Doodwala
Encyclopedia
The Doodwala are a Muslim
community found in the state of Gujarat in India
. Many members of Doodwala community migrated to Pakistan
after the independence in 1947 and settled in Karachi
, where there are often known as Nagori.
word Dood, which means milk. Literally, the word Doodwala means a milk seller. The Doodwala are a sub-division of the Shaikh
community, and claim their ancestors came from Arabia in the 15th Century. They are found mainly in the city of Baroda.
association the Doodwala Jamat. This acts both as a welfare association and as an instrument of social control. The Doodwala are Sunni Muslim
s, with a majority belonging to the Barelvi
sub-sect. They are essentially a Gujarati
speaking community, but many Doodwala also now speak Urdu
. The Doodwala are one of the more affluent Gujarati Muslim
community, with many members now being successful professionals.
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 the state of Gujarat 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...
. Many members of Doodwala community migrated to 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...
after the independence in 1947 and settled in 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...
, where there are often known as Nagori.
History and origin
The community get their name from the GujaratiGujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
word Dood, which means milk. Literally, the word Doodwala means a milk seller. The Doodwala are a sub-division of the Shaikh
Gujarati Shaikh
The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Included within the Shaikh community are the Shaikhda of Bharuch district and the Sodagar of Patan.-History and origin:...
community, and claim their ancestors came from Arabia in the 15th Century. They are found mainly in the city of Baroda.
Present circumstances
The community is strictly endogamous, and consists of a number of lineage groups known as biradaris. Among the larger biradaris are the Hakim, Shaikh, Bhindawala, Makadawala and Koliwala. The Doodwala traditionally marry close kin, and practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. Their traditional occupation remains milk selling, although many Doodwala are now petty traders. A small number are now wage labourers. Like other Gujarati Muslims, they have a casteCaste
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...
association the Doodwala Jamat. This acts both as a welfare association and as an instrument of social control. The Doodwala are Sunni 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...
s, with a majority belonging to the Barelvi
Barelvi
Barelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers....
sub-sect. They are essentially a Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
speaking community, but many Doodwala also now speak 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...
. The Doodwala are one of the more affluent Gujarati Muslim
Gujarati Muslim
The term Gujarati Muslims is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the State of Gujarat in west India, who speaks the Gujarati Language as a mother-tongue and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims...
community, with many members now being successful professionals.