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{{more citations needed|date=February 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{infobox ethnic group|
{{infobox ethnic group|
|group= Qaume-e-Punjaban / Shamsi  
|group= Qaume-e-Punjaban / Shamsi  
|population =  
|population =  
|popplace = • Pakistan • India • Saudi Arabia
|popplace = {{hlist|[[Pakistan]]|[[India]]|[[Saudi Arabia]]}}
|langs = • [[Urdu language|Urdu]] • [[English language|English]] • [[Arabic language|Arabic]] • [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|langs = {{hlist|[[Urdu language|Urdu]]|[[English language|English]]|[[Arabic language|Arabic]]|[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]}}
|rels = • [[File:Allah-green.svg|18px]] [[Islam]] 100% •
|rels = [[Islam]]
|related= • [[Khatri]] • [[Arora]] • [[Punjabi Shaikh]] • [[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]]
|related={{hlist|[[Punjabi Shaikh]]|[[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]]}}
}}
}}


The '''Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi''' or ''' Shamsi '''({{lang-ur| پنجابی سوداگران دہلی }}), sometimes referred to as the '''Qaum-e-Punjabian''' ([[Urdu language|Urdu]]: قوم پنجابیان), '''Delhi Walay''' ({{lang-ur| دہلی والے }}), '''Aldehlawi''' ({{lang-ar| الدهلوي }}), or simply '''Shamsi Biradari''' ({{lang-ur| شمسی برادری }}) are a community of [[Punjabi Muslims|Muslims]] that historically came from [[Sargodha]] in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] and then lived mainly in [[Old Delhi]], [[India]]. They also settled in a number of other cities such as towns in western [[Uttar Pradesh]], such as [[Agra]], [[Aligarh]], [[Meerut]], [[Moradabad]], [[Bareilly]], [[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]], [[Kanpur]]; including areas within western [[Uttar Pradesh]] that now falls in state of [[Uttarakhand]]; namely [[Nainital]] and [[Haldwani]]. After the [[partition of India]], and subsequent [[Independence of Pakistan|independence]] of [[Pakistan]] in 1947, many members of the community migrated to [[Pakistan]], particularly [[Karachi]] and [[Lahore]], while few chose to migrate to [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].
The '''Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi''' ({{langx|ur| پنجابی سوداگران دہلی }}), sometimes referred to as the '''Qaum-e-Punjabian''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and Urdu: قوم پنجابیان), '''Dehlawi''', or simply '''Shamsi Biradari''' are a merchant community that historically came from [[Sargodha District|Sargodha]] and [[Chiniot district|Chiniot]] districts in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|West Punjab]] and settled mainly in [[Old Delhi]], India. The community got established in Delhi during the tenure of [[Saadullah Khan (Mughal Empire)|Sa'adullah Khan Chinioti]], the [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] [[List of Mughal grand viziers|Grand Vizier]] of [[Shah Jahan]], in the 17th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shaikh |first=Asad Salim |title=Tarikh ka Pahla Panjabi Vazir-i Aʻzam: Navab Saʻdullah Khan |date=2003 |publisher=Izhar Sanz |isbn=9789695625743 |location=Lahore |pages=40-41 |language=Ur |oclc=70052456}}</ref>


== History ==
They also settled in a number of other cities, chiefly [[Kolkata]], and towns in western [[Uttar Pradesh]], such as [[Agra]], [[Aligarh]], [[Meerut]], [[Moradabad]], [[Bareilly]], [[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]], [[Kanpur]]; including areas within western Uttar Pradesh that now fall in the state of [[Uttarakhand]]; namely [[Roorkee]], [[Nainital]] and [[Haldwani]]. After the [[partition of India]], and subsequent [[Independence of Pakistan|independence]] of Pakistan in 1947, many members of the community migrated to Pakistan, particularly [[Karachi]] and [[Lahore]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_South_Asian_and_Middle_Easter/38MMAQAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies |date=2007 |publisher=Published under the auspices of the Pakistan American Foundation |pages=19-20 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gayer |first=Laurent |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Gunpoint_Capitalism/tb1GEQAAQBAJ?hl=en |title=Gunpoint Capitalism: Enforcing Industrial Order in Karachi |date=2025 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-782724-6 |pages=73, 85 |language=en}}</ref>
According to tradition, the clan belonged to the [[Muslim Khatris]] community, some of whom were converted to Islam by [[Shamsuddin Sabzwari]]. Some subgroups use the surname [[Shamsi (name)|Shamsi]] (a disciple of Shams), in his honour. The families moved from either [[Sargodha]], [[Bhera]], [[Khushab]], or [[Pind Dadan Khan]] in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, in search of business opportunities to [[Uttar Pradesh]] and especially in [[Delhi]] on behalf of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb|Aurangzaib Alamgir]]. Other than in [[Delhi]], important Qaum-e-Punjabian communities exist in [[Aligarh]], [[Agra]], [[Roorkee]], [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla]], [[Hapur]], [[Moradabad]], [[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]], [[Kanpur]] and [[Kolkata]].


The Qaum-e-Punjabian use Multani, Saudagar or [[shamsi (name)|Shamsi]] as their surname. They are an endogamous community, practicing both cross-cousin and parallel-cousin marriages.
They are divided into various lineages and some also use Multani, Goronwalay, Beri, Kathuria, Bathla, Allahwalay, Namoonay Walay, Taar-Gitti Walay, Lahore Walay, Chawla, Chandna, Sarwana, etc., as a title.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Communities_Segments_Synonyms_Surnames_a/bfAMAQAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles |date=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-0-19-563357-3 |pages=1698 |language=en}}</ref>


Historically, the Qaum-e-Punjabian played an important role in India's trans-regional trade.
== History ==
The community belongs to the Muslim Khatris community, some of whom were converted to Islam by [[Shamsuddin Sabzwari]]. Some subgroups use the surname [[Shamsi (name)|Shamsi]] (a disciple of Shams), in his honour. The families moved from [[Sargodha]], [[Bhera]], [[Khushab]], or [[Pind Dadan Khan]] in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, on the invitation by Sa'adullah Khan, the prime minister of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Jahan]], in search of business opportunities to [[Uttar Pradesh]] and especially in [[Delhi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1387522|title=Jasmine and Journeys launched|first=Peerzada|last=Salman|date=6 February 2018|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref>


== Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla ==
== Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla ==
The ''Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla'', is a separate sub-group of the Punjabi Saudagars.  They are said to have settled in the town of [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla]] in [[Rohilkhand]] in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over [[Rohilkhand]], in particular, the city of [[Bareilly]], where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum -e -Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organizations. A significant number have immigrated to [[Kolkata]] and [[Mumbai]]. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and [[Khera]]. A much smaller number have also settled in [[Karachi]].<ref>Muslims of Calcutta: A Study in Aspects of their Social Organization by M.K.A Siddiqui</ref>
The ''Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla'', is a separate subgroup of the Punjabi Saudagars.  They are said to have settled in the town of [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla]] in [[Rohilkhand]] in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over Rohilkhand, in particular, the city of [[Bareilly]], where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum-e-Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organisations. A significant number have immigrated to [[Kolkata]] and [[Mumbai]]. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and [[Khera]]. A much smaller number have also settled in [[Karachi]].<ref>Muslims of Calcutta: A Study in Aspects of their Social Organization by M.K.A Siddiqui</ref>{{full|date=October 2023}}


== Surnames ==
== Current position ==
• Allahwala • Allawala • Ambalawala •Bombaywala• Baatla • Babanwala • Baghpati • Bahauddinwala • Banaraswala • Batla • [[Baweja (disambiguation)|Baweja]] • Bhola • Bijliwala • Calcutta Walay. Chandna • Chandhniwala • Chashmaywala • Chapatiwala • [[Chawla]] • Cheenwala • Chemicalwala • Chhatriwala • Chothai • Cigarettewala • Cosmeticswala • Daftari • '''Dariwala''' • Dawaiwala • Dhakawala • Factorywala • Gandakhwala • Ghariwala • Gorowala • Gotaywala • Hosierywala • Jamlana • Japanwala • Jootaywala • Kababwala • Kapraywala • Karachiwala • Kathoria • Khulaqshah • Khiloneywala • Kolkatawala • Kushtiwala • Lahorewala • Laliwala • Lohaywala • Ludhianawala • Meerathwala • Motiwala • Multani • Namoonaywala • Nanitalwala • Panwala • Paniwala • Patnawala • Penwala • Petrolwala • Plasticwala • Polishwala • Presswala * Rampurwala • Rangwala * Rashanwala • Sabunwala • Samosaywala • Saudagar • Sarwana • Shamsi • Sheikh • Shimlawala • Shurafana • Simlawala • Singaporewala • Sootwala • Stationarywala • Sutwala • Taargitti Wala • Tajwala • Talaywala • Teenwala
 
(THIS LIST IS BARELY COMPLETE AND WILL BE UPDATED SOON)


== Some prominent businesses in Karachi ==
The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave India. After the independence of Pakistan, a large number of these traders migrated to [[Lahore]] and Karachi. A few numbers of these traders migrated to [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20040324015425/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/06/stories/2003030600560300.htm Article Title]}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
• Big Bash • California Pizza • Califord • [[K&N's]] • Naheed Supermarket • Pizza One • Rajby Industries • Regent Plaza • Sadabahar • Young's Food •Zubaidaz • Dollar Industries (Private) Limited• Medicam • Shangrila Foods (Private) Limited • Sunway Lagoon Water Park • Imperial Tiles


== Some prominent businesses internatinally ==
== Notable people ==


• Dolphin Stationery • Internatinal Empire Traders • Ferozuddin Stationery ,Efroze pharmaceutical
* [[Imran Ismail]], former [[Governor of Sindh]]
* [[Sadia Dehlvi]], Indian columnist and writer
* [[Tahir Shamsi]], Pakistani professor of medicine
* [[Shamoon Sultan]], founder of [[Khaadi]]
* [[Rehmat Elahi Mutakif, Kushtiwala]], founder of [[Bombay Glass Company]]


(More To Be Added Soon)
== Associations ==
There are two main organizations initiated by the Punjabi Saudagaran community that are active in Karachi:
* The ''Jamiyat Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi'' (Association of Punjabi traders of Delhi) was registered in Delhi in the year 1910, and is composed of a president, two vice-presidents, one honorary secretary and one joint secretary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://graveyard.jpsdpk.com/main |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607030259/http://graveyard.jpsdpk.com/main |archive-date=2009-06-07 }}</ref>
A monthly digest containing all the happenings in the community all around the world and efforts made for the nation by the community's prominent persons is published and issued under the title "Saudaagar". There is a book acknowledging the well-known figures in the community, such as Tipu Sultan, with the title of "Yaad-e-Raftgaan".
They also have a ''Jamiyat Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Dehli'' Maiyat Bus Service. They have their own graveyards for their Biradri known as "Yousuf Pura", "Shams Pura", "Bagh Nawab Uddin" and "Shafiq Pura" at [[Karachi]].
They also provide a Ghusal e Maiyat Service.
The Jamiyat also gives monthly pension, houses, daily household things to widows, unmarried, orphans, and other poor people of their Biradri.
* The other one is ANJUMAN PUNJABI SAUDAGRAN Ibraheem state-building, which is also a community-based NGO providing financial assistance, health, education, residence, character building, event management, and grooming social activities for the people of Pakistan, the organization consist of one President, one Vice President, an Honorary General Secretary, a Joint Secretary, and one treasurer and a total 21 members of the board, They also publish a monthly Gazette with the name Anjuman Qaumi Gazette which is widely circulated to the members
== Current position ==
The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave [[India]]. After the [[Partition of India|independence]] of [[Pakistan]], a large number of these traders migrated to [[Lahore]] and [[Karachi]]. A few numbers of these traders migrated to [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20040324015425/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/06/stories/2003030600560300.htm Article Title]}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
 
* [[Punjabi Muslims]]
* [[Punjabi Shaikh]]s
* [[Punjabi Shaikh]]
* [[Shamsuddin Sabzwari]]


== References ==
== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Punjabi Saudagaran-E-Delhi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Punjabi Saudagaran-E-Delhi}}
[[Category:Punjabi Muslims]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Social groups of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Delhi]]
[[Category:Social groups of Delhi]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh]]

Latest revision as of 22:03, 27 February 2026

Qaume-e-Punjaban / Shamsi
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups

The Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), sometimes referred to as the Qaum-e-Punjabian (Punjabi and Urdu: قوم پنجابیان), Dehlawi, or simply Shamsi Biradari are a merchant community that historically came from Sargodha and Chiniot districts in West Punjab and settled mainly in Old Delhi, India. The community got established in Delhi during the tenure of Sa'adullah Khan Chinioti, the Punjabi Grand Vizier of Shah Jahan, in the 17th century.[1]

They also settled in a number of other cities, chiefly Kolkata, and towns in western Uttar Pradesh, such as Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur, Kanpur; including areas within western Uttar Pradesh that now fall in the state of Uttarakhand; namely Roorkee, Nainital and Haldwani. After the partition of India, and subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947, many members of the community migrated to Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Lahore.[2][3][4]

They are divided into various lineages and some also use Multani, Goronwalay, Beri, Kathuria, Bathla, Allahwalay, Namoonay Walay, Taar-Gitti Walay, Lahore Walay, Chawla, Chandna, Sarwana, etc., as a title.[5]

History[edit | edit source]

The community belongs to the Muslim Khatris community, some of whom were converted to Islam by Shamsuddin Sabzwari. Some subgroups use the surname Shamsi (a disciple of Shams), in his honour. The families moved from Sargodha, Bhera, Khushab, or Pind Dadan Khan in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, on the invitation by Sa'adullah Khan, the prime minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in search of business opportunities to Uttar Pradesh and especially in Delhi.[2]

Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla[edit | edit source]

The Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla, is a separate subgroup of the Punjabi Saudagars. They are said to have settled in the town of Aonla in Rohilkhand in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over Rohilkhand, in particular, the city of Bareilly, where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum-e-Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organisations. A significant number have immigrated to Kolkata and Mumbai. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and Khera. A much smaller number have also settled in Karachi.[6][full citation needed]

Current position[edit | edit source]

The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave India. After the independence of Pakistan, a large number of these traders migrated to Lahore and Karachi. A few numbers of these traders migrated to Mecca and Medina and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in Delhi.[7][3]

Notable people[edit | edit source]


See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Shaikh, Asad Salim (2003). Tarikh ka Pahla Panjabi Vazir-i Aʻzam: Navab Saʻdullah Khan (in اردو). Lahore: Izhar Sanz. pp. 40–41. ISBN 9789695625743. OCLC 70052456.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Salman, Peerzada (6 February 2018). "Jasmine and Journeys launched". DAWN.COM.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Published under the auspices of the Pakistan American Foundation. 2007. pp. 19–20.
  4. ↑ Gayer, Laurent (2025). Gunpoint Capitalism: Enforcing Industrial Order in Karachi. Oxford University Press. pp. 73, 85. ISBN 978-0-19-782724-6.
  5. ↑ Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1698. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
  6. ↑ Muslims of Calcutta: A Study in Aspects of their Social Organization by M.K.A Siddiqui
  7. ↑ Article Title[usurped]
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