Darzi

In India

The Shaikh Idrisi, or Darzi, as they prefer to be known, are still essentially involved with their traditional occupation of tailoring and garment-related work. Many urban Idrisi have now opened big shops and showrooms, or are employed in the textile industry, while the new generation of Idrishi caste are largely educated and many are employed doing government jobs or settled in Gulf countries. They have a traditional community council which still exercises some control over matters of social behavior.^[4]

In western Uttar Pradesh, Osmania Turks or Osmania Turk sheikhs are also engaged in this profession. They are of Central Asian Turkmen (Uighur) origin and are actually descendants of the Turkish sultanate in India. They are mainly settled in the western Uttar Pradesh districts of Bijnor, Moradabad, Shajahanpur, Amroha, Etah, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut and Muzzafarnagar. Most Darzi who migrated to Karachi are Turki sheikhs who had taken up the profession out of poverty and lack of better professions. They are still called Turki in local areas. Turki or Turki Darzi are very fair and have Uighur genetic makeup. Their women and men still look like Central Asians, with little beards, sharp features, and deep low eyes. There are also mixes of Moghuls and Turks in India. Most Turki have now left this profession in order to become highly-paid professionals like doctors, engineers, and professors. They also run large garments businesses in Noida, India. Normally, they use "Osmani" or "Uddin" as their surname, but recently, due to the benefits in India quota system, they have also started using "Idrisi".

In Bihar, the Darzi are known as Idrisi, and claim descent from the prophet Idris (Enoch). They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur, Chhapra, Sitamarhi, Purvi Champaran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Munger, and Patna. The Idrisi of Jharkhand have a common origin with those of Bihar, and intermarry. The community speak the Angika dialect of Hindi. Most Idrisis are still engaged in tailoring, but many Idrisis, particularly in Jharkhand are now farmers. Their customs are similar to other Bihari Muslims.^[5]

In Pakistan

In Pakistan, the Darzi are, in fact, two distinct communities, the Delhiwal Idrissis, who are found among the Muhajir ethnic group, and the Chhimba Darzi, who are ethnically Punjabi. The former are immigrants from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are concentrated in the port city of Karachi. Like their North Indian kinsmen, many have now opened small shops and businesses, although many other members of the community work for other Idrissis. They remain divided by sectarian divisions, the Sunni Idrisi not marrying into Shia Idrisi families. The community claims itself to be of Shaikh status.

In Punjab, the Chhimba Darzi are immigrants from East Punjab. Many in rural areas of Punjab have taken to cultivation, while those in urban areas have opened up small businesses. The Chhimba Darzi claim to belong to the Muslim Rajput community. They are entirely Sunni, and many belong to the orthodox Deobandi sect.^[6]