Kamangars
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The Kamangar is a Muslim community in North India, Dist. Chiniot, South Punjab, North Sindh and South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.[1]
Etymology
The name of the community is derived from the two Persian words Kamaan, which means a bow, and Gar which means maker. Thus Kamangar means bow-makers or weapon-makers. Kamangar must not confused with Kamboh.
History and origin
Some Kamangars trace their ancestry to a tribe by the name of Bani Saad, while some claim descent from Chughtai Mughals. They migrated into Sindh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh from Rewari in Haryana, accompanying the Mughal armies. Some sections claim to belong to the Quraishi community.[2]
Present circumstances
The Kamangar found throughout North India, with communities in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. They are also found in Pakistan, particularly in the province of Sindh and South Punjab.
In North India
The traditional occupation of the Kamangar was the making of bows and arrows. They now manufacture toys made of bamboo, as well as Ta'ziya for Ashura. The community is urban and semi-urban, and many are now wage labourers. Many have also been involved in drawing pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses. They have other Backward caste status. The community in Uttar Pradesh are found in Fatehpur, Ferozabad, Budaun, Agra, Varanasi, Sultanpur and Eta, while in Gujarat they are found in Kutch, Mandvi, Bhuj, and Mundra. In Uttar Pradesh, the community speak Urdu and various local dialects like Braj Bhasha and Khari Boli. They have a caste council that deals with disputes within their community. The community belong to the Sunni sects of Islam.[3]
In Pakistan
There is a community of Kamangar found in the districts of Sukkur, Shikarpur, Multan, Vehari (Fatehpur Mailsi), Bahawalpur (Khairpur), and Dadu, in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. A well known Kamangar family is living in Chiniot district, Punjab. They migrated from Afghanistan in 17th century and permanently settled at Mohallah Kamangran Chiniot. In Chiniot this family is considered as the most educated and landlord family of the city form about a hundred years. The majority is in government services especially in education Ch zulfiqar Ahmad also a land loard, Pakistan Railway, and Law department. Ch Ch Muhammad Hussain, Rana Ghulam Shabbir. Ch. Altaf Hussain Ch. Iqbal Hussain and Ch. Mehboob Elahi were on key posts in different departments. Ch Nayyer Mehboob (Land Loard), Ch Asif Naveed advocate-Ch Imran Mahboob advocate Ch Waseem Ahmad advocate and Ch Badar Munir advocate and other names are well known names in field of law
In West Iran
Kamangar is a tribe in Iran. Living in the West, Kurdistan province (Kavana; Pirmogha, Voshtrml village) and Kermanshah province (Gharavays and Satyari village), kamyaran City (Koreh Dare olya and sofla, Afrian olya and sofla, Marab, Gorgan, Masan, Kolasara, Taa, Tfen, Hane man, Sarchi, Dolaw, Kalateh village) and Marivan (Dadane Kamangar Village)
In Iraq
There is some evidence that a branch of this family are living in Klar, Sharazor (in Kani Hamza and Darah Shiish village), Kfri (Ashtokan), Dozkormato, Darbandikhan city (Plis village).
Religion and Sect
Sunni Islam is dominant following Deobandi and Salafi School of Thoughts.
See also
References
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