Written by Sameer Hussain Many years ago, during a school holiday visit to Dadyal (Azad Kashmir), I became aware of the importance given to A new business, Royal Cars PK, has opened in Dadyal. Significantly, reservation extended to Watals under OSC (Other Social Castes) category has been increased under the UT administrations new rules. The essential premise borrowed here to understand caste in Kashmir is that of social exclusion, which the low-caste groups face. These cookies cannot be disabled via the "Cookie Control Panel". Understanding the caste system itself is quite a challenge and no doubt my knowledge is and probably will always be limited as is the case with most people I assume, with the exception of the odd historian. The caste hierarchy in Kashmiri Muslim society - An open secret People will say things like, for example, inna apni kurri caste name ne hawalay karri shori, they have handed their daughter over to a caste name family, and such comments no doubt are accompanied by a negative tone of voice, often with more venomous comments. Pre-election tussle dominates Labor Day rallies in Bangladesh. "These politicians know the power of their respective biradaris. The upper-class Muslims rarely marry people from occupational castes and similarly, people from occupational castes avoid getting married to people from service castes. ), (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. New thoughts, new beliefs, new rituals all experiments and gradually evolved into what is commonly found today in Kashmirs contemporary society. The Kashmiris in Punjab are ethnic Kashmiris who have historically migrated from the Kashmir Valley and settled in the Punjab region. Khawaja Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History - Forebears Instead, it poses a threat to bonds between people, promotes a culture of disunity and in many ways leaves us divided and consequently weakened. Most saw themselves as victims of an unfortunate situation. I don't know much about kashmiri tribes. But we are Gujjar. I discovered the names of some of the castes such as Chaudhary, Raja, Khawaja, Ansari, Masalli, Gujjar, Sanyaray, Malik, etc. What's the backgrounds of Khawaja's in Kashmir? Jan 14, 2017. khawaja caste in kashmir. However, the public was in shock when Raja Noman Kamal decided to leave Raja Ali Zamans party and instead support Chaudhary Khalid Masood. "I will vote him wherever he goes. Not butt. Cookie Notice Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. Ironically, the EWS category may do more harm than help. (67,554) Here, I encountered shared stories of generational poverty, deprivation, and discrimination. Verily, the honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is the most righteous of you (the most deeply conscious of Him). Dr Fayyaz says: Two successive lockdowns lasting more than a year and the resultant economic havoc have plunged Kashmiris into unprecedented hopelessness and despair. Families are afraid to break away from the culture they have followed for many years. Spiritually, marriages are believed to be settled in heavens and solemnized on earth. Indeed, the Sheikh community has produced several well-known militants, Jalaluddin Sheikh and Ramzan Sheikh to name a few.. You are using an out of date browser. This is a real shame because you wouldnt expect this from people who are living in a multicultural society such as the United Kingdom, where credit is given, in most cases, based on merit. Not to look down upon any section of society or consider it inferior. Kabira BANNED Jul 12, 2014 14,389 -20 13,650 Country Ukraine Is Running Out of Ammo. Asking cuz many of you here are from South Asia, + UK Paki community. In most of the cases, caste is given priority over everything else while looking for a match. Whereas, his rival candidates, are little-known to me," said Usman, adding that he has no emotional affiliation for the PTI as he had for the PPP. Unlike the comparatively homogeneous nature of Kashmir Valley across the Line of Control (LoC) under Indian administration, the Pakistani-administered Kashmir or Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is vastly heterogeneous, inhabiting scores of ethnicities, locally known as biradaris. 2023 The Kashmir Monitor - All rights reserved. Bhat or Butt is of Brahmin origin and is used by Hindus also. So what are Butts? "My vote is simply for a friend and a person from my biradari (community). And most others are just your average rural kashmiri. Also what Y dna is most common among Kashmiris? The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them. Many ethnic Muslim Kashmiris from the Kashmir Valley had migrated to the Punjab region during Sikh and Dogra rule. They needto be enlightened about the actual teachings of Islam. I read somewhere on the web that butts and Bhatts are not the same. Why The Marginalised Castes of Jammu and Kashmir Must Come - Kractivism I somehow dont understand how I would have been any different if I wasnt a Chaudhary, Im pretty sure everything would have been the same in my life. (The writer is a post graduate in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and teaches at SAMAGRA). However as per a close friend, who happens to be a kashmiri, the buts are usually considered low in status by other Kashmiris and are called hato. Caste also known as Kram in Kashmiri language, an endogamous and a hereditary group limited to persons of the same rank, occupation, and economic position as described by the society. This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics. Butt is a clan name much like Lone, Mir, Dar, Wain, Magray. For more details, you can see "our data policy". Khawaja is also the 14,298th most commonly held forename on earth It is held by 67,554 people. There is no castisism in Kashmir but with an exception that is marriagr, We often ignore Islam practically where we think we are losing superiority If we cannot see beyond caste, then Im afraid to say our future is not going to be anywhere near as bright as wed like it to be. "He (candidate) is not only a longtime friend but also hails from my caste. JavaScript is disabled. I had no doubt come across the names of a few castes mentioned in various conversations but I assumed that they were merely family names and not associated with a caste system. In the early summer of 2019, I visited Srinagars densely populated Sheikh mohallas or colonies, that is, ghettoes where Watals or hereditary manual scavengers and sweepers live. (Alexa Analytics is an Amazon company.). Going back to Azad Kashmir, families are still reluctant to marry from out of caste, because they fear that they will lose their dignity in their own Baradri. Race, colour, religion, gender, caste and other such factors are not given much importance. Americas industrial base is struggling with supply chains and a shortage of workers, The future of air warfare: Bayraktar KIZILELMA, (SUPERPOWER) Aerial footage from the Elephant Walk at Sheppard AFB, Iranian military engine development news and updates, Turkish Air Force - Weapons and Capabilities ( News and Updates ). Kashmir is a conflict zone and involvement in the Azaadi movement is not a facile phenomenon explains Masood Hussain, senior journalist and founder-editor of Kashmir Life magazine. I fail to see how its application has or can deliver any vale to society. Categorised as OSC (Other Social Castes) in government records, Watals evidence the Valleys entrenched caste system. However, there seems to have been a shift since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories (UT) followed by an unprecedented lockdown (which was followed by another interminable COVID-19-induced lockdown). That way, we Kashmiris will be spared further horrors. Various castes exist in Pakistan, but here are the top 7 Top castes in Pakistan that the majority are aware of: 1. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The initial aspiration in Classical Persian (xwja) is also found in Khwarezmian (xwjyk /xwjk/, venerated man) and Chinese (hshng, Buddhist monk). People are stereotyped, judged, ignored, disrespected, welcomed, loved, married, and all these actions are somewhat based on caste. RT @DisinfoLab: An analysis of HfHR's social media shows that it has been seemingly active on all fault-lines including Caste, Kashmir, Islamophobia, and even USCIRF to target India. Khawaja Surname Meaning User-submitted Reference Persian/Arabic word meaning 'lord' or 'master', used as a family name in the Middle East and a surname in South Asia, is also linked ethnically to Kashmir and Bengal. Butt is the mutilated form of Bhat that were Brahmin Hindus they retained their caste name even after conversion while others adobted other titles like Sheikh(me). Sameer Hussain is the founder of Dadyal Online. Wakar Amin, Assistant professor at the Department of Social Work in Kashmir University, says even after switching to Islam in the 14th century the casteist traits from its Hindu past carried on in Kashmiri society. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kashmiri_Khwaja&oldid=1068520268, This page was last edited on 28 January 2022, at 21:51. We were forced out from rural outskirts of Srinagar and settled in Sialkot. For Caste Must Be In Good Humour: The Story Of A Dalit Comedian. During Ancient Kashmir, the inhabitants were mostly Hindus followed by Buddhist and Jains. Adnan Bhat wrote in The Wire: Sheikh is an interesting caste here. Sir At Bachi Darwaza one of the Sheikh ghettoes that dot the peripheries of Srinagars Old City I met two daily wage workers, Bilal Ahmed Sheikh and Abdul Majid Ghanai, who narrated their daily struggles, particularly how curfews imposed by the Army and shutdowns called by separatists deprived them of opportunities to seek work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmiris_of_Punjab, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_of_Punjab, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathans_of_Punjab, PMLN's Nasir Butt wins (another) 90,000 and an estimated 85000 in legal costs defamation case against TV channel, TTP still using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan: Khawaja Asif, Nasir Butt wins second 100000 defamation case against HUM News as UK judge accepts evidence of Nawaz Sharif victimisation, Pakistans Inam Butt optimistic to win gold at Commonwealth Games, Tasnim Haider gives no evidence to fact-finding team in Arshad Sharif case, Russia-Ukraine War - News and Developments PART 2, China may not need Western technology very much longer, BRICS Emerges as the World's Largest GDP Bloc, Overtaking G7, Propelled by China's Rapid Expansion, Finland to allow construction of US military bases on its territory, S Korea Exports Sink For Seventh Month, China Sales Slump, Two Punjabis: Maj Adil Raja & Haider Mehdi gives "Life Hell" to Pak Army, ISI, MI & PDM | Tough Time, Expose & Call for Reforms in Establishment, Pakistan - Turkey (PAC-TAI) Collaboration for NGFA-TFX 5th Gen Aircraft l Updates, News & Discussion, The Balance of Air power in Sub-continent considering latest inductions of Platforms / capabilities by PAF, Tall and Graceful - Life of a GC (Gentleman Cadet). Zameer Awan, a resident of Ghari Dupatta town located some 22 kilometers (13 miles) from the main city of Muzaffarabad, is also supporting a candidate belonging to his biradari. To complicate things further, I learnt that some castes are given more than just one name e.g. The author is advised to take a thorough survey at the district, or more precisely at tehsil level in the Kashmir valley to take himself out from this illusion of the so-called casteism in presentday Kashmir. Hence, this leaves no room for any question of prohibition on inter-caste marriages. PMLN's Nasir Butt wins (another) 90,000 and an estimated 85000 in legal costs defamation case against TV channel, TTP still using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan: Khawaja Asif, Nasir Butt wins second 100000 defamation case against HUM News as UK judge accepts evidence of Nawaz Sharif victimisation, Pakistans Inam Butt optimistic to win gold at Commonwealth Games, Tasnim Haider gives no evidence to fact-finding team in Arshad Sharif case, Russia-Ukraine War - News and Developments PART 2, China may not need Western technology very much longer, BRICS Emerges as the World's Largest GDP Bloc, Overtaking G7, Propelled by China's Rapid Expansion, Finland to allow construction of US military bases on its territory, S Korea Exports Sink For Seventh Month, China Sales Slump, Two Punjabis: Maj Adil Raja & Haider Mehdi gives "Life Hell" to Pak Army, ISI, MI & PDM | Tough Time, Expose & Call for Reforms in Establishment, Pakistan - Turkey (PAC-TAI) Collaboration for NGFA-TFX 5th Gen Aircraft l Updates, News & Discussion, The Balance of Air power in Sub-continent considering latest inductions of Platforms / capabilities by PAF, Tall and Graceful - Life of a GC (Gentleman Cadet). Sheikh is an interesting caste as if this title is used as a prefix it indicates the person has descended from Brahmin landlords like the National Conference party leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Dadyal is in the Mirpur District, Azad Kashmir - Pakistan. I would thing of such groups more like tribes like there used to be during jahiliya. He was born in 536 A.H./1141 CE, in Sajistan, a famous city in Khorasan province (other accounts say Isfahan) in Persia. Social exclusion, in the context of this study, can be understood as a process that places certain caste groups in a disadvantaged position. I'm not a racist or chauvinist, I got relatives married into various ethnicities and clans. Understanding Social Exclusion of the Low-caste Muslims in Kashmir Further information may be obtained by. At the bottom of the caste hierarchy are service castes such as the Hanjis (those who dwell on water bodies), Bangi, or Sheikh. It may not display this or other websites correctly. [4] History [ edit] Pre-independence [ edit] Persian/Arabic word meaning 'lord' or 'master', used as a family name in the Middle East and a surname in South Asia, is also linked ethnically to Kashmir and Bengal. PTI Leadership Has No Clue What Its Doing, Pakistan urges US to restore military financing, sales, Imran is a Fitna, a Terrorist, and the Biggest Impediment In the way of development: Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan : A Greater Punjab Project ? They are generally thought of as arrogant and proud people. In his book Directory of Caste in Kashmir, Kashmiri sociologist Bashir Ahmed Dabla classified Kashmiri castes into three different groups. If lineage of one family doesnt suit another, all other important aspects, including religious piety, go unnoticed. Then we have people who stick to their own castes i.e. , China-Pakistan: Beijing to "Further Deepen and Expand" Ties, Support Pak "Financial Stability", China's Anti-Ship firepower and mass firing schemes, Ability to mass fires against warships is a product of a truly historic evolution. In Norway they earn 2.33% less than the national average, earning 338,025 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 54.05% more than the national average, earning R 366,072 per year; in United States they earn 26.39% more than the national average, earning $54,534 USD per year and in Canada they earn 10.82% more than the national average, earning $55,058 CAD per year. here in Kashmir "BUTT" and ''KHAWAJA '' are two completely different clans , I don't think they have any connection or similarity . In Persian, the title roughly translates to 'Lord' or 'Master'.[4]. By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties. Kashmiris in Punjab - Wikipedia Like the Dalits of mainland India, Watals are an endogamous social group in Kashmir associated with polluting jobs such as skinning animals, scavenging, and sweeping. Masalli are drummers and Sanyaray are jewellers. The religious devotion of those carrying the surname is primarily Shiite (78%) in Lebanon. I discovered the names of some of the castes such as Chaudhary, Raja, Khawaja, Ansari, Masalli, Gujjar, Sanyaray, Malik, etc. I don't care which political party he joins or leaves," said Awan, while pasting a poster of his favorite candidate on the backside of his auto rickshaw. Questions about Butt/Khawaja clan and Kashmiri descendants in Pakistan The amount Khawaja earn in different countries varies greatly. Mandatory cookies are used on our website www.aa.com.tr in order to provide you with a better service. The invisibilization of the subaltern group of Watals looks set to increase in a new Kashmir grappling with anxieties over loss of control over land and occupation by non-Kashmiris. In several constituencies in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Rawlakot, Bagh, and other districts, the candidates of the PTI, the PPP, and the PML (N) are from the same caste, Usmani said. Kashmiri Shaikh are supposed to be brahmin converts. Bangladesh: The next Singapore or the next Sri Lanka. Mirpur Stadium selected by PCB as potential Intern Night Cricket Tournament in Dadyal May 2012. The union territory of Jammu & Kashmir is uniquely placed in India as it is home to diverse communities of Dalits, Tribals and Pasmanda Caste Muslims from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh & Christian communities, who have so far been facing caste and racial discrimination in different parts of Jammu & Kashmir, separately without putting together a united . I realised that the word Baradri is used to refer to caste. Besides, peer pressure ensures there is a measure of respect for the separatist movement. Let them drop bombs and finish off Kashmir altogether. True Kashmiris are never soldiers. This is one of the reasons why groups from outside Punjab have generally settled down and merged within local structures very quickly. #31. In the past it used to be very simple in all aspects and endeavours and was considered as a mini aspect of life or just the means of furthering progeny. Indian Pilots Supporting Anti-Turkey Patch in Greece. [3] The word comes from the Iranian word khwja (Classical Persian: khwja; Dari khjah; Tajik khoja). [citation needed] It seems that such a system doesnt reward people based on merit, instead the positions of honour are granted to the prestigious castes even if there are more deserving candidates from elsewhere in the imposed hierarchy. For example, within the Raja caste, one of the groups is that of the Keyani's and within it you will find there are other groups, one of which is known as the Gakhar's. Ukraine Is Running Out of Ammo. He, however, acknowledged, the caste system is a powerful factor to decide loyalties and voters' preferences in AJK politics. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Fair enough, caste can be used to categorise people into say for example different professions e.g. She is a History major from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, and holds a Masters in Arabic Language & Literature from the University of Delhi. They proudly display their caste on their car or their motorcycle. Hey everybody, I got some questions about my heritage. We use cookies in a limited and restricted manner for specific purposes. The surname Khawaja occurs mostly in Asia, where 73 percent of Khawaja are found; 50 percent are found in South Asia and 50 percent are found in Islamic South Asia. JavaScript is disabled. Many people, who have crossed marriageable age, are still unmarried owing to this irrational trend. Even on the increasingly popular social-networking site Facebook, individuals often remove their surnames and add their caste instead. The caste in Kashmiri society plays an important role in social functions like marriages. In The United States those holding the Khawaja last name are 5.5% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 52.27% registered with the party. If, however, Sheikh is used as a surname, this indicates belonging to the sweeper community.. steamship authority cancellation policy That's the only difference. The abrogation of Article 370 has generated several narratives, most of them focused on how the move would exacerbate or end the three-decade old conflict in the Kashmir Valley. Without taking into account Pakistan it occurs in 84 countries. Americas industrial base is struggling with supply chains and a shortage of workers, The future of air warfare: Bayraktar KIZILELMA, (SUPERPOWER) Aerial footage from the Elephant Walk at Sheppard AFB, Iranian military engine development news and updates, Turkish Air Force - Weapons and Capabilities ( News and Updates ). Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has recently made forceful speeches about removing the 50 per cent cap on reservation, and demanded that the Centre release the data of a caste census that he said the . Kashmir Files: Vivek Agnihotri's film exposes India's new fault lines After the process of proselytization castes got mixed and there was the emergence of new castes which were both indigenous and foreign. I can't imagine who would name themselves the Butts. People would go to mosques to settle their issues so they became power centres and those who had control over the mosques acquired political authority which hasnt changed till this day. Their situation is only set to worsen under this regime.. Some of the Kashmiri converts to Islam by Sufi saints adopted the title Khawaja. They took important jobs in the kings court and bureaucracy and had control over mosques. For Caste Must Be In Good Humour: The Story Of A Dalit Comedian JavaScript is disabled. Indian Pilots Supporting Anti-Turkey Patch in Greece. For impactful stories you just cant miss, By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Khawaja ( Persian: khvjh) is an honorific title used across the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, particularly towards Sufi teachers. Ukraine Is Running Out of Ammo. Surely, people change their jobs and the same profession is rarely passed down from one generation to another. How, with call for caste census, Congress has upped the ante This last name is the 8,640th most numerous surname globally, held by around 1 in 110,746 people. Is Khawaja A Good Caste In Islamic Values + Life ? Tall and Graceful - Father of current DG ISPR happens to be on UN terror list. Tall and Graceful - Father of current DG ISPR happens to be on UN terror list. Indian Pilots Supporting Anti-Turkey Patch in Greece. For most underprivileged residents of Sheikh mohallas, the anxiety to earn a livelihood outweighed the desire for self-determination. Some do Fatiha, grave worship and other biidat acts. Saturday, 11 June 2022 . Though I knew some of the basics, it didnt really make much sense to me. In his book Directory of Caste in Kashmir, Kashmiri sociologist Bashir Ahmed Dabla classified Kashmiri castes into three different groups.At the top are the 'Syed castes' - Geelani, Andrabi . Restoring Mental Health: Going beyond conventions. I got some extended fam there. Butt is similar to Bhat. Khwajah is not a clan/tribe but a title. The former ambivalence mixed with a desire for peace has metamorphosed into a deep distrust of the Indian government and a feeling of foreboding with regard to Kashmirs future. Discovering the Caste System in Azad Kashmir as a British Kashmiri - Dadyal Questions about Butt/Khawaja clan and Kashmiri descendants in Pakistan At the top are the 'Syed castes' Geelani, Jeelani, Andrabi, Qadri, Hamdani, Bhukhari, and others where Syeds claim to be the descendants of the family of the . A poor city tucked beneath a rich city. The best way to do it is to aware people, especially elder generation, about the downsides of caste discrimination. At Zahid Pora, I came across Mohd Ismail, a retired sanitation worker of SMC (Srinagar Municipal Corporation), owner of a dank one-room shack with a brick and tarpaulin toilet built next to it. The renowned Kashmiri sociologist and former head of Kashmir University's sociology department, late Bashir Ahmed Dabla, in his book titled "Directory of Caste in Kashmir" classified Kashmiri castes into three different groups. Bangladesh: The next Singapore or the next Sri Lanka. In the outgoing state assembly, over a dozen lawmakers are Gujjar, the largest caste in AJK. Because the truth is worth it.). ), (Nandini Sen is a freelance writer and editor who currently works as a regular contributing (political) writer at Dkoding. I find it very strange when I see youngsters wearing t-shirts that have slogans on them such as Jatts Rule or Rajay are the Best. Even though the existences of caste as a social institution in the society is widely denied, perhaps because it contradicts the core beliefs of Islam. Caste in Kashmiri society mostly comes to surface at social functions like marriages. He is currently on his second India tour, titled 'Untouchable . His favorite candidate switching loyalties from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to Pakistan Tehreek -e- Insaf (PTI) led by Prime Minister Imran Khan does not matter to him. Political parties have distributed mandates among representatives of these castes depending on the concentration of their populations in the particular constituencies.