Changar

Changhar or Changar (چنگھڑ) are ancient vagabond tribe.

Changhars are mostly vagabond and speak Changhri dialect of Haryanvi or Ranghari and Marwari.

Origin

According to their traditions, the Changar left Rajasthan, with their initial settlement being in the districts of Bikaner, Churu and Nagaur. From there the Changars migrated to Sindh. A further migration then took place to Punjab, where many are still found. They speak Marwari among themselves, and Urdu with outsiders. Many of them migrated to Persia in the Sasanian Empire, from there to Sasanian Egypt to Byzantine Empire, where there descendant's became known today as the Romani people in Turkey, who live mainly in East Thrace.[1]

Present circumstances

In India

The Changar are largely a landless community, with a few still involved in their traditionally occupation of lime manufacture. Most are now daily wage labourers. Like other Rajasthani Muslims, the community has a caste association or biradari panchayat, which resolves intra community disputes and enforces communal norms. Although the Changhar live in close proximity to other such Muslim castes such as the Hiranbaz, Sindhi-Sipahi and Qaimkhani, intermarriages between them and the Changar are extremely rare. The Changhar are Sunni Muslims, and their customs are similar to other Rajasthani Muslims. They have been granted Other Backward Class status, which makes them subject to a number of affirmative actions policies of the Government of India.[1]

In Pakistan

The Shamsi(Changar) in Punjab are strictly endogamous, and the basic social unit is the Jhugi or tent( Now new generation are mostly educated and have their own houses). Generally it is close kin who camp together, and marriages are preferred within the encampment. They do not have strong caste councils to maintain community norms. Mostly of the Shamsi called Changar in Pakistan migrated from Indian Jalindher's Tehsil Sultan Poor and District Ludhiana. They spread in all Pakistan. Mostly settled in Chiniot and Faisalabad District. The Changar are Sunni Muslims and either speak Haryanvi Punjabi or Seraiki depending on what language the settled community in which they are camped speaks (Although they speak Parsi language called by one of the old Changar). They speak this language as secret language when they inform some thing secret which each other.

The majority of the Changars within northern and central Punjab are agricultural labourers, visiting villages during harvest time. They have established routes that they follow, and each Changar sub-group is allocated a particular village, and often serve a particular family in that village. Their patrons tend to belong to the large Muslim Jat community. In addition to agricultural labour, the Changar are also involved in the manufacture of baskets and brooms, which they sell to settled communities. Nowadays only 10% are involving in this work. Many of Shamsi (Changar) are now in good Jobs and local business after getting education. In local Government they have their own Counselors and have Chairmanship. In 1990 many of Shamsi moved toward Dubai for better future, they earn for his family and country now getting part of i community progress. [2]

The story of Shamsi to Changar is: In 14th century Shah Shams Tabriz Sabzwari went to south-east Punjab and preached Islam. There lower community of Chuna who lived with Sikhs and mostly affected with their terms are very miserable. They accepted Islam and get Islamic name Shamsi from sikhs. Their First renowned person of this community was KALO SINGH who accepted islam with all family. Those days they work in farms which is carry on. After looking them in fields Shah Shams Tabrezi Sabazwari said your work is very good, you collect grains from ground which is noble work and said in Punjabi" TUSI CHANGAY O" the word CHANGAY converted in Changar with spending of time. Shamsi so called Cahangar in Pakistan have their own family terms and system. They marriage in their family. They have their own family clans, like Rajputs in which further they have their own family identification name like, Naseria, Buchay ,Shepariye, Kangas, Maloday, Chauhan ets...

In Turkey

The Romani people in Turkey, are Sunni Muslim of Hanafi madhab, and believed to be descendants of the Çangar/Changar's. The Turks called them Çingene. Mostly look like people from Punjab. They called themselves as Şopar/Şoparlar/Şopariye who sound similar to the Changar name Shepariye. The majority live in East Thrace, the main settlement of the Romani people in Turkey.

References

1. People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D.K Samanta, S.K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 271 to 274 Popular Prakashan
2. Servicing the Ordinary Folk: Peripatetic People and their Niche in South Asia by Joseph C Berland in Nomadism in South Asia Edited by Aparna Rao and Michael J Casimir