Bazigar

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For the language, see Bazigar language. For the film, see Baazigar.

Bazigar (from Persian: بازیگر bazi + gar) are an ethnic group of north-western India. They are primarily found in Punjab region of India and Pakistan, but there are also communities in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan.[1] They were previously nomadic with their main occupation the performance of acrobatics and other forms of entertainment, but they are now settled and engaged mainly in agricultural and forms of industrial services and businesses.[2]

Origin

The name Bazigar is derived from the

Karnal. Major Bazigar clans in Haryan include the Kanaut,Vartia,Lalka,Machhal Myane, Dharmsout, Manana, Namsout, and Jagateka.[3]

In

Bathinda districts are centres of this tribe. The Bazigar are a nomadic tribe, who go about from village to village practising acrobatic feats. Their primary occupation was the performance of acrobatics. Generally, each family was allocated twelve villages, and the Bazigar were paid by the villagers to entertain them. Many Bazigar were also employed as seasonal agricultural laborers. With the increase in televisions in rural Punjab, the Bazigar's traditional occupation is under threat.[4]

The Bazigar are further sub-divided into five sub-groups, the Jogi, Badtia (Wartia), Muchhal (muchhals), Jassuke, Dharamsot and Namsout. The first four sub-divisions cannot intermarry, but Namsout only marry within the clan. Historically, the Bazigar were either

Muslim patrons due to the partition, the Bazigar have embraced Sikhism. They have also abandoned their traditional dialect Bazigar boli for standard Punjabi.[5]

References

  1. ^ Schreffler 2011, p. 222.
  2. ^ Deb 1987; Schreffler 2011.
  3. ^ People of India Haryana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 63 to 67 Manohar
  4. ^ People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 94 to 96 Manohar
  5. ^ People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 94 to 96 Manohar

Bibliography

  • Deb, P. C. (1987). Bazigars of Punjab: A Socio-economic Study. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
  • Schreffler, Gibb (2011). "The Bazigar (Goaar) People and Their Performing Arts" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 18 (1&2).
  • Singh, Birinder Pal, ed. (2010). "Criminal" Tribes of Punjab: A Social-anthropological Inquiry. Routledge.
    ISBN 9780415551472
    .
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