Mistri (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Mistri or Mistris are a 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...

 caste found in 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...

.

Names of casts known as Mistri

There are two different casts by same name:-

1) Mistri, Mistri Rathod, Mistri Gurjar - which are identified as Mistris, a community originally from Kutch.

2) Mistri-Suthar - which is another name of Suthar
Suthar
The Suthar or Sutar is a Hindu caste within the Vishwakarma community of India. They are also found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan . They are also known as Mistry in Saurashtra.-The Origin :...

community of Gujarat.

Mistris of Kutch

The Mistris ( a.k.a. Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris of Kutch or Kadia Kshatriyas of Kutch, are a Hindu community of the Kutch District of Gujarat state in India...

 ) are a community of Kutch, who migrated into Kutch in early 7th Century from Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...

 to Saurashtra region of Gujarat  and then in 12th Century they entered Kutch and first established themselves at Dhaneti
Dhaneti
Dhaneti or Dhanetee is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is at a distance of about 26 km from Bhuj the Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch...

 and later moved on to establish nineteen villages given to them by erstwhile rulers of Kutch. The names of these villages are Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...

, Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar...

, Khambhra
Khambhra
Khambhra or Khamra is a village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is eight kilometres from the nearest town, Anjar.-History:...

, Nagalpar
Nagalpar
Nagalpur or Nagalpar is a small village in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. It comes under Anjar taluka.-History:About history of Nagalpar or Nagalpur it is one of the 19 villages established by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris as they are known in Kutch...

, Khedoi
Khedoi
Khedoi is large village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 14 KM from nearest town Anjar.Village is again sub-divided into Nani-Khedoi and Moti-Khedoi...

, Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...

, Hajapar
Hajapar
Hajapar is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kachchh District of Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 18 km from Bhuj. One nearby village is Reha.-History:...

, Kukma
Kukma
Kukma or Kookma is a village near the Bhuj town, taluka in Kachchh District of Indian State of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachchh District.-History:...

, Galpadar
Galpadar
Galpadar is village in Gandhidham Tehsil of Kutch District of Gujrat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 3 km from Gandhidham, 11 km from Anjar and 51 km from Bhuj.-History:...

, Reha
Reha
Reha is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 15 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:About the history of Reha it is one of the 19 villages founded by Kutch...

, Vidi
Vidi
Vidi or Videe or Virdee is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is at a distance of about 4 km from Anjar, the Taluka Headquarter.-History:...

, Ratnal
Ratnal
Ratnal is a village near the town of Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 15 km from Anjar.-History:...

, Jambudi
Jambudi
Jambudi is a village near the Bhuj, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 20 km from Bhuj Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch.-History:...

, Devaliya, Lovaria, Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...

, Meghpar, Chandiya
Chandiya
Chandiya or Chandia is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 18 km from nearest town Anjar.-History:...

 and Kumbharia
Kumbharia
Kumbharia or Kumbhariyu is village in Anjar Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of 14  km from Anjar town & Taluka Headquarter.-History:...

.http://www.shreegkg.com/kutch.htm

They are a community 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...

 or Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...

 warriors and a minority 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...

 Community of Gujarat, who are famous architects of most of historical monuments of Princely State of Cutch. They are also famous designers of buildings and bridges

Mistri Suthar

Suthar
Suthar
The Suthar or Sutar is a Hindu caste within the Vishwakarma community of India. They are also found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan . They are also known as Mistry in Saurashtra.-The Origin :...

 community of Gujarat, are also known as Mistri or Mistri Suthar. They are a 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...

 community belonging to Vishwakarma group.

Other Backward Class

The Mistri and Mistri Suthar
Suthar
The Suthar or Sutar is a Hindu caste within the Vishwakarma community of India. They are also found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan . They are also known as Mistry in Saurashtra.-The Origin :...

 have been clubbed together and included in Other Backward Class
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...

 community of Gujarat by Bakshi Panch. Both communities are given OBC Certificate in name of Mistri only.

Meaning of word Mistri

The word Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....

 &/or Mistry
Mistry
Mistry or Mistry may refer to :-*Mistri - a word used for master-craftsman, foreman in India.*Mistri - a caste of India.*Mistry - a surname used by persons of India or Indian origin.*Mistris of Kutch - another name for KGK Community of India....

 means ‘skilled artisan’ in Gujarati, adopted in Gujarati language from Portuguese language
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...

 mestre meaning ‘master’, ‘expert’. The Portuguese were present in Gujarat ( Diu ) since 1500. It is said these Mistris & Kadia
Kadia (community)
Kadia is a Hindu community in Gujarat State of India. They are specialised in masonry works, artistic carvings and sculpting as well as artistic wooden works.- History and origin :...

s worked in building of Diu Fort and Portuguese seeing their expertise called them mestre, which word was since then adopted in Gujarati language
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...

 - literally meaning : Master Builder or Master Mason in Gujarati language.

The word Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....

 or Mistry
Mistry
Mistry or Mistry may refer to :-*Mistri - a word used for master-craftsman, foreman in India.*Mistri - a caste of India.*Mistry - a surname used by persons of India or Indian origin.*Mistris of Kutch - another name for KGK Community of India....

 in Gujarat is identified with people involved in Building Construction.

Mistri besides carpenter ( for Suthar
Suthar
The Suthar or Sutar is a Hindu caste within the Vishwakarma community of India. They are also found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan . They are also known as Mistry in Saurashtra.-The Origin :...

 community ) also meant Contractor
Contractor
Contractor may refer to:* General contractor, organization or individual that contracts with another organization or individual for the construction of a building, road or other facility...

 ( mainly for Mistris of Kutch - majority of whom worked as Railway, PWD & Forest Contractors during British India )

See also

  • Mistri
    Mistri
    Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....

  • Kadia Kshatriyas
    Kadia kshatriyas
    Kadia Kshatriyas are a minority group of the Hindu community in Gujarat State, India...

  • Kadia (community)
    Kadia (community)
    Kadia is a Hindu community in Gujarat State of India. They are specialised in masonry works, artistic carvings and sculpting as well as artistic wooden works.- History and origin :...

  • Suthar
    Suthar
    The Suthar or Sutar is a Hindu caste within the Vishwakarma community of India. They are also found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan . They are also known as Mistry in Saurashtra.-The Origin :...

  • Mistry
    Mistry
    Mistry or Mistry may refer to :-*Mistri - a word used for master-craftsman, foreman in India.*Mistri - a caste of India.*Mistry - a surname used by persons of India or Indian origin.*Mistris of Kutch - another name for KGK Community of India....

  • Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
    Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
    Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris of Kutch or Kadia Kshatriyas of Kutch, are a Hindu community of the Kutch District of Gujarat state in India...

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