Ranghar
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (Unknown) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| • Pakistan • India • United States • Canada • Australia | |
| Languages | |
| • Haryanvi • Khari Boli • Punjabi • Sindhi • Urdu • English | |
| Religion | |
•  Islam |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Muslim Rajputs • Khanzada • Punjabi Rajputs • Pachhada |
Ranghar (Urdu: رانگھڑ) are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India. In Haryana, Ranghar spoke a dialect of their own, called Ranghari, which is itself a dialect of Haryanvi, and many in Pakistan still use the language. Those of Uttar Pradesh speak Khari Boli among themselves, and Urdu with outsiders. After independence of Pakistan in 1947, many Uttar Pradesh Ranghars also migrated to Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan. They are entirely Sunni Hanafi Muslims and follow Deobandi and Barelvi schools of South Asia.
Contents
History and origin
The Ranghar were classified as an "agricultural tribe" by the British Raj administration. This was often taken to be synonymous with the classification of martial race, and some Ranghars were recruited to the Indian army.[1]
Distribution and present circumstances
In Pakistan
Ranghar communities are found in Mirpur Khas and Nawabshah Districts of Sindh. Ranghar have two main sub caste Panwar(Sodha) and Chauhan.Recent studies of the Ranghar communities in Pakistan have confirmed that they maintain a distinct identity. They have maintained the system of exogamous marriages, the practice of not marrying within one's clan, which marks them out from neighbouring Punjabi Muslim communities, which prefer marriages with first cousins. In districts of Pakpattan, Okara, and Bahawalnagar which have the densest concentrations of Rangarh, they consist mostly of small peasants, with many serving in the army, police and Civil Services. They maintain an overarching tribal council (panchayat in the Rangharhi dialect), which deals with a number of issues, such as punishments for petty crime or co-operation over village projects.[2]
See also
References
- "Related ethnic groups" needing confirmation
- Articles using Template:Infobox ethnic group with deprecated parameters
- Articles containing Urdu-language text
- Use dmy dates from November 2011
- Ranghar
- Social groups of Pakistan
- Muslim communities of India
- Punjabi tribes
- Sindhi tribes
- Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
- Social groups of Himachal Pradesh
- Social groups of Haryana
- Muhajir communities
- Social groups of Delhi
- Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh
