Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Arts & Culture Culture, Arts, Literature & Linguistics
1

Hi all,

I’ve had this burning question for a while now and finally got some time to ask it! This is mainly for people who are Arain. I’ve been doing a bit of research on the caste and have slowly watched wikipedia change its article several times over the past year so assummed the editors don’t really know what they are talking about…

What are the origins of the Arain caste? Or rather what have you been told about the Arain Caste?

Here are the sources I’ve investigated do far..
My Dad: Says we’re from Iranians
My Mum: Uzbekis??!! I have no idea where that came from lol
Wikipedia: Says 1)Palestinians but that’s unlikely because Arabs are called Sayyid or Sheikhs 2) this bit was added recently saying we’re from a Hindu caste again unlikely because all Arain are Sunni Muslims…

Disclaimer: I don’t believe one caste is better than another because Islam makes us all equals, I just want to know my heritage :slight_smile:

2

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

The most common lineage given is that they came with Muhammad Bin Qasim and settled initially in Lahore. The arabic word 'ar-reyah' meaning shepherd is given as the base for the caste's today's label, arain.

I, being an arain myself, can claim that we are the most lazy, laid back and unambitious of the people ;)

3

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Lol, I have to say Arain men are the laziest I've met but Arain women seem to be crazy ambitous. I know of several Arain families where the sisters are Drs and the brothers are driving taxis around!

Who were these people who came with Muhammad Bin Qasim though?

4

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

^ Arabs and probably sent to India because the others could not stand these lazy ones ;)

5

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

^ yes but that's my point of contention because if they were Arab, we would be called Sheikh or Seyyid at the time that was the standard for anyone of Arab lineage.

6

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

^ Sheikh or Seyyid are considered to be more of words for respect rather than family names. They do have lots of different family names. The lazy shepherds could be arains. There is actually an Urdu book called ‘tareekh-e-aaraiyaan’ detailing the history of the caste. I, obviously, have not read it :stuck_out_tongue:

Ecstasy, dreams and a little affliction: The history of Arain this might help.

7

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Arains are a "lower caste" found mainly in Punjab. In Indian Punjab, they are known as Saini.

Castewise, they are considered to be "vegetable growers" and held in comtempt by the Jat zamindars.

H.A. Rose,'Castes and Tribes'; pg.13

Arain,Rain(the latter form prevails in the Jumna valley) is a term which has at least two distinct meanings:in the Sutlej valley and throughout the eastern plains the Arains form a true caste,but in all the rest of the two Provinces the term is applied to any market-gardener and is synonymous with Baghban,Mali,Maliar,and even Jat in the South West Punjab.We are now concerned with the Arains as a caste.

Almost to a man Muhammadans and strongly inclined to orthodoxy,the Arains claim to be immigrants from Uch and have some affinities with the Kambohs.On the other hand some of the Arain and Hindu Saini clan names are identical,and those not always merely names of other and dominant tribes.From Uch they migrated to sirsa and thence into the Punjab.

In Sirsa the Sutlej Arains meet those of the Ghaggar.The two do not intermarry,but the Arains of the Ghaggar valley say they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan who were ejected some four centuries ago by Saiyad Jalal-ul-din of Uch.The Sutlej Arains in Sirsa say that they are,like the Arains of Lahore and Montgomery,connected by origin with the Hindu Kambohs who have become Musalmans.He describes the Arains of the Ghaggar as the most advanced and civilized tribe in Sirsa district,even surpassing the Sikh Jats of Patiala;and he considers them at least equal in social status with the Jats,over whome they themselves claim superiority.The Arains of Ferozepore,Ludhiana,Ambala and Hissar also trace their origins from Uch or its neighbourhood,though the Hissar Arains are said to be merely Muhammadan Malis.

On the whole it would appear probable that the Arains originally came from the lower Indus and spread up the five rivers of the Punjab;and that at an early stage in their history a section of them moved up the Ghaggar,perhaps then a permanent river flowing into the Indus,and there gained for themselves a position of some importance.Their alleged connection with the Mallis is probably based only upon common occupation;but there does seem some reason to think that they may perhaps be akin to the Kambohs,though the difference must be more than one of religion only,as many of the Kambos are Musalman.

The Arains,apart from their orthodoxy,differ little in their customs and dress from the Muhammadans generally.In Multan they prefer the blue majhla or waistcoat to the white."

8

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Ooo thank you kakaballi, I might check this book out that summary you posted was interesting though, I wasn't convinced about the Palestinian link before but I'm edging that way now,

[QUOTE]
In the Ummayad Dynasty (660-750 AD) there was a city, Areeha which lied on the road from Damascus to Jerusalem (now in modern Israel, close to the Dead Sea). For the protection of Damascus this city had geographical importance. Keeping in mind its importance, such people were given lands in Areeha who belonged to the superior families of Banu Ummayad or who were loyal to the Ummayads. These people were natural fighters, physically the fittest. Their ancestors were adept in wars. Not only they were skilled warriors but they were also good at agriculture. They cultivated the land of Areeha and it flourished. (Areeha is also called Jerico *or *Yareeho. Areeha is from Areeh which means aroma, Areeha means garden)

When Hajjaj Bin Yousaf decided to send his men to conquer Sindh, six thousand best soldiers were selected from Areeha along with smaller number of soldiers from other parts of Syria. They entered South Asia under the leadership of Muhammad Bin Qasim, defeated Raja Dahir, conquered many parts and introduced Islam in the region. After the death of Hajjaj Bin Yousaf and Caliph Abdul Malik, Caliph Suleman came to power. He had some family conflicts with Hajjaj Bin Yousaf. The new governor took revenge against all who were close to Hajjaj. Suleman owed political support to opponents of Hajjaj and so recalled Hajjaj's successful general Qasim while his men were forced to stay back.

Those who stayed never went back to the present day. Accoding to their origin they were *Areehai *which later took the form of Arain. After Qasim's return they chose a new leader, continued their attacks on other regions, established their governments in Sindh and Multan regions. Their families started growing in the region. Later a large part of the armies of Mehmood of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, Sher Shah Suri and the Mughal Emperors comprised of Arain people.
[/QUOTE]

I can understand why my dad said Iranians now because the army would have come through through Iran... maybe with Iranians in it too??

Hmm I need to read this book! where the hell am I going to find this book in England lol...

9

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

There is NO Middle East or Iranian Origin

H.A. Rose,'Castes and Tribes'; pg.13

Arain,Rain(the latter form prevails in the Jumna valley) is a term which has at least two distinct meanings:in the Sutlej valley and throughout the eastern plains the Arains form a true caste,but in all the rest of the two Provinces the term is applied to any market-gardener and is synonymous with Baghban,Mali,Maliar,and even Jat in the South West Punjab.We are now concerned with the Arains as a caste.

Almost to a man Muhammadans and strongly inclined to orthodoxy,the Arains claim to be immigrants from Uch and have some affinities with the Kambohs.On the other hand some of the Arain and Hindu Saini clan names are identical,and those not always merely names of other and dominant tribes.From Uch they migrated to sirsa and thence into the Punjab.

In Sirsa the Sutlej Arains meet those of the Ghaggar.The two do not intermarry,but the Arains of the Ghaggar valley say they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan who were ejected some four centuries ago by Saiyad Jalal-ul-din of Uch.The Sutlej Arains in Sirsa say that they are,like the Arains of Lahore and Montgomery,connected by origin with the Hindu Kambohs who have become Musalmans.He describes the Arains of the Ghaggar as the most advanced and civilized tribe in Sirsa district,even surpassing the Sikh Jats of Patiala;and he considers them at least equal in social status with the Jats,over whome they themselves claim superiority.The Arains of Ferozepore,Ludhiana,Ambala and Hissar also trace their origins from Uch or its neighbourhood,though the Hissar Arains are said to be merely Muhammadan Malis.

On the whole it would appear probable that the Arains originally came from the lower Indus and spread up the five rivers of the Punjab;and that at an early stage in their history a section of them moved up the Ghaggar,perhaps then a permanent river flowing into the Indus,and there gained for themselves a position of some importance.Their alleged connection with the Mallis is probably based only upon common occupation;but there does seem some reason to think that they may perhaps be akin to the Kambohs,though the difference must be more than one of religion only,as many of the Kambos are Musalman.

The Arains,apart from their orthodoxy,differ little in their customs and dress from the Muhammadans generally.In Multan they prefer the blue majhla or waistcoat to the white."

chiRya kahin door bolti thi
10

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

zxcvb, you do know that book was written by a British Imperialist H.A Rose in 1908... not a good source imo.

11

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Yes, but the data in the book is accurate and specific and have been extensively reviewed and verified by later academics.

12

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

By which academics, I've only found it quoted at best in other Western texts...

13

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

In the Punjab Census Report (1911), Harikishan Kaul

Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening. As Alison Shaw states in Kinship and Continuity, “Jats and Rajputs from Jhelum consider that the Arain are a service caste, ranked ‘lower’ than the zamindars and refer to the Arain by the term Maliar, which is apparently used in Jhelum to refer to people who traditionally grow vegetables around wells.”

The census reports of 1883 AND 1892 record their Hindu origins and kinship with the Kamboh and Saini caste groups .

“Almost to a man Muhammadans and strongly inclined to orthodoxy the Rians came to be immigrants from Uch and have some affinities with the Kambohs. On the other hand some of the Arain and Hindu Saini clan names are identical , and those not always mertely names of other and dominant tribes . From Uch they migrated to Sirsa and thence into the Punjab . [12]](Arain - Wikipedia)”

“In Sirsa the Sutlej Arains meet those of the Ghaggar. The two do not intermarry , but the Arains of thye Ghaggar valley say they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan who were ejected some four centuries ago by Sayad Jalal-ul-din of Uch .They claim some sort of connection with Jaisalmer [13]](Arain - Wikipedia)”

“The Sutlej Arains in Sirsa say they are , like the Arains of Lahore and Montgomery connected by orign with the Hindu Kambohs. Mr Wilson thinks it probable that both classes are really Kambohs ,who have become Musalmans , [14]](Arain - Wikipedia)”“The nucleus of this caste was probably a body of Hindu Saini or Kamboh cultivators who were converted to Islam at an early period . Thus in Jullundur the Arains say they came from Sirsa , Rania , and Delhi and claim descent from Rai Jaj (grandson of Lau founder of Lahore )who ruled Sirsa ; that they were converted in the 12th century and migrated to the Jullundar Doab about 300 years ago . But the Bhuttas claim descent from Raja Bhutta fifth in descent from Raja Karn and say they were forcibly converted even earlier by Mahmud of Ghazni –and driven from Uch [15]](Arain - Wikipedia)

Reading Namaz and Relaxation
14

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

The Arain during the British Raj

The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified zamindars such as the feudal Rajput landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as “…dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages..”.[16]](Arain - Wikipedia) When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, forming irrigated colonies.[17]](Arain - Wikipedia) The Arain were so favoured for their “hard work, frugality and sense of discipline”.[18]](Arain - Wikipedia) Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished.[19]](Arain - Wikipedia) Education was prioritised with the new found wealth[20]](Arain - Wikipedia) and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.[21]](Arain - Wikipedia)

**The Arain were classified as a “non-**martial race](Martial race - Wikipedia)” by the British,[22]](Arain - Wikipedia) a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time (see martial race).

References
^ “…but also among the so-called agriculturist castes, so designated by the British… …Chauhan, Arain, Gaud…”, An Alternative to the “Sati” Model: Perceptions of a Social Reality in Folklore, Prem Chowdhry, pp. 259-274, Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 49, No. 2, 1990, http://www.jstor.org/view/03852342/ap040052/04a00070/0.
^ "Behind them an angry farmer bshed a bamboo pole. He was a market-gardener, Arain by caste, growing vegetables and flowers for Umballa city, and well Kim knew the breed.", Kim, Rudyard Kipling.
^ “…communities: 1. Acharaj. 2. Ad-Dharmi. 3. Aheri. 4. Ahir. 5. Ahluwalia. 6. Arain. 7. Arora. 8. Bahurupia…”, “The land of the five rivers was known as panchanad in the ancient period, and as Punjab in the medieval period.”, People of India: Punjab: Volume XXXVII, edited I J S. Bansal and Swaran Singh, New Delhi, ISBN 81-7304-123-7, https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no34962.htm.
^ http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/punjab.html
^ See Arain population distribution on Joshua Project - Reaching the Unreached | Joshua Project.
^ “The Arain were small peasant-proprietors…”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ "Behind them an angry farmer b**shed a bamboo pole. He was a market-gardener, Arain by caste, growing vegetables and flowers for Umballa city, and well Kim knew the breed." (Kim, Rudyard Kipling).
^ “…from other zamindar (landowning) categories: Arain (5), Jat (2), Gujar (2), …”, Kinship, cultural preference and immigration: consanguineous marriage among British Pakistanis, Alison Shaw, Brunel University (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/1467-9655.00065).
^ “The Arain were small peasant-proprietors…”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki (http://www.jstor.org/view/00044687/di014466/01p0206e/2?frame=noframe&[email protected]/01cce4405f00501b38b9c&dpi=3&config=jstor).
^ “Additionally, the Arain group, to which I belong, claims Arab extraction.”, There is many a slip betwixt cup and lip, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, Pakistan, 18/04/2006 (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C04%5C18%5Cstory_18-4-2006_pg3_2).
^ “. One of the arguments in favour of this claim is that Arains are nearly always Muslims and almost entirely Sunnis as were the early Arabs who came with Muhammad bin Qasim.”, There is many a slip betwixt cup and lip, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, Pakistan, 18/04/2006.
^ Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose “A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province”, 1911 AD, Page 13, Vol II,
^ Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose “A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province”, 1911 AD, Page 13, Vol II,
^ Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose “A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province”, 1911 AD, Page 13, Vol II,
^ Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose “A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province”, 1911 AD, Page 15, Vol II,
^ Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ “When the British opened new lands in Punjab, they brought in the Arains to cultivate…”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ “…the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ “Soon they came to dominate the legal profession… …and… …spring into politics.”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
^ “The army was an unusual career for an Arain youngster; the British had not regarded the community as one of India’s “martial races”…”, Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki. **
**[edit] Bibliography
Punjab Census Report, 1911, Pandit Harikishan Kaul
A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province, H. A. Rose
Kinship and Continuity: Pakistani Families in Britain, Alison Shaw
**

15

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

Again all the sources are by British Imperialist and NO Arain have ever claimed Rajput lineage, that's my issue with that story.
And it draws a shadow over the census reports and how they were carried out and by whom...
Plus my grandmother was born in Jalandhar and moved over to Pakistan with the rest of the family after the partition and none of them claim Rajput lineage either and its a BIG family.

Btw not all of your sources support the census report there a few that disagree..

16

I personally think you WANT to show that Arians have middle eastern origin and are not native to the subcontinent.

The preponderence of the written material shows native origin of Arians while there is little evidence supporting middle eastern origin.

Wells; it's up to you now to do your own research or draw your own conclusions.

17

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

^one question how so many ppl got NON-indian looks??

18

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

I am arain

19

Re: Arain Caste?? Help solving the mystery?

zxcvb, no offence but you seem to want to show Arain have Hindu origins, and are blaming me of the same thing!

I'm not drawing any conclusions yet, its clear that both stories are based on conjecture and unrealiable resources, but more evidence points to non South Asian roots.

This includes Arain having significantly different blood types to the general Pakistani population, whilst not conclusive it hints to non-native roots, combined with other evidences of non-native roots as discussed the argument does lean toward Arain having migrated from outisde of India but I'm not convinced hence me asking ARAIN what they were told about their caste.

Woh bhi adakaar!
20

OK…now you got proof positive…see all them Arains with Moammad Bin Qasim…:k:

Good for You Ji!

And here are the Fighting Arains:

Proof enough for me…:slight_smile:

***especially a guy from Sindh should know…!

and who cares what them Brits wrote…:slight_smile: