Pinjara
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 30,00,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
  | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi • Marwari • Marathi • Kannada | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Behna • Mansoori |
The Pinjara (Rajasthani: पिंज़ारा (Devanagari) پِنجارہ (Perso-Arabic)) (Kannada:ಪಿಂಜಾರ ) are community found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in India. They are also known as Mansoori, especially in Gujarat, where the name Pinjara is no longer used. The Pinjara is the traditional cotton carder of Central India, just like the Behna are the traditional cotton carders of North India This community came from Persia and Afghanistan for business purpose of cotton farming and industries. [1][2] But they are not included in ashraf muslims or pathans because probably their sbustantial population was CONVERTED from Hindu obc. There is no genetic evidence for pinjaras to be pathans. May pinjaras just want to uplift tgeur community by false afghan claim.Even pinjaras who are obc hindu converts start bto Tipu Sultan as a Pijara but according to the records stating claims of tipu sultan as being qureshi sayyed , pijara can't proove tipus pinjara heritage. More over they calim wronlgy on a Sayyed and its is sin to proove a sayyed about their hertitgae.
History and origin
The community consists of local converts and foreigners who migrated from outside subcontinent Persia and Afghanistan, and have been involved in the traditional occupation of cotton ginning/trading[8].Some of Mansoori is converted muslims and Those people believes in their original Rajput caste. According to history, they came from Rajasthan to Gujarat at the time of the form of Ran Singh and resided here. Even today, their main caste - Rao, Deora, Chauhan, Bhati, which is also a Rajput clan[2]. The main origin of this community from Afghanistan and some of whose converted Muslim from Rajput's.But they were called Behna, Dhuna by the Hindu community and it's also mentioned that dhuna, Behna was stated to the Hindu carder not for Muslims.[4]Until some times ago no name in this community as surname,now some people using Pathan/Khan and some using Mansoori as a surname because the ancestor's of this community was Persian Muslims and from Afghanistan.[1] Tipu Sultan belongs this community.
The community is concentrated in the Awadh and Rohilkhand regions, with those in Awadh speaking both Urdu and Awadhi, and those in Rohilkhand speaking Khari boli. In Rohilkhand, the community is found mainly in the districts of Bar, Bijnor, Moradabad, and Rampur. While in Awadh, Uttar pradesh, Bihar, gujrat, rajsthan north India[2] http://www.royalark.net/India4/tipu.htm
Present circumstances
In Rajasthan, the Pinjara are found mainly in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Alwar, Bikaner Jhalawar, Kota districts. They speak a variety of Rajasthani, and have a working knowledge of Urdu. The community are divided into two major exogamous groups, the Baone and Terpane, the former is further divided into fifty two clans, and the latter is divided into fifty three clans. Some of their major clans are the Sherani,Qureshi, Asan, Galhot, Bhati, Chauhan, Aravalli, Tak, Aguan, Khokhar, Ajmeria, Bhulta, Bahaleem, Chitta and Multani. These clans are exogamous in nature...[1] The main situated area of clan sherani's is a town "kanore" near Udaipur. In Maharashtra, the community is found mainly in the districts of Bhandara, Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha. They speak Marathi, although most also speak Dakhani. Unlike the Rajasthan Pinjara, the Maharashtra Pinjara do not practice clan exogamy.
In Maharashtra, the Pinjara have abandoned their traditional occupation of cotton gining and the manufacture of quilts and pillows. A process that began in the 19th Century, when many members of the community took to agriculture has accelerated. Most Pinjara are now small and medium sized farmers. Most live in multi-caste villages which they share with the Maratha, Mang, Gond and Bandha communities.
In Karnataka, Pinjaras population is about 1.3 million. They are found all over the State but majority of them live in Bijapur and Belgaum districts. Literacy is claimed to be less than 1 percent in the State. Pinjara Muslims mother tongue is Kannada where as other Muslims speak Daccani. In some parts of the State their traditional occupation continues with modern machines but overall they are badly affected by modern mattress makers. Some are agriculturist and others run petty-shops. Economically they are weaker section of the society and are struggling to embrace change.