Wani (surname)

Wani or Wain word comes from Sanskrit language, root word Wania meaning Businessman or Shopkeeper.^[1] The term is used for traders and merchants. Wani mainly is a caste and a surname used in kashmir.^[2] The Wani's have different names given according to their field of trade. Wain or Wani is one of the most common and famous Surname of Jammu and Kashmir. The ancestors of Wani's were Hindus who converted to become Muslims.^[3]

Origin

Wain or Wani are extracts from some hindu tribe.^[4] There are many different traditions about which tribe they come from, but all historians agree that before accepting Islam they were part of the hindu caste known as Waish.^[5] In fact, some people think that the word Wain comes from Waish. Waish is the merchant caste among hindus. Even after accepting Islam Wains and Wanis have kept trade and commerce as the source of their livelihood. These people can get involved with the largest to the smallest trade. Perhaps it is for this reason that the 1891 Census of India, on page 167, says about them, "Wains and Wanis are the merchants of Kashmir and Ladakh".^[6]

Geographical Distribution

The Wain's or Wani's are found to be located in all most all parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar city is a home to many people of this caste and surname. They are also found in Jammu, Due to the existence of Wani's in followers of Hinduism and Islam they are in large numbers.

Types

Due to the adoption of different trades by different clans, various branches of the tribe have come into existence.^[7] The Wain tribe is divided into many castes, such as:

• The Til-Wain(those who sell oil)
• Pui-Wain
• Baand-Wain
• Bas-Wain
• Tarangar-Wain
• Kakar-Wain and
• Par-Wain

Status

The People of this Caste are economically fit. Official reports by the census department from 1891 have mentioned Wain's as belonging to the upper class of the Shaikh caste of Kashmir. Wani's are well respected and have one of the top pedigrees among tribes.^[8]

References