Bargala (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Bargala are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are sub-clan within the Gaurwa
community. A smaller number of the Bargala have converted to Islam
.
community, and claim descent from Rajah Jagpalji Vare Singh Bhati. This rajah was an important ruler in western Uttar Pradesh
, with his kingdom covering most of modern Bulandshahr
district. From him descended two brothers, Drigpal and Bhatipal, who came from Ujjain
in Malwa, and settled in the Doab
. Over time his descendants took to widow remarriage, an activity looked down upon, as such separated from the wider Rajput
community. Those Rajput
clans which allowed widow remarriage form a distinct class of Rajput
s known as Gaurwa
s. A section of the Bargala were converted to Islam
during the rule of the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb
.
. They grow wheat, peas, gram, barley, mustard and maize. The tend to live in villages where they form the majority of the population.
The Bargala follow the practice of clan exogamy
, which means marriage within the clan is strictly forbidden. They intermarry with neighbouring Rajput
groups such as the Jaiswar, Bhale Sultan
and Bachhal
. Furthermore, there is intermarriage between the Hindu
and Muslim
sections of the tribe.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are sub-clan within the Gaurwa
Gaurwa
The Gaurwa are a Rajput community, found in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India.-History and origin:...
community. A smaller number of the Bargala have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Origin
The Bargala claim to belong to the Bhatti RajputRajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
community, and claim descent from Rajah Jagpalji Vare Singh Bhati. This rajah was an important ruler in western Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, with his kingdom covering most of modern Bulandshahr
Bulandshahr District
Bulandshahar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Bulandshahr city is the district headquarters.-Geography:...
district. From him descended two brothers, Drigpal and Bhatipal, who came from Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
in Malwa, and settled in the Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
. Over time his descendants took to widow remarriage, an activity looked down upon, as such separated from the wider Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
community. Those Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clans which allowed widow remarriage form a distinct class of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s known as Gaurwa
Gaurwa
The Gaurwa are a Rajput community, found in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India.-History and origin:...
s. A section of the Bargala were converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
during the rule of the Mughal Emperor
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
.
Present Circumstances
The Bargala are mainly a community of peasant farmers, still found mainly in the Bulandshahr DistrictBulandshahr District
Bulandshahar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Bulandshahr city is the district headquarters.-Geography:...
. They grow wheat, peas, gram, barley, mustard and maize. The tend to live in villages where they form the majority of the population.
The Bargala follow the practice of clan exogamy
Exogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
, which means marriage within the clan is strictly forbidden. They intermarry with neighbouring Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
groups such as the Jaiswar, Bhale Sultan
Bhale Sultan
- Origin :The Bhale Sultan get their name from the Sanskrit bhala or javelin and the Arabic word sultan or ruler. Their name therefore means the ruler’s javelin or spear, and this name is said to have been bestowed upon them by the Mohammed Ghori. There are two traditions as to the origin of the...
and Bachhal
Bachhal
Bachal are a clan of Rajput group in India. Further, in Pakistan & Afghanistan, Bachal or Bachhal are part of converted Muslim Rajput group...
. Furthermore, there is intermarriage between the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
sections of the tribe.