Amils

Amils is a clan of Lohana. The word "Amil" has its origin in the Persian word "amal" (as "administer").[1] In Sindh this clan ranks first in the hierarchical ranking among Lohanas, followed by Bhaiband and Sahitis.[2] The Lohana Amils held the highest administrative offices under Muslim rulers, beginning in the mid-eighteenth century. They speak Sindhi.[3] Amils consist principally of bankers, clerks, businesspersons and lawyers.[4]

During the British Rule, Amils and Bhaibands spoke fluent English, as compared to the Thatis and Sahitis, who being traders and shopkeepers, could not. They were, along with the Parsis, the closest to the British and were regularly sent to Britain in order to seal business deals on behalf of the East India Company. Amils are the wealthiest in the Sindhi community and are highly educated, even to this day. They pray mostly to Guru Nanak and very rarely to Jhulelal.

Amils can be distinguished by their exceptionally long surnames (most of the time).

Notable Amils include

References

  1. ↑ Raina Thapan, Anita. Sindhi Diaspora in Manila, Hong Kong, and Jakarta. Ateneo de Manila U Press. p. 14.
  2. ↑ Markovits, Claude. The Global World of Indian Merchants, 1750-1947: Traders of Sind from ... Cambridge University Press. p. 47.
  3. ↑ Tejani, Shabnum. Indian Secularism: A Social and Intellectual History, 1890-1950. Indiana University Press. p. 150.
  4. ↑ The Indian year book, Volume 25. Bennett, Coleman & Co. 1938. p. 2.

Sources

  • Bherumal Mahirchand Advani, "Amilan-jo-Ahwal" - published in Sindhi, 1919
  • Amilan-jo-Ahwal (1919) - translated into English in 2016 ("A History of the Amils") at sindhis
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.