Mahajan

Mahajan is a community in North India originated from the Punjab region. People belonging to the Mahajan community are active in money lending activities for centuries within Punjab prior to their migration. This migration occurred very early to Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, the present-day state of Punjab, the Punjab province and the North-West Frontier area. Most Mahajans speak Punjabi and Dogri, and live in the regions of the Punjab, Jammu, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Mahajans of Jammu and Punjab were landlords, traders, and businessmen who were highly respected and had a major influence in their society. The Mahajan community of North India were considered to be high caste and consequently given the name Mahajan (great persons). These Mahajans were powerful both economically and socially. Many of them engaged in money lending. In present-day India, Mahajans are primarily concentrated in the Jammu region of the state. The majority of Mahajans in Punjab came from Pakistan after the Partition of India. Mahajans of Punjab were farmers. Most Punjabi Mahajans took part in sending their eldest son to the khalsa army, hence there are some Sikh Mahajans e.g. Tarlochan Singh Mahajan. Guru Govind Singh named one of his regiments as Mahajan as well.

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh

People in Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh's Nimar region also share the surnames Mahajan and Nema. People of the Nimar region believe in Srinathji at Nathdwara (Rajasthan) and are strict vegetarians. In Gujarat, the Bhatia caste also uses the surname "Mahajan", as the Mahajan community was traditionally associated with money lending. Mahajans belong to Baniya and Vaishya community.

Maharashtra

Mahajans from Maharashtra is a diverse group. The surname exists in Kokanastha Brahmins as well as Deshastha Brahmins The surname Mahajan also exists within the kudaldeshkar adya gaud brahmins, Lingayat, Gujri, Leva Patidar, Mali, Bhavsar(Rangari), Jain, Baniya, Vaishya and Kunabi communities of Maharashtra.

Sub-castes

Mahajans have many sub-castes such as Phagetra/Pakhetra, Vaid, Bhagwathiye, Langars, Rarotra, Fave(Phave), Padotra, Mahotra, Kubre, Beotra/Byotra, Gadhede, Chunne, Manath, Kankaal, Lamhe, Khadyals and Kanghal. Many individuals of these sub-castes gather at their respective religious centers. Each sub caste believes in its own deity, known as devte. Mahajans created temples at these centers, the temples being located in many locations such as Batala, Punjab to Jammu and Gurdaspur. Temple for Lanagrs is at Kalith in Jammu. This gathering is called a Mail of Mahajans. At this gathering, Mahajans worship their deity after taking a bath at the temple. These temples are managed by a managing committee called sabha. This committee organizes langar on the day of gathering. Certain other family ceremonies are also performed in these temples by the persons belonging to the caste such as sutra and mundan ceremonies. There is no particular day fixed for these ceremonies. This day of mail (gathering) is celebrated on the occasion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev's Birthday, usually in November. Like Phagetra Mahajans gather at Changia village in Arnia sector (R.S. Pura) for their Mail on Dussehra and beotra family gather in Batala on Guru Nanak's birthday every year. Traditionally, Mahajans do not marry into the same sub caste. A Kubra boy does not marry a Kubra Girl because they are brother and sister, according to their belief. Some Mahajans use the castes of Gupta and Jandiyals. The Guptha surname is mostly used by the Mahajans of the Jammu region as a generic title

Mahajan is also used as a generic job title referring to people involved in money lending.

Prominent Mahajans
  • Ashwani Mahajan, economist, National Co-Convener, Swadeshi Jagran Manch; Professor at PG DAV College
  • Manish Mahajan, Photographer based in South Australia.
  • Sumitra Mahajan, an Indian politician Who is the speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha
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