Qalandar (caste)
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
India • Pakistan | |
Languages | |
Jogi • Jogi Faqir • Sai |
The Qalandar (
History and origin
In Pakistan, the Qalandar are found mainly in
Present circumstances
In India
In North India, a part of these people started leading bears, monkeys and other performing animals with which they wander, announcing the presence with an hour glass shaped drum called a damru, which is used in their performances for emphasis, while a larger part of these people settled in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal and began a sedentary life while continuing the old traditional mystic religious beliefs. Some of them got connected to different khanqah in Bihar especially in Biharsharif and Danapoor.[3] Historically, all Qalandar were once a nomadic community, but many are now settled. In 1972, bear hunting and capturing were declared illegal in India, and there has been persistent effort by the Indian government to clamp down on the activity of bear performing. In addition, the traditional occupation of bear fighting has come to much criticism from the animal rights activists in the west, and have now been proscribed by India. They are now undergoing settlement, with many taking to cultivation. But their holdings are extremely small, and many are sharecroppers. A much larger group of Qalandars are now daily wage labourers, and they are extremely marginalized community, both socially and economically.[2]
In Pakistan
The basic unit of the Qalandar society is the tent or puki. Each puki represents a
Unlike their Indian counterparts, the Pakistan Qalandar are still nomadic, with most still involved in their traditional occupations of entertainment routines involving trained bears, monkeys, dogs and goats. In addition, they are often skilled jugglers, acrobats, magicians, impersonators and beggars. The Qalandar travel from community to community, setting camp in fallow fields.
See also
- Jogi
- Mirshikar
References
- ^ ISBN 0897897714
- ^ ISBN 1598741209
- ISBN 0-944142-35-4
- ISBN 0897897714