Darzi
Encyclopedia
The Darzi are a Muslim
community, found in North India
and Pakistan
. Darzi means tailor in Urdu. A small number are also found in the Terai
region of Nepal
. They are also known as Idrisi or Idrisi Shaikh.
language. It is said to be derived from the Persian
word darzan, which means to sew. They claim descent from Idris, (Enoch
) one of the biblical prophets. According to their traditions, Idris was the first person to learn the art of sewing. They are said to have settled in South Asia
during the early period of the Sultanate of Delhi. They are also divided on a linguistic basis, with those of North India
speaking various dialects of Urdu
, while those of Punjab
speaking Punjabi
. The Punjabi Darzi, are said to be converts from the Hindu
Chhimba caste, and have several territorial divisions. These include the Sirhindi, Deswal and Multani. The Punjabi Darzi (Chhimba Darzi
) are almost entirely Sunni.
In western Uttar Pradesh
, Osmania Turks or Osmania Turk sheikhs are also engaged in this profession. They are of Central Asian Turkman (Uighur) origin and are actually descendants of the Turkish sultanate in India. They are mainly settled in the western Uttar Pradesh districts of Bijnor, Moradabad, Shajahanpur, Amroha, Etah, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut and Muzzafarnagar. Most Darzi who migrated to Karachi are Turki sheikhs who had taken up the profession out of poverty and lack of proper professions. They are still called Turki in local areas. Turki or Turki Darzi are very fair and have Uighur
genetic makeup. Their women and men still look like Central Asians, with little beards, sharp features, and deep low eyes. There are also mixes of Moghuls and Turks
in India. Most Turki have now left this profession in order to become highly-paid professionals like doctors, engineers, and professors. They also run large garments businesses in Noida, India. Normally, they use "Osmani" or "Uddin" as their surname, but recently, due to the benefits in India quota system, they have also started using "Idrisi".
In Bihar
, the Darzi are known as Idrisi, and claim descent from the prophet Idris (Enoch). They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur
, Munger
, and Patna
. The Idrisi of Jharkhand
have a common origin with those of Bihar
, and intermarry. The community speak the Angika dialect of Hindi
. Most Idrisis are still engaged in tailoring, but many Idrisis, particularly in Jharkhand
are now farmers. Their customs are similar to other Bihari Muslims.
, the Darzi are, in fact, two distinct communities, the Delhiwal Idrissis, who are found among the Muhajir ethnic group, and the Chhimba Darzi
, who are ethnically Punjabi
. The former are immigrants from Delhi
and Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are concentrated in the port city of Karachi
. Like their North Indian kinsmen, many have now opened small shops and businesses, although many other members of the community work for other Idrissis. They remain divided by sectarian divisions, the Sunni Idrisi not marrying into Shia Idrisi families. The community claim’s itself to be of Shaikh
status.
In Punjab
, the Chhimba Darzi are immigrants from East Punjab
. Many in rural areas of Punjab
have taken to cultivations, while those in urban areas have opened up small businesses. The Chhimba Darzi claim to belong to the Muslim Rajput community. They are entirely Sunni, and many belong to the orthodox Deobandi
sect.
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...
community, found in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Darzi means tailor in Urdu. A small number are also found in the Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
region of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. They are also known as Idrisi or Idrisi Shaikh.
History and origin
The word Darzi literally means tailor in the UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
language. It is said to be derived from the Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
word darzan, which means to sew. They claim descent from Idris, (Enoch
Enoch (ancestor of Noah)
Enoch is a figure in the Generations of Adam. Enoch is described as Adam's greatx4 grandson , the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah, and the great-grandfather of Noah...
) one of the biblical prophets. According to their traditions, Idris was the first person to learn the art of sewing. They are said to have settled in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
during the early period of the Sultanate of Delhi. They are also divided on a linguistic basis, with those of North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
speaking various dialects of Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, while those of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
speaking Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. The Punjabi Darzi, are said to be converts from 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...
Chhimba caste, and have several territorial divisions. These include the Sirhindi, Deswal and Multani. The Punjabi Darzi (Chhimba Darzi
Chhimba Darzi
The Chhimba Darzi are a Muslim community, found in the province Punjab, Pakistan. Darzi means tailor in Urdu. They are also known as Idrisi or Idrisi Shaikh.-History and origin:...
) are almost entirely Sunni.
In India
The Darzi, or Idrisi Shaikh, as they prefer to be known, are still essentially involved with their traditional occupation of tailoring. Many urban Idrisi have now opened shops, or are employed in the textile industry, while in rural areas, many are now subsistence farmers. They have a traditional community council, that still exercises some control over matters of social behaviour.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...
, Osmania Turks or Osmania Turk sheikhs are also engaged in this profession. They are of Central Asian Turkman (Uighur) origin and are actually descendants of the Turkish sultanate in India. They are mainly settled in the western Uttar Pradesh districts of Bijnor, Moradabad, Shajahanpur, Amroha, Etah, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut and Muzzafarnagar. Most Darzi who migrated to Karachi are Turki sheikhs who had taken up the profession out of poverty and lack of proper professions. They are still called Turki in local areas. Turki or Turki Darzi are very fair and have Uighur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
genetic makeup. Their women and men still look like Central Asians, with little beards, sharp features, and deep low eyes. There are also mixes of Moghuls and Turks
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
in India. Most Turki have now left this profession in order to become highly-paid professionals like doctors, engineers, and professors. They also run large garments businesses in Noida, India. Normally, they use "Osmani" or "Uddin" as their surname, but recently, due to the benefits in India quota system, they have also started using "Idrisi".
In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Darzi are known as Idrisi, and claim descent from the prophet Idris (Enoch). They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
, Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
, and Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
. The Idrisi of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
have a common origin with those of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, and intermarry. The community speak the Angika dialect of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
. Most Idrisis are still engaged in tailoring, but many Idrisis, particularly in Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
are now farmers. Their customs are similar to other Bihari Muslims.
In Pakistan
In PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the Darzi are, in fact, two distinct communities, the Delhiwal Idrissis, who are found among the Muhajir ethnic group, and the Chhimba Darzi
Chhimba Darzi
The Chhimba Darzi are a Muslim community, found in the province Punjab, Pakistan. Darzi means tailor in Urdu. They are also known as Idrisi or Idrisi Shaikh.-History and origin:...
, who are ethnically Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
. The former are immigrants from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and 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 concentrated in the port city of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Like their North Indian kinsmen, many have now opened small shops and businesses, although many other members of the community work for other Idrissis. They remain divided by sectarian divisions, the Sunni Idrisi not marrying into Shia Idrisi families. The community claim’s itself to be of Shaikh
Shaikhs in South Asia
Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder." It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar...
status.
In Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, the Chhimba Darzi are immigrants from East Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
. Many in rural areas of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
have taken to cultivations, while those in urban areas have opened up small businesses. The Chhimba Darzi claim to belong to the Muslim Rajput community. They are entirely Sunni, and many belong to the orthodox Deobandi
Deobandi
Deobandi is a movement of Sunni Islam. The movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.-History:...
sect.
See also
- Chhimba DarziChhimba DarziThe Chhimba Darzi are a Muslim community, found in the province Punjab, Pakistan. Darzi means tailor in Urdu. They are also known as Idrisi or Idrisi Shaikh.-History and origin:...
- Shaikhs in South AsiaShaikhs in South AsiaSheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder." It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar...
- SaifiSaifiThe Saifi are a Muslim community found in North India, Pakistan. They are now considered as forming a community with in the Shaikh caste. They are also known as Muslim BadhaiLohar Kalayi gar.-History and origin:...
- ManiharManiharThe Manihar or more commonly referred to as the Siddiqui Manihar, are a Muslim community, found mainly in North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Manihar are also found in the Terai region of Nepal.-History and origin:...
- DruzeDruzeThe Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
heterodox MuslimMuslimA 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...
community of SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
also derived their name from word Darzi