Muslim Dhobi
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • Pakistan • India | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi • Gujarati • Punjabi • Seraiki | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Malik • Shaikh |
The Muslim Dhobi are a South Asian Muslim caste whose traditional occupation is washing clothes. They are considered to be Muslim converts from Hinduism, where the Dhobi castes are launderers. Muslim Dhobis are found throughout the Indian subcontinent.[citation needed]
The community is also known as Charhoa and Gazar in Pakistan, and Qassar in India. They also use "Hawari" as a surname.[citation needed]
Present circumstances
In Pakistan
In Pakistan, the Punjab Qassar are mainly a rural community. The Qassar are an artisan caste, receiving a fixed share of the agricultural produce for their services. The Gazar sub-division, found in southern Punjab, have taken to agriculture. The Gazar and Charhoa are Seraiki speaking, while the Qassar in central Punjab speak Punjabi.[1]
See also
References
- ^ Chaudhary, Muhammad Azam (1999). Justice in Practice: Legal Ethnography of a Pakistani Punjabi Village. Oxford University Press. pp. 7–9.