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The Dabgar is a caste found in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dhalgar and have scheduled caste status in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while they have Other Backward Class status in Gujarat. ^{[1] [2]} In Rajasthan, the community prefer the self-designation as Dhalgar. ^[3]

Origin

The word Dabgar is said to be derived from the Sanskrit word daravakarra, which means the makers of any spoon shaped vessels. According to their own traditions, they were originally found in Rajasthan, and were soldiers. This low status people group is considered by many to be a subdivision of the more numerous Chamars and Mochis. However, this is probably only because they get the raw skin from groups such as the Chamar, Kassi or Cheek (a Muslim group which sells goat meat) and store them and sell them to dealers. At one time they were cobblers, meaning they repaired shoes for a living. At that time they tanned hides, an occupation which gives any community low status in the Hindu world.They took an oath to resist the Mughals, but were defeated. After this defeat, a section converted to Islam, from whom descend the Muslim Dabgar community. The rest of the community fled in the jungles of Bundelkhand, and slowly spread to the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh. They then took up the occupation of manufacturing of rawhide jars. ^[4]

The Rajasthan Dabgar are involved in the manufacture of a number of musical instruments such as the Tabla, dholak, dhagli and thap. Most of these instruments have leather as a component, as such the community is considered untouchable. The Dabgar themselves claim to of Rajput origin, and are found mainly in the Marwar region. They speak the Marwari, but most understand Hindi. Most are Dabgar groups claim to have originated in Rajasthan, which might the historical homeland of this community. ^[5]

In Gujarat, the Dabgar are a community involved in the manufacture of musical instruments. Their original habitat was Pawagarh in Baroda District. According to their traditions, the fled Baroda as a consequence of a Muslim invasion, and are now found mainly in the Dabgar and Sarnagpur districts of Ahmadabad. A small number are also found in Surat and Baroda. The Dabgar speak Gujarati, and , most also understand Hindi. Their exact connection with the Dabgar community of North India is unclear. ^[6]

Present circumstances

The Dabgar are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their main clans are the Shrivastav, Delhiwal, Dari, Sripat and Kanaujiya. Theoretically, each clans descends from a common ancestor. They are a Hindu, except the now distinct community of Muslim Dabgar, and their tribal deity is Satyanarain. A small number of Dabgar also belong to the Nanakpanthi sect, which is closely connected with Sikhism. Uniquely, the Hindu Dabgar incorporate many Muslim traditions, including a few families in Varanasi who offer the Muslim prayer. This associations acts as both a community welfare association, as well as a pressure group for the community. ^[7]

Like most Gujarati Hindu castes, they are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their main clans include Parmar, Rathore, Modi and Chhatriwala. While in neighbouring Rajasthan, the community consist of three clans, the Chauhan, Deora and Panwar. Each of these three clans is territorial, with the Chauhan found mainly in Jodhpur, Deora in Udaipur and Panwar in Ajmer. The Dabgar are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing of hide jars. They buy the hide from the Chikwa community. Like other artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation, with many Dabgar now employed as daily wage labourers. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Allahabad and Kanpur. In southern Uttar Pradesh, the Dabgar speak Brajbhasha, while those in the east speak Awadhi. ^[8]

The Dabgar of Gujarat are a landless community, with still involved in their occupation of manufacturing musical instrumenrts. A small number are also involved in the manufacture of umbrellas. Like many artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional craft. Many are now wage labourers, while others have taken to trade. Like other Gujaratis, many have also immigrated to East Africa and the United Kingdom. The Gujarat Dabgar is Hindu, and most are members of the Swaminarayan sect. ^[9]

References