Sindhi-Sipahi
Encyclopedia
The Sindh-Sipahi are a Muslim
community found in the province of Sindh
in Pakistan
and state of Rajasthan
in India
.
s. They are said to have converted to Islam
, at the time of the conquest of Sindh
by the Arabs, around 8th Century A.D.The Sindhi Sipahi form a large part of the Muslim Rajputs population of Marwar
and Mewar
. According to their traditions, they were Chauhan
and Bhati
Rajput
s who converted to Islam
in the Middle Ages. They are concentrated in Mallani, Sheo, Sanchor in Marwar
and in Udaipur
.
They are sub-divided into various tribes, such as the Bhatti, Sodha
, Tonwar and Rathore
, and further divided into firkas or sub-clans. Their main firkas are the Samma, Saand, Gajju, Bhayyo, Panno, Sithar, Soomra
and Mahar
. The Samma clan is called so after the name of its founder and traces its pedigree to Bhati
Rajput
s. The Saand and Gajju were originally Sodha
; Bhayo and Panno are said to be descended from Tonwar; and Sithar are Rathore
.They have a common origin with the Sindhi Rajput
tribes of Pakistan
.
The Soomra
and Mahar
claim to have always been Muslim
. In addition to these communities, the Juneja
s and Mangria
are also considered to be Sindh-Sipahi.
Dhatis and Khudalis are the two chief sub-divisions of the Sindhi-Sipahi. The Dhati are found mainly in Jaisalmer
, while the Khudali are found in Barmer
and Jodhpur
.The Khudali are camel nomads, and dwell in temporary thatched huts. The Dhatis are settled farmers.
, and are affected by environmental changes. They have their own Panchayat (community council), which deals with disputes with in the community. The community are Sunni Hanafi
Muslim
s, and speak the Marwari
and Mewari dialects of Rajasthani
, Sindhi
and Urdu
.
and Sanghar
districts of Sindh
. They are found mainly in the western districts of Rajasthan
state, such as Jaisalmer
, Barmer
and Jodhpur
.
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 province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
in 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...
and state of 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...
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...
.
History and origin
The Sindh-Sipahi originally belonged to the family of Chandravanshi 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...
s. They are said to 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 ~~~...
, at the time of the conquest of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
by the Arabs, around 8th Century A.D.The Sindhi Sipahi form a large part of the Muslim Rajputs population of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
. According to their traditions, they were Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
and Bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
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 who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the Middle Ages. They are concentrated in Mallani, Sheo, Sanchor in Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and in Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
.
They are sub-divided into various tribes, such as the Bhatti, Sodha
Sodha
Sodhar is a sindhi tribe found in Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India. They claim to be a branch of the sodhar tribe.-History and origin:The Sodhar sindhis are said to be descended from Paramara Sodhar, are supposed to have come into this...
, Tonwar and Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
, and further divided into firkas or sub-clans. Their main firkas are the Samma, Saand, Gajju, Bhayyo, Panno, Sithar, Soomra
Soomro
Soomro or Soomra is a Sindhi tribe in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, Pakistan.- History and origin :The Soomra Dynasty was established by the Soomro tribe of Sindh. The Soomra ruled Sindh from 750-1351. Following the 985 CE expulsion of the Qarmatian Muslim sect from Iraq and Egypt, the...
and Mahar
Mahar (tribe)
The Maher are a Sindhi Muslim Rajput tribe found among both the Seraiki people of South Punjab, Pakistan as well as being found in Sindh, Pakistan.-History:The tribe claims decent from Maher, who was a Rajput...
. The Samma clan is called so after the name of its founder and traces its pedigree to Bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
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. The Saand and Gajju were originally Sodha
Sodha
Sodhar is a sindhi tribe found in Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India. They claim to be a branch of the sodhar tribe.-History and origin:The Sodhar sindhis are said to be descended from Paramara Sodhar, are supposed to have come into this...
; Bhayo and Panno are said to be descended from Tonwar; and Sithar are Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
.They have a common origin with the Sindhi Rajput
Sindhi Rajput
Sindhi Rajputs are Sindhi belonging to the Rajput tribe and living in Sindh, Pakistan. The Sindhi Muslim Rajputs are considered as Muslim Rajputs....
tribes of 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...
.
The Soomra
Soomro
Soomro or Soomra is a Sindhi tribe in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, Pakistan.- History and origin :The Soomra Dynasty was established by the Soomro tribe of Sindh. The Soomra ruled Sindh from 750-1351. Following the 985 CE expulsion of the Qarmatian Muslim sect from Iraq and Egypt, the...
and Mahar
Mahar (tribe)
The Maher are a Sindhi Muslim Rajput tribe found among both the Seraiki people of South Punjab, Pakistan as well as being found in Sindh, Pakistan.-History:The tribe claims decent from Maher, who was a Rajput...
claim to have always been 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...
. In addition to these communities, the Juneja
Junjo
Junjo is the debut album by American bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding. It was released on 18 April 2006.Junjo was Spalding's first studio album and was published by Ayva Music.-Track listing:# "The Peacocks" - 7:56# "Loro" - 5:06...
s and Mangria
Mangrio
Mangrio ) is a Sindhi Muslim Rajput tribe found in Sindh in Pakistan and Rajasthan in India. Like the Samma and Bhatti, and most other Sindhi Rajputs, they are of Chandravanshi origin....
are also considered to be Sindh-Sipahi.
Dhatis and Khudalis are the two chief sub-divisions of the Sindhi-Sipahi. The Dhati are found mainly in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
, while the Khudali are found in Barmer
Barmer, Rajasthan
Barmer is the headquarters of the Barmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is a city and a municipality.-Origin of name:...
and Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
.The Khudali are camel nomads, and dwell in temporary thatched huts. The Dhatis are settled farmers.
Present circumstances
The community are now mainly settled agriculturist, although many are still herdsmen. Many of their villages are situated in the Thar DesertThar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
, and are affected by environmental changes. They have their own Panchayat (community council), which deals with disputes with in the community. The community are Sunni Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
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, and speak the Marwari
Marwari language
The Marwari language , also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi), is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Marwari is also found in the neighboring state of Gujarat and Haryana and in Eastern Pakistan...
and Mewari dialects of Rajasthani
Rajasthani language
Rajasthani Rajasthani Rajasthani (Devanagari: , Perso-Arabic: is a language of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 50 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
, Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
and 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...
.
Distribution
The Sindh-Sipahi are settled in TharparkarTharparkar
Tharparkar is one of twenty three districts of Sindh province in Pakistan. Its headquarter is Mithi. It is the only fertile desert in the world. The District derives its names from Thar and Parker...
and Sanghar
Sanghar
Sanghar is a city in Sanghar District, Sindh, Pakistan. Sanghar is the headquarters of Sanghar District and Sanghar Taluka . It is one of the agriculture town situated approximately 265 km from Karachi city...
districts of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. They are found mainly in the western districts of 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...
state, such as Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
, Barmer
Barmer district
Barmer is a district of Rajasthan state, India. Barmer is the district headquarters. Balotra, Guda Malani, Baytoo, Siwana, Jasol and Chohatan are other major towns.-Geography:...
and Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
.