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{{Merge|Chamar|date=November 2020}}
{{Short description|Hindu caste found mainly in North India}}
 
{{unreliable sources|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2017}}
 
{{infobox ethnic group|
{{infobox ethnic group|
|group= Mochi
| group           = Mochi
|poptime =  
| poptime         =  
|popplace = • India • Bangladesh
| popplace         = • India • Bangladesh
|langs = • [[Bengali language|Bengali]]• [[Braj Bhasha]] • [[Hindi language|Hindi]]• [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
| langs           = • [[Bengali language|Bengali]]• [[Braj Bhasha]] • [[Hindi language|Hindi]]• [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
|rels= • [[Hinduism]]
| rels             = [[Hinduism]]
|related=
| related         = [[Mochi (Muslim)|Muslim Mochi]], [[Mochi (Sikh)|Sikh Mochi]]
}}
}}


The '''Mochi''' are a  [[Hindu]] [[caste]] found mainly in [[North India]]. They are the traditional shoemakers of [[South Asia]].
The '''Mochi''' are a  [[Hindu]] [[caste]] found mainly in [[North India]]. They are the traditional shoemakers of [[South Asia]].
==History and origin==
Historically, the community was involved in the manufacture of protective leather crafts.
[[Gangaramji Dhuldhoye]] worked for their upliftment in Central India.


==Present circumstances==
==Present circumstances==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2018}}
In [[Gujarat]], the Mochi caste is categorised as  [[Other Backward Classes|OBC]]  in Bakshi panch. They are belonging  to Rajput’s Clan and mostly they are from Saurashtra (Kathiyawad) They also call Kathi darbar.


The Mochi are involved in the manufacture of leather shoes.
In [[Gujarat]], the Mochi caste is categorised as [[Other Backward Classes|OBC]] in Bakshi Panch.


The community have a traditional caste council, as is common among many [[North Indian]]  artisan communities. This caste council acts as an instrument of social control, by punishing those who contravene community norms. Each caste council is headed by a '''chaudhary''', a position that tends to be hereditary. The Mochi live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters.
The Mochi are involved in the manufacture of leather shoes. The community has a traditional caste council, as is common among many [[North Indian]]  artisan communities.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} This caste council acts as an instrument of social control, by punishing those who contravene community norms. Each caste council is headed by a Chaudhary, a position that tends to be hereditary. The Mochi live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters.


The Mochi of [[Haryana]] claim to have migrated from [[Rajasthan]], and are found mainly in the cantonment city of [[Ambala]]. They still speak the [[Braj Bhasha]] dialect. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their traditional occupation was shoe making, but with the spread of factory manufactured shoes it has declined. A large number are landless agricultural labourers, with minority now taking up other professions. They enjoy [[scheduled caste]] status and benefits of affirmative actions taken for underprivileged groups.
The Mochi of [[Haryana]] claim to have migrated from [[Rajasthan]], and are found mainly in the cantonment city of [[Ambala]]. They still speak the [[Braj Bhasha]] dialect. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their traditional occupation was shoe making, but with the spread of factory manufactured shoes it has declined. A large number are landless agricultural labourers, with a minority now taking up other professions. They are assigned as [[scheduled caste]] and supported by  affirmative action.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mochi caste|url=https://indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=Mochi%20caste|website=Indian Kanoon}}</ref>
 
{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}


==Mochi of Punjab==
==Mochi of Punjab==


In [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], the members of the Mochi caste are those involved with the working in tanned leather as opposed to a tanner, an occupation associated with the [[Chamar]]. Most Mochi are still found in rural Punjab, although there is a steady immigration to the towns and cities, as their traditional occupation is in decline. They are one of the most widespread castes in Punjab, found in almost every district. Most Mochi in pre partition Punjab had forcibly been converted to [[Islam]], and these [[Mochi (Muslim)|Muslim Mochis]] left at the time of the [[partition of India]] in 1947. The remaining community is largely [[Hindu]] and [[Sikh]]. Many Mochi have now become members of the [[Arya Samaj]] sect. The community has now been granted [[Scheduled Caste]] status, which allows it to access a number of affirmative actions programmes initiated by the [[Government of India]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
The Mochi in rural Punjab in Pakistan is still dependent on the local landlord, who acts as patron. Often, the Mochi does not own his property, but rents from the landlord. The Mochi is thus entirely dependent on the locally dominant caste, and are paid from each cash crop at the end of the harvesting season according to a system called '''seypi'''.<ref>Justice in Practice Legal Ethnography of a Punjab Village by Muhammad Azam Chuadhary, Oxford University Press, 1999</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2018}}
 
The Mochi in rural Punjab in Pakistan is still dependent on the local landlord, who acts as patron. Often, the Mochi does not own his property, but rents from the landlord. The Mochi is thus entirely dependent on the locally dominant caste, and are paid from each cash crop at the end of the harvesting season according to a system called '''seypi'''.<ref>Justice in Practice Legal Ethnography of a Punjab Village by Muhammad Azam Chuadhary, Oxford University Press, 1999</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2018}} Presently, many Mochis are no longer involved in their traditional occupation of shoemaking. Many are now landless agricultural labourers. Overall, the condition of the Mochi community in Punjab has worsened. There has been a marked shift towards manufactured shoes, which has seen a severe decline in their traditional occupation. Many of their patrons from the locally dominant castes such as the [[Muslim Jat]]s no longer pay the traditional seypi. Unlike in India, the [[Government of Pakistan]] has not provided any affirmative actions programmes. As such, the Mochi are one of the most vulnerable ethnic communities in Pakistan, and are often victims of societal discrimination.
 
[[List of people from Chamar caste]]


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mochi (Caste)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mochi (Caste)}}
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]
[[Category:Dalit communities]]
[[Category:Dalit communities]]
[[Category:Shudra castes]]
[[Category:Shudra castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Hindu ethnic groups]]
[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Punjab]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Telangana]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Haryana]]

Latest revision as of 17:51, 9 September 2025


Mochi
Regions with significant populations
• India • Bangladesh
Languages
• Bengali• Braj Bhasha • Hindi• Bhojpuri
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Muslim Mochi, Sikh Mochi

The Mochi are a Hindu caste found mainly in North India. They are the traditional shoemakers of South Asia.

Present circumstances[edit | edit source]

In Gujarat, the Mochi caste is categorised as OBC in Bakshi Panch.

The Mochi are involved in the manufacture of leather shoes. The community has a traditional caste council, as is common among many North Indian artisan communities.[citation needed] This caste council acts as an instrument of social control, by punishing those who contravene community norms. Each caste council is headed by a Chaudhary, a position that tends to be hereditary. The Mochi live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters.

The Mochi of Haryana claim to have migrated from Rajasthan, and are found mainly in the cantonment city of Ambala. They still speak the Braj Bhasha dialect. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their traditional occupation was shoe making, but with the spread of factory manufactured shoes it has declined. A large number are landless agricultural labourers, with a minority now taking up other professions. They are assigned as scheduled caste and supported by affirmative action.[1]

Mochi of Punjab[edit | edit source]

The Mochi in rural Punjab in Pakistan is still dependent on the local landlord, who acts as patron. Often, the Mochi does not own his property, but rents from the landlord. The Mochi is thus entirely dependent on the locally dominant caste, and are paid from each cash crop at the end of the harvesting season according to a system called seypi.[2][page needed]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Mochi caste". Indian Kanoon.
  2. ↑ Justice in Practice Legal Ethnography of a Punjab Village by Muhammad Azam Chuadhary, Oxford University Press, 1999
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