Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari (Urdu: مومن أنصاري) are a indigenous Muslim community, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In North India, the community are known as Ansari order while in Maharashtra the community are known as Momin
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan • India • Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Urdu • Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| Islam 100% |
The community are found throughout India, but Varanasi District, in Uttar Pradesh, is always regarded by most Momin as the centre of their community. In that city, the Ansari are said to make up a third of the city's population. Important Ansari neighbourhoods in the city include Madanpura, Adampura and Jaitpura.[1]
History and origin
They are an indigenous weaving community, more commonly knows as Ansari.
After the revolt of 1857, the community migrated from North India to various parts of the country, notably Bombay.[2] William Crooke referred to them as a caste who had converted to Islam.[3]
The Ansaris of North India are mainly a connected with the small-scale farming and textile work. Many members of the community have entered private or government service. Their relationship with the Sadh community is of some importance, as they supply the Momins with the cotton cloth used for printing.[2]
References
- The Artisans of Benaras Popular Culture and Identity, 1880h-1986 Orient Longman
- Uwe Skoda; Kenneth Bo Nielsen; Marianne Qvortrup Fibiger (1 November 2014). Navigating Social Exclusion and Inclusion in Contemporary India and Beyond: Structures, Agents, Practices. Anthem Press. pp. 153–. ISBN 978-1-78308-340-4.
- Vasanthi Raman (2010). The Warp and the Weft: Community and Gender Identity Among Banaras Weavers. Routledge. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-0-415-55376-6.
Further reading
- Freitag, Sandra B. (1 January 1992). Culture and Power in Banaras: Community, Performance, and Environment, 1800-1980. University of California Press. pp. 153–. ISBN 978-0-520-08094-2.</ref>