The "high castes" is as follows (all the names are given in language panjabi):
- Jat: Landowners; they add with their first name the name of "Chaudry", "Shima", (it is not systematic). One finds this same caste at Sikhs.
- Rajput: Princes, but landowners in great majority. One finds this caste among Hindus.
- Arian: The oral tradition said that they are descendants of the army of Ibn Qasim, whose troops had been created in Perse. They are originating in Perse and became with time landowners. One finds this caste only in Panjab. They add with their first name the name of "Chaudry", "Mian", "Mair", sometimes "Khan."
- Shaikhs: Tradesmen, they are downward Arabic; they add with their first name the name of "Malik."
- Sayed: Monk, their work also consists in making amulets, they are downward of the family of the Mohammad Prophet.
- Kashmiri: Of origin of Kashmir, they form a caste in Panjab, make various trades as tradesmen, butchers, foremen... They add with their first name the name of "Goal."
- Kakayzai: Tradesmen. They add with their first name of name of "Malik."
- Qazi: The oral tradition said that they would go down from the Afghan soldiers. They would have since the beginning exerted the function of monk. Currently it is a caste land great landowners; it is very largely represented in the administration and the bureaucracy. They add with their first name the name of "Qureshi".
- Pathan: Descendants of pathans, they form a caste in Panjab, they make various trades as civils servant, tradesmen...
- Gujar: Herdsmen, and often landowners.
The "small castes" is as follows:
- Tarhan: Carpenters.
- Qamyar: Potters.
- Lowar: Will forge.
- Kassaï: Butchers.
- Mirassi: Travelling musicians, troubadours.
- Mautchi: Shoe-makers.
- Tobi: Launderers.
- Darzi: Dressmakers.
- Jalaye: Tisserands.
- Lahari: Dyers.
- Mashqi: Water carriers.
- Teli: Oilcans.
- Balwalai: Messengers.
- Naï: Hairdressers; they are also able to make small operations, they circoncisent the new born ones and are cooks during the festivals and the marriages...
- Fakir: They are nourished by people of the districts where they live, in exchange of all kinds of odd jobs (to wash the crockery, to prepare the narghile...).
Monday, September 15, 2008
Arian - who are they?
Today I got an urge to figure out my roots. I am by caste Arian, atleast thats what I have been told!
Here is what I found;
The Arain are an agricultural settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in the Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming (market gardening), traditionally being small landowners or zamindars.
Origin
The Arain are 100% Muslim, a proportion much greater than the other agricultural castes of the Punjab (the Jats, Gujjars and Rajputs, which are 53%, 55%, and 31% Muslim, respectively). The belief that the Arain are descendants of Arab migrants to the Indian subcontinent, while not contradicted by the data, is nevertheless viewed by some as a desire for claiming an unbroken practice of Islam through the ages, for the sake of current prestige rather than accurate genealogical designation. There is a strong claim that the first Arain arrived in Sindh with Muhammad bin Qasim's expedition. Local indigenous ancestry is claimed from other tribes of the Punjab such as the Surajbansi Rajput, or from Persia, and the majority of Muslim agricultural tribes are certainly converts to Islam.
A study by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences on blood types of the major ethnicities in the Punjab showed that O is the most common blood group (among all ethnicities), except among the Arain where B is most common, the difference being statistically significant. Whilst not proof of non-local ancestry, it does illustrate a difference between the Arain and the other castes inhabiting the Punjab. More research would be needed to determine in greater detail the caste's migratory provenance.There are four or five main rankings (not sub-castes) which refer to the wealth held by the Arain namely Mian,Malik, Chaudary, and Mehar or Mahar. The rankings among Arain are not birthrights (such as those among other castes) and one can freely ascend/descend according to changes in personal wealth. Many gotras, or sub-clans, of the Arains bear names that indicate soldiering as an occupation. For example: Ghalar, Gahgeer and Goheer (ferocious horse of armoured corps), Gatku (fencer), Kavali (soldier patrolling while others rest), Basroo (observation post), Bahman (brave, uncontrollable or insurmountable), Bhaila (alms-keeper who walks with the commander when he is giving away alms after a victory), Daulay (those who got land in return for military services), Khatora (spy), Ramay (archers), Rattay (bloody, red, ferocious fighters), Ramday (red -eyed soldiers), Labanay (an army column equipped with batons), Jatalay (victors), Qutub Shahi: (soldiers or their offspring who accompanied Qutubuddin Aibak), Sappal (marksmen), Bahalwan (driver of a chariot), Mudh (logisticians supplying logistics and reinforcement to the army), Teerandaz (archers), Katarband (users of katar, a weapon used by ancient armies) and Bhutto (dwellers of high places).
Languages
They tend to speak different languages, basically Punjabi,Pothohari,Seraiki and Sindhi, depending on their place of residence.
The Arain during the British Raj
The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified zamindars such as the feudal Rajput landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as "...dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages...". When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, forming irrigated colonies. The Arain were so favoured for their "hard nisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.
The Arain were classified as a "non-martial race" by the British, a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time.
Here is what I found;
The Arain are an agricultural settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in the Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming (market gardening), traditionally being small landowners or zamindars.
Origin
The Arain are 100% Muslim, a proportion much greater than the other agricultural castes of the Punjab (the Jats, Gujjars and Rajputs, which are 53%, 55%, and 31% Muslim, respectively). The belief that the Arain are descendants of Arab migrants to the Indian subcontinent, while not contradicted by the data, is nevertheless viewed by some as a desire for claiming an unbroken practice of Islam through the ages, for the sake of current prestige rather than accurate genealogical designation. There is a strong claim that the first Arain arrived in Sindh with Muhammad bin Qasim's expedition. Local indigenous ancestry is claimed from other tribes of the Punjab such as the Surajbansi Rajput, or from Persia, and the majority of Muslim agricultural tribes are certainly converts to Islam.
A study by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences on blood types of the major ethnicities in the Punjab showed that O is the most common blood group (among all ethnicities), except among the Arain where B is most common, the difference being statistically significant. Whilst not proof of non-local ancestry, it does illustrate a difference between the Arain and the other castes inhabiting the Punjab. More research would be needed to determine in greater detail the caste's migratory provenance.There are four or five main rankings (not sub-castes) which refer to the wealth held by the Arain namely Mian,Malik, Chaudary, and Mehar or Mahar. The rankings among Arain are not birthrights (such as those among other castes) and one can freely ascend/descend according to changes in personal wealth. Many gotras, or sub-clans, of the Arains bear names that indicate soldiering as an occupation. For example: Ghalar, Gahgeer and Goheer (ferocious horse of armoured corps), Gatku (fencer), Kavali (soldier patrolling while others rest), Basroo (observation post), Bahman (brave, uncontrollable or insurmountable), Bhaila (alms-keeper who walks with the commander when he is giving away alms after a victory), Daulay (those who got land in return for military services), Khatora (spy), Ramay (archers), Rattay (bloody, red, ferocious fighters), Ramday (red -eyed soldiers), Labanay (an army column equipped with batons), Jatalay (victors), Qutub Shahi: (soldiers or their offspring who accompanied Qutubuddin Aibak), Sappal (marksmen), Bahalwan (driver of a chariot), Mudh (logisticians supplying logistics and reinforcement to the army), Teerandaz (archers), Katarband (users of katar, a weapon used by ancient armies) and Bhutto (dwellers of high places).
Languages
They tend to speak different languages, basically Punjabi,Pothohari,Seraiki and Sindhi, depending on their place of residence.
The Arain during the British Raj
The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified zamindars such as the feudal Rajput landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as "...dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages...". When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, forming irrigated colonies. The Arain were so favoured for their "hard nisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.
The Arain were classified as a "non-martial race" by the British, a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
How to make the MOST out of this worldly life
Recent realizations and experiences have made me realize the importance of the reason of our existence and the really short time we have in this life, and its importance to the overall context of our existence in this world and the world beyond!
I am trying to structure a solution maximizing individual benefit not just in this world (a test ground) but in the context of our entire existence, all of which is BEYOND this world (as per Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
We should maximize our sawaab (+ive credits for our good deeds) and minimize our sins (-ive credit). We will be rewarded for the +ive credits and punished for the -ive ones. The impact of the credits is cascading in a multi dimensional way.
If I watch porn, I am earning -ive credit, but if I also offer others to watch porn, the -ive credits multiply. Similarly, if I help a poor person by giving USD 1500 , I earn +ive credits but if I buy the poor person a rickshaw worth USD 1500, which he can use to earn his livelihood for a longer span of time, my +ive credit multiply many fold.
The goal of this post is to come out with a formula that can in my opinion maximize the +ive credit.
Some +ive credit making instruments;
1. Sponsor child's education
2. Building / Supporting Schools
3. Building / Supporting Mosques
4. Planting trees
5. Sponsoring water wells
I am trying to structure a solution maximizing individual benefit not just in this world (a test ground) but in the context of our entire existence, all of which is BEYOND this world (as per Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
We should maximize our sawaab (+ive credits for our good deeds) and minimize our sins (-ive credit). We will be rewarded for the +ive credits and punished for the -ive ones. The impact of the credits is cascading in a multi dimensional way.
If I watch porn, I am earning -ive credit, but if I also offer others to watch porn, the -ive credits multiply. Similarly, if I help a poor person by giving USD 1500 , I earn +ive credits but if I buy the poor person a rickshaw worth USD 1500, which he can use to earn his livelihood for a longer span of time, my +ive credit multiply many fold.
The goal of this post is to come out with a formula that can in my opinion maximize the +ive credit.
Some +ive credit making instruments;
1. Sponsor child's education
2. Building / Supporting Schools
3. Building / Supporting Mosques
4. Planting trees
5. Sponsoring water wells
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Existing indexes used compare countries
This post is WIP!
I was reading today, which led me to a thought; "How do you compare different countries? What are the factors that could be used for this comparison? Is there a formula that can be applied to compare countries OVERALL? Some thinking led me to the conclusion, there has to be an index or more developed for this purpose. I will use a set of 6 countries of my interest to demonstrate my finidings on the internet! The 6 chosen countries are;
1. Canada; my home country
2. Pakistan; the country of my origin
3. United Arab Emirates; the country where I was brought up
4. United States of America; the super power / economy of the world
5. China; the emerging super power
6. India; another emerging super power (maybe) and the neighbor of Pakistan (my country of origin).
Freedom House is a United States-based international non-governmental organization that
conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights.[2] It is best
known for its annual assessment of the degree of democratic freedoms in each country, which is
widely used in political science research.[3]
The organization was founded by Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941, and describes
itself as "a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world." It receives about 80% of
its budget from the U.S. government,[4] but also receives funding from various other sources,
for example the Bradley Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Dutch government, and
a list of others.[4] The organization has been criticized for receiving funding from and
allegedly furthering the interests of the U.S. government,[5] while others have offered praise
to the group.[6]
Freedom House
PR=Political Rights
CL=Civil Liberties
CANADA PR:1 CL:1 : : PR:1 FREE
PAKISTAN PR:6 CL:5 : 0 NOT FREE
UAE PR:6 CL:6 : : NOT FREE
http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/pdf/Charts2006.pdf
United Nations Human Development Index
Created by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahbub_ul_Haq
I was reading today, which led me to a thought; "How do you compare different countries? What are the factors that could be used for this comparison? Is there a formula that can be applied to compare countries OVERALL? Some thinking led me to the conclusion, there has to be an index or more developed for this purpose. I will use a set of 6 countries of my interest to demonstrate my finidings on the internet! The 6 chosen countries are;
1. Canada; my home country
2. Pakistan; the country of my origin
3. United Arab Emirates; the country where I was brought up
4. United States of America; the super power / economy of the world
5. China; the emerging super power
6. India; another emerging super power (maybe) and the neighbor of Pakistan (my country of origin).
Freedom House is a United States-based international non-governmental organization that
conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights.[2] It is best
known for its annual assessment of the degree of democratic freedoms in each country, which is
widely used in political science research.[3]
The organization was founded by Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941, and describes
itself as "a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world." It receives about 80% of
its budget from the U.S. government,[4] but also receives funding from various other sources,
for example the Bradley Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Dutch government, and
a list of others.[4] The organization has been criticized for receiving funding from and
allegedly furthering the interests of the U.S. government,[5] while others have offered praise
to the group.[6]
Freedom House
PR=Political Rights
CL=Civil Liberties
CANADA PR:1 CL:1 : : PR:1 FREE
PAKISTAN PR:6 CL:5 : 0 NOT FREE
UAE PR:6 CL:6 : : NOT FREE
http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/pdf/Charts2006.pdf
United Nations Human Development Index
Created by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahbub_ul_Haq
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