The Julaha are a community within the Indian subcontinent, which adopted the profession of weaving.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 25 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Hindu, Islam, Sikh | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Salvi, Panika, Ansari, Devanga, Padmasali (caste), Koshta |
Julaha is the name of the community of weavers and they are Socially and Educationally Backward. Other prominent weaving and handloom communities of Indian subcontinent include the Salvi, Panika, Ansari, Devanga, Padmasali (caste), Koshta and the Kashmiri Kani weavers. [1]
Known under many names, the julahas have been practising this art for ages.[2]
Etymology
editThe term Julaha may derive from the Persian julah (ball of thread).[3]
Both Hindu and Muslim Julaha (and even Sikh) groups exist.[4] The Julah community comes from a diverse backgrounds [5] and also the influential communities such as Mughal, Rajput, Awan, etc...[6] It's speculated that after experiencing a loss of wealth many took to weaving.
Statistics
editAlthough reliable statistics are old, as per survey done in 1990s, the total population of Julahas in India was around 12 million.
As per Caste Based Survey of Bihar 2022, the total number of Julahas in Bihar was 4.6 million.[7]
Prominent Figures
editProminent Figures from the weaver community include:
See also
edit- Salvi
- Panika
- Momin Ansari
- Devanga
- Padmasali (caste)
- Koshta
- Kashimri Kani weavers
References
edit- ^ "The Handloom communities of India". The Statesman. 7 August 2018.
- ^ "National Commission for Backward Classes" (PDF). National Commission for Backward Classes. [/web/20240310000309/https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/addmh2.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: Check|archive-url=value (help) - ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh; India, Anthropological Survey of (1 January 1993). The scheduled castes. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 9780195632545.
- ^ Gottschalk, Peter (27 October 2005). Beyond Hindu and Muslim: Multiple Identity in Narratives from Village India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199760527.
- ^ https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/download/AGlossaryoftheTribesandCastesofthePunjabandNorthWestFrontierProvince_10854869.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Panjab castes". 1916.
- ^ "Bihar caste survey: groups among backwards the new bone of contention". The Indian Express. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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