Sindh in Pakistan.[2]

History and origin

The community get their name from word desh, which is the local Marwari language means land and wali, which is Persian (originally from Arabic) means lord, literally the word Deshwali means a feudal lord. The community are Rajput. They were soldiers in the army of Prithvi Raj Chauhan. They were early adopters of the Islam in India. They accepted Islam, via the preaching of the great Sufi preacher, Moinuddin Chishti. Deshwali community live in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. Deshwali in Madhya Pradesh live in Indore, Barnagar, Ratlam. Deshwali in Rajasthan live in Nagour, Ajmer, Tonk, Bhilwara, Kota, Baran, Jhalawar, Bundi, Udaipur & Jaipur districts. They speak the Marwari dialect, with many having knowledge of Urdu.[3]

Present circumstances

The Deshwali are generally an endogamous community, although there are cases of intermarriage with the Qaimkhani and Pathan communities. They have no system of gotras, and practice both parallel and cross-cousin marriages. The community consists of large to medium-sized farmers, and like other Rajput groups in Rajasthan, have been affected by the abolishment of the Jagirdari system. A small number of Deshwali are sharecroppers and landless agricultural labourers. A few are also engaged in petty business, and the community has seen a growth in education and the start of urbanization. The Deshwali are Sunni and continue to pay special reverence to Moinuddin Chishti, the Sufi saint of Ajmer. They are relatively more orthodox than the Merat and Cheetah, neighbouring Muslim Rajput communities.[4]

In addition to the Deswalis in India, there is also community of Deshwali found in the city of Hyderabad and adjoining rural areas. They maintain close relations with the Qaimkhani and Khanzada, two neighbouring Rajasthani communities found in Sindh.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.Deshwali.com
  2. ↑ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
  3. ↑ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
  4. ↑ People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part One edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 312 to 315 Popular Prakashan
  5. ↑ http://www.Deshwali.com
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