Kanjar
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India • Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| Hindi • Rajasthani • Bhojpuri • Urdu • Punjabi | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism • Sikhism • Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Patharkat • Mirasi |
Kanjar is a traditionally nomadic ethnic group found in North India and Pakistan. The community is also known by the names of Nath, Marwari Kumar and Banchra.
The Kanjar speak the Kanjari language, a little studied Indo Aryan language, but almost all also speak Punjabi and Urdu.
The word kanjar is derived from the Sanskrit kanana-chara, which means wanderer in the jungle.
They claim to have originated in Rajasthan. All Kanjar trace descent from common ancestors, who were said to be a sedentary agriculturist, a Manu Guru and his wife Nathiya Kanjarin.
Many Kanjar fled to the jungles to avoid Mughal persecution. Since that period, many have stayed living in the jungle, and make their living by hunting. The Kanjar supplied the executioners during the period of Mughal and Sikh rule in the Punjab.
A section of the Kanjar of the Punjab converted to Islam, but at an unknown time. The Muslim Kanjar of Punjab might have begun in the Kanjar tribe.
In the Colonial period, Kanjars were listed under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, as a tribe "addicted to the systematic commission of non-bailable offences."
They are divided into four clans, the Callad, Superala, Diyal and Rachhband. A fifth group, the Patharkat no longer inter-marry with the other Kanjar groupings. Multi-generation members are called deradars, and look down upon the latter recruits.
Kanjari were denotified in 1952, when the Criminal Tribes Act was replaced with the Habitual Offenders Act, but the community carries considerable social stigma. Kanjar's are also known as Gihar which is not notified.
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Wikipedia