Harman23 at 20:00, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T20:00:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:30, 12 February 2026
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=March 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=March 2018}}
	The '''Watal''' are a ~~Schedule caste~~ community found in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)\|Jammu and Kashmir]]~~. The last name 'Watal' or 'Wattal' or 'Atal' is also used by other Kashmiri Hindu community from the Kashmir Valley~~. The term 'Watal' also means cobbler in Kashmiri language. The community is ~~also~~ known as Batal, Battal, and Batul~~, and have been granted~~ [[~~Scheduled Caste~~]] ~~status.<ref>People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita~~, ~~S.D.S Charak and B~~.~~R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar</ref>~~		[[File:Painting of huts of the Watal tribe of Kashmir, during Sikh-rule, by Godfrey Thomas Vigne, 1836.jpg\|thumb\|Painting of huts of the Watal tribe of Kashmir, during Sikh rule, by Godfrey Thomas Vigne, 1836]]
			The '''Watal''' are a community found in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)\|Jammu and Kashmir]], India. The term 'Watal' also means cobbler in the [[Kashmiri language\|Kashmiri]] language. The community is known by many names such as Batal, Battal, and Batul. They natively speak an unclassified Indo-Aryan language called [[Sheikhgal]], or Watali.

	The Watal are a [[Kashmiri language\|Kashmiri]] speaking community, confined entirely to the [[Kashmir Valley]]. They are broadly divided into three sub-groups, the Seraj who are cobblers by profession, the Schupriya Watal who are manufacturers of the schup or winnowing fans and the Khumb Watal, who occupy the lowest status as they work as scavengers as well as tanners, occupations that are traditionally seen as polluting by other [[Kashmiri Muslims\|Kashmiri Muslim]] tribes.<ref>People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar</ref>		The ''Shupir Watals'', who claim to have been also known as ''Harmādānī Sheikh'', are of uncertain origin. They are found mainly in the areas of [[Srinagar]], [[Tangmarg]], [[Baramulla]] and [[Sopore]].<!--p=279--> They speak an [[Indo-Aryan languages\|Indo-Aryan]] language known as ''[[Sheikha gal]]'' or ''Watali''.<ref>{{Cite book\| last = Safdar\| first = Rahila\| chapter = Sheikha Gal\| date = 2014\| editor1-last = Devy\| editor1-first = G. N.\| editor2-last = Koul\| editor2-first = Omkar N.\| title = The languages of Jammu & Kashmir\| series = People's Linguistic Survey of India\| publisher = Orient Blackswan\| location = New Delhi\| isbn = 978-81-250-5516-7\| pages = 279–83}}</ref>

	The ''Shupir Watals'', who claim to have been also known as ''Harmādānī Sheikh'', are of uncertain origin. They are found mainly in the areas of [[Srinagar]], [[Tangmarg]], [[Baramulla]] and [[Sopore]].<!--p=279--> They speak an [[Indo-Aryan languages\|Indo-Aryan]] language known as ''[[Sheikha gal]]'' or ''Watali''.<ref>{{Cite book\| last = Safdar\| first = Rahila\| chapter = Sheikha Gal\| date = 2014\| ~~editor~~-~~last1~~ = Devy\| ~~editor~~-~~first1~~ = G. N.\| ~~editor~~-~~last2~~ = Koul\| ~~editor~~-~~first2~~ = Omkar N.\| title = The languages of Jammu & Kashmir\| series = People's Linguistic Survey of India\| publisher = Orient Blackswan\| location = New Delhi\| isbn = 978-81-250-5516-7\| pages = 279–83}}</ref>

	== Present circumstances ==		== Present circumstances ==

	According to 2001 [[Census of India]], the Watal numbered 169, although ~~there~~ total numbers are probably underreported, as the name Watal carries a stigma.<ref>http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/SCCRC_24.pdf</ref> This is seen by the fact that their entrance to temples and shrines was restricted ~~to the Watal~~, although this is no longer practiced, there are still occasionally prevented from entering places of worship. They are strictly [[endogamy\|endogamous]], and prefer marrying close relatives. In general, their customs are similar to other [[Kashmiri Muslims]], and the Watal are [[Sunni]].		According to 2001 [[Census of India]], the Watal numbered 169, although their total numbers are probably underreported, as the name Watal carries a stigma.<ref>{{cite web\| url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/SCCRC_24.pdf \| access-date=2023-11-07\| title=A-10 STATE PRIMARY CENSUS ABSTRACT FOR INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULED CASTE - 2001}}</ref> This is seen by the fact that their entrance to temples and shrines was restricted, although this is no longer practiced, there are still occasionally prevented from entering places of worship. They are strictly [[endogamy\|endogamous]], and prefer marrying close relatives. In general, their customs are similar to other [[Kashmiri Muslims]], and the Watal are [[Sunni]].{{cn\|date=March 2023}}

	The ~~Watal are~~ a ~~landless community, and most rural~~ Watal ~~are still employed~~ as ~~scavengers~~ and ~~sweepers, with agriculture labour being an important subsidiary occupation. In~~ the ~~cities, many are employed by~~ the ~~municipalities~~ as ~~cleaners, while many are also specifically employed to~~ clear ~~snow from roads in~~ the ~~winter~~. ~~The Watal are an extremely marginalized group~~, ~~with the majority~~ of the ~~community being illiterate~~.		== Watals in Hindu Community ==
			{{original research section\|reason=The source only mentions a person with the surname "Wattal" - it does not state that Watal is same as Wattal and the name of a social group found among Kashmiri Brahmins\|date=March 2023}}
			Watal (or Wattal) is a surname in the Kashmiri Brahmin community as well. It is not clear whether this surname is associated with the profession of scavenging or not. Some people claim that the ancestor of these people was a saint called Wattalnath. However, there is no documented proof for that.
			[[Jawahar Wattal]] a music composer of our times, is one of the prominent Kashmiri Hindu Watals.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://shehjar.net/list/85/742/1.html \| title=SHEHJAR - Web Magazine for Kashmir :: Jawahar Wattal }}</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==
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	== References ==		== References ==

	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

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	[[Category:Dalit communities]]		[[Category:Dalit communities]]
	[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir]]		[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir]]
			[[Category:Indigenous peoples of South Asia]]
			[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]

2401:4900:1B2A:5AF5:FEDC:EAD5:F161:6221 at 15:10, 29 June 2021

2021-06-29T15:10:58Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
The '''Watal''' are a Schedule caste community found in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. The last name 'Watal' or 'Wattal' or 'Atal' is also used by other Kashmiri Hindu community from the Kashmir Valley. The term 'Watal' also means cobbler in Kashmiri language. The community is also known as Batal, Battal, and Batul, and have been granted [[Scheduled Caste]] status.<ref>People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar</ref>

The Watal are a [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] speaking community, confined entirely to the [[Kashmir Valley]]. They are broadly divided into three sub-groups, the Seraj who are cobblers by profession, the Schupriya Watal who are manufacturers of the schup or winnowing fans and the Khumb Watal, who occupy the lowest status as they work as scavengers as well as tanners, occupations that are traditionally seen as polluting by other [[Kashmiri Muslims|Kashmiri Muslim]] tribes.<ref>People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R Rizvi pages 690 to 696 Manohar</ref>

The ''Shupir Watals'', who claim to have been also known as ''Harmādānī Sheikh'', are of uncertain origin. They are found mainly in the areas of [[Srinagar]], [[Tangmarg]], [[Baramulla]] and [[Sopore]]. They speak an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] language known as ''[[Sheikha gal]]'' or ''Watali''.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Safdar| first = Rahila| chapter = Sheikha Gal| date = 2014| editor-last1 = Devy| editor-first1 = G. N.| editor-last2 = Koul| editor-first2 = Omkar N.| title = The languages of Jammu & Kashmir| series = People's Linguistic Survey of India| publisher = Orient Blackswan| location = New Delhi| isbn = 978-81-250-5516-7| pages = 279–83}}</ref>

== Present circumstances ==

According to 2001 [[Census of India]], the Watal numbered 169, although there total numbers are probably underreported, as the name Watal carries a stigma.<ref>http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/SCCRC_24.pdf</ref> This is seen by the fact that their entrance to temples and shrines was restricted to the Watal, although this is no longer practiced, there are still occasionally prevented from entering places of worship. They are strictly [[endogamy|endogamous]], and prefer marrying close relatives. In general, their customs are similar to other [[Kashmiri Muslims]], and the Watal are [[Sunni]].

The Watal are a landless community, and most rural Watal are still employed as scavengers and sweepers, with agriculture labour being an important subsidiary occupation. In the cities, many are employed by the municipalities as cleaners, while many are also specifically employed to clear snow from roads in the winter. The Watal are an extremely marginalized group, with the majority of the community being illiterate.

== See also ==

*[[List of Scheduled Castes in Jammu and Kashmir]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Social groups of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Kashmiri tribes]]
[[Category:Dalit communities]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir]]

Watal - Revision history

Harman23 at 20:00, 11 February 2026

2401:4900:1B2A:5AF5:FEDC:EAD5:F161:6221 at 15:10, 29 June 2021