Watal

Watal is a surname used by the Kashmiri Pandit community in India. Watals are considered as the most socially elite Pandits from the Kashmir Valley. The Saraswat Brahmins of Kas'mira are believers in Shaivism and celebrate the festival of Mahashivratri with great zest.

The term Watal is also associated with a tribe found in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is often confused with the surname. The term "Watal" is different from the surname "Watal". Watal is referred to as Cobbler and the likes of them in the local language of Kashmiri people. They are also known as Batal, Battal, and Batul, and the community have been granted Scheduled Caste status.[1]

The Watal are a Kashmiri speaking community, confined entirely to the Kashmir Valley. They are broadly divided into three sub-groups, the Seraj who are cobblers by profession, the Schupriya Watal who are manufacturers of the schup or winnowing fans and the Khumb Watal, who occupy the lowest status as they work as scavengers as well as tanners, occupations that are traditionally seen as polluting by other Kashmiri Muslim tribes.[2]

The Shupir Watals, who claim to have been also known as Harmādānī Sheikh, are of uncertain origin. They are found mainly in the areas of Srinagar, Tangmarg, Baramulla and Sopore. They speak an Indo-Aryan language known as Sheikha gal or Watali.[3]

Present circumstances

According to 2001 Census of India, the Watal numbered 169, although there total numbers are probably underreported, as the name Watal carries a stigma.[4] This is seen by the fact that their entrance to mosques and shrines was restricted to the Watal, although this is no longer practiced, there are still occasionally prevented from entering places of worship. Muslim Watals are strictly endogamous, and prefer marrying close relatives. In general, their customs are similar to other Kashmiri Muslims, and the Watal are Sunni.

The Muslim Watals are a landless community, and most rural Watal are still employed as scavengers and sweepers, with agriculture labour being an important subsidiary occupation. In the cities, many are employed by the municipalities as cleaners, while many are also specifically employed to clear snow from roads in the winter. The Watal are an extremely marginalized group.

See also

References

  1. ↑ People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar
  2. ↑ People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar
  3. ↑ Safdar, Rahila (2014). "Sheikha Gal". In Devy, G. N.; Koul, Omkar N. The languages of Jammu & Kashmir. People's Linguistic Survey of India. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan. pp. 279–83. ISBN 978-81-250-5516-7.
  4. ↑ http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/SCCRC_24.pdf
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