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== Origin == | == Origin == | ||
The Penja like many communities in India have acquired their name from their traditional occupation. In the case of the Penja, they were and many still are cotton carders and produce a coarse thread. They are said to be by origin members of the [[Muslim Teli|Teli]] caste who formed an [[endogamy|endogamous]] sub-group when they changed their occupation from oil pressing to cotton carding. Historically, the Penja community was concentrated in what is now Indian or [[East Punjab]], which led to the migration of the majority of the community to [[Pakistan]] at the time of the [[partition of India]] in 1947. A rump community is still found in the districts [[Ropar]], [[Patiala]] and Sangrur. In Pakistan, the community is found mainly in [[Faisalabad]], [[Sahiwal]], [[Khanewal]] and [[Toba Tek Singh]] districts, and prefers to be known as Shaikh Mansoori or sometimes just Shaikh. The Penja speak [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], but most who are now settled in [[Pakistan]] also speak [[Urdu]]. They are entirely [[Sunni]], and are now fairly orthodox.<ref name="Bansal" | The Penja like many communities in India have acquired their name from their traditional occupation. In the case of the Penja, they were and many still are cotton carders and produce a coarse thread. They are said to be by origin members of the [[Muslim Teli|Teli]] caste who formed an [[endogamy|endogamous]] sub-group when they changed their occupation from oil pressing to cotton carding. Historically, the Penja community was concentrated in what is now Indian or [[East Punjab]], which led to the migration of the majority of the community to [[Pakistan]] at the time of the [[partition of India]] in 1947. A rump community is still found in the districts [[Ropar]], [[Patiala]] and Sangrur. In Pakistan, the community is found mainly in [[Faisalabad]], [[Sahiwal]], [[Khanewal]] and [[Toba Tek Singh]] districts, and prefers to be known as Shaikh Mansoori or sometimes just Shaikh. The Penja speak [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], but most who are now settled in [[Pakistan]] also speak [[Urdu]]. They are entirely [[Sunni]], and are now fairly orthodox.<ref name="Bansal" /> | ||
== Present circumstances == | == Present circumstances == | ||
The Penja historically practiced the custom of clan exogamy. This practice has now been discontinued. Their larger clans referred to as ''biradarus'' include the Raunji, Dedan, Phapute, Jand, Harim, Sohatte, Ahre, [[Kamboh]], Bedham, Male Hans, Behlim, Alimi, [[Bhatti clan|Bhatti]], [[Chauhan]], [[Panwar]] and [[Gill]]. The Penja are strictly [[endogamy|endogamous]], but there are occasional marriages with the [[Muslim Teli|Teli]] community.<ref name="Bansal" | The Penja historically practiced the custom of clan exogamy. This practice has now been discontinued. Their larger clans referred to as ''biradarus'' include the Raunji, Dedan, Phapute, Jand, Harim, Sohatte, Ahre, [[Kamboh]], Bedham, Male Hans, Behlim, Alimi, [[Bhatti clan|Bhatti]], [[Chauhan]], [[Panwar]] and [[Gill]]. The Penja are strictly [[endogamy|endogamous]], but there are occasional marriages with the [[Muslim Teli|Teli]] community.<ref name="Bansal" /> | ||
Like most artisan castes, the Penja have seen a decline in their traditional occupation of cotton carding. With the spread of mechanized textile mills, the demand for their traditional coarse thread has disappeared. Many are now employed as agricultural labourers, with animal husbandry being an important subsidiary occupation. In India, the community has been granted [[Other Backward Class]] (OBC) status, which allows the community to avail benefits of the [[Government of India]]'s affirmative action schemes.<ref name="Bansal" | Like most artisan castes, the Penja have seen a decline in their traditional occupation of cotton carding. With the spread of mechanized textile mills, the demand for their traditional coarse thread has disappeared. Many are now employed as agricultural labourers, with animal husbandry being an important subsidiary occupation. In India, the community has been granted [[Other Backward Class]] (OBC) status, which allows the community to avail benefits of the [[Government of India]]'s affirmative action schemes.<ref name="Bansal" /> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||