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In India, Jhinwars traditionally used to engage as the water carriers and they used to supply water to their patron, for which they were paid in kind biannually in Punjab. Jhinwars commonly worked as the baker and seller of the ready-cooked food, known as ''Bhathyara,'' in Punjab.<ref name=":1" /> Jhinwars operated inns along travel routes and in markets, as well as the ''tandoor'' ovens in the villages. The Jhir women used to prepare the roasted wheat or corn grains for the village in an open-pan over a sand oven, known as ''bhathi''. In Punjab, a vast majority of the ''dayis, the'' childbirth attendants and nursing women, belonged to the Jhinwar caste.<ref>Kumar, Raj (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Gyan Publishing House. p. 360. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8. 1. The Bhatyara is the baker and seller of ready-cooked food, who is found in all the caranaversaries in towns and encamping grounds. It has been believed that almost without exception, a Jhinwar by caste. 2. Jhinwar, Machhi is the cook and midwife of Punjab Proper</ref> | In India, Jhinwars traditionally used to engage as the water carriers and they used to supply water to their patron, for which they were paid in kind biannually in Punjab. Jhinwars commonly worked as the baker and seller of the ready-cooked food, known as ''Bhathyara,'' in Punjab.<ref name=":1" /> Jhinwars operated inns along travel routes and in markets, as well as the ''tandoor'' ovens in the villages. The Jhir women used to prepare the roasted wheat or corn grains for the village in an open-pan over a sand oven, known as ''bhathi''. In Punjab, a vast majority of the ''dayis, the'' childbirth attendants and nursing women, belonged to the Jhinwar caste.<ref>Kumar, Raj (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Gyan Publishing House. p. 360. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8. 1. The Bhatyara is the baker and seller of ready-cooked food, who is found in all the caranaversaries in towns and encamping grounds. It has been believed that almost without exception, a Jhinwar by caste. 2. Jhinwar, Machhi is the cook and midwife of Punjab Proper</ref> | ||
During the British Raj, Jhinwar Sikhs were often employed as the cooks in Sikh regiments. With the advent of handpumps, many Jhinwars gradually left their traditional work of supplying water and adopted new professions and occupations. In the latter stages of World War I, the Jhiwars, along with Chhimba and Nais, were recruited as soldiers in Jat Sikh regiments in the British Army. The number of Jhiwars employed in civil administration and military increased significantly between the years of 1911 and 1921, with some Jhirs serving as officers in the armed forces. Although, the Jhinwars primarily worked in the hospitals for the local population.<ref>Singh, Joginder (1997). The Sikh Resurgence (Digital & Hardcover Book). National Book Organisation. p. 41. ISBN 978-81-85135-87-8.</ref> | During the British Raj, Jhinwar Sikhs were often employed as the cooks in Sikh regiments. With the advent of handpumps, many Jhinwars gradually left their traditional work of supplying water and adopted new professions and occupations. In the latter stages of World War I, the Jhiwars, along with Chhimba and Nais, were recruited as soldiers in Jat Sikh regiments in the British Army. The number of Jhiwars employed in civil administration and military increased significantly between the years of 1911 and 1921, with some Jhirs serving as officers in the armed forces. Although, the Jhinwars primarily worked in the hospitals for the local population.<ref>Singh, Joginder (1997). The Sikh Resurgence (Digital & Hardcover Book). National Book Organisation. p. 41. ISBN 978-81-85135-87-8.</ref> | ||
== Jhinwar Sikhs == | == Jhinwar Sikhs == | ||
Several members of the water-carrier caste, who converted to Sikhism, are known as Mehra Sikhs or Jhir Sikhs in Punjab.<ref name=":0" /> | Several members of the water-carrier caste, who converted to Sikhism, are known as Mehra Sikhs or Jhir Sikhs in Punjab.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Revision as of 22:13, 6 May 2026
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himchal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. | |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Sikhism and Hinduism |
The Jhinwar/ Jheer are a caste with a significant population in Northern parts of India and Pakistan. They are also known as Kashap Rajput and Mehra. Jhinwar caste has a significant population in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.[1]
History
Traditionally, the Jhinwar community has primarily been associated with the occupation of supplying water as water-carriers and they were commonly engaged in occupations of cooking, boating, and river fishing. The water carrier used to fetch water from the village well and deliver it using a mashk to every household in the village, twice on a daily basis.[2]
In India, Jhinwars traditionally used to engage as the water carriers and they used to supply water to their patron, for which they were paid in kind biannually in Punjab. Jhinwars commonly worked as the baker and seller of the ready-cooked food, known as Bhathyara, in Punjab.[2] Jhinwars operated inns along travel routes and in markets, as well as the tandoor ovens in the villages. The Jhir women used to prepare the roasted wheat or corn grains for the village in an open-pan over a sand oven, known as bhathi. In Punjab, a vast majority of the dayis, the childbirth attendants and nursing women, belonged to the Jhinwar caste.[3]
During the British Raj, Jhinwar Sikhs were often employed as the cooks in Sikh regiments. With the advent of handpumps, many Jhinwars gradually left their traditional work of supplying water and adopted new professions and occupations. In the latter stages of World War I, the Jhiwars, along with Chhimba and Nais, were recruited as soldiers in Jat Sikh regiments in the British Army. The number of Jhiwars employed in civil administration and military increased significantly between the years of 1911 and 1921, with some Jhirs serving as officers in the armed forces. Although, the Jhinwars primarily worked in the hospitals for the local population.[4]
Jhinwar Sikhs
Several members of the water-carrier caste, who converted to Sikhism, are known as Mehra Sikhs or Jhir Sikhs in Punjab.[1]
Historical Figures
The earliest known association of Jhinwars with Sikhism dates to 1664, when Guru Harkrishan asked Chajju Ram Jhinwar to interpret the Bhagavad Gita for Pandit Lal Chand in Delhi. As per the SGPC, an old handwritten Hukamnama mentions the visit of Guru Teg Bahadur to village Lehal (currently Patiala) on the request of his Jhiwar Sikh disciple, Bhag Ram, in 1672. Bhai Kanhaiya, a sikh historical figure, is claimed by the Jhirs.[5]
Bhai Himmat Singh, one of the inaugural panj piare quintets, and his nephew Moti Ram Mehra belonged to the Jhinwar Sikh community. Sardar Budh Singh Mehra, a Jhir Sikh from Mukerian, was a courtier and advisor of Maharaja Sher Singh. Sardar Budh Singh was killed by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia along with Maharaja Sher Singh. Master Mota Singh, a Jhinwar Sikh, was an anti-colonial revolutionary against the British in Punjab.[6]
Cultural Practices
Bhagat Baba Kalu was a Hindu Jhinwar ascetic from district Hoshiarpur (Punjab) in medieval India. Baba Kalu was the founder of the Kalupanthi sect. The Kalupanthis worship Hindu gods as well as respect Guru Granth Sahib. Annual Vaisakhi Mela (religious congregation) and Shobha Yatra (religious processions) are held at the temples of Baba Kalu, primarily in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.[7][8][9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dogra, R. C. (1995). Encyclopaedia of Sikh religion and culture. Internet Archive. New Delhi : Vikas Pub. House. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-7069-8368-5. The Jhinwar, generally called Mahra among the Sikhs, is a carrier, waterman, fisherman, cook, woodcutter and basketmaker. He is also concerned with the cultivation of waternuts, the netting of waterfowl and sinking of the wells. Jhinwar's wife usually works as Dayi (nurse). Moreover, the common oven (tandoor) wich forms so important a feature in village life of the Punjab, and at which the peasantry have their bread baked in the hot weather, is always in the hands of a Jhinwar.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kumar, Raj (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Gyan Publishing House. p. 360. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8. 1. The Bhatyara is the baker and seller of ready-cooked food, who is found in all the caranaversaries in towns and encamping grounds. It has been believed that almost without exception, a Jhinwar by caste. 2. Jhinwar, Machhi is the cook and midwife of Punjab Proper
- ↑ Kumar, Raj (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Gyan Publishing House. p. 360. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8. 1. The Bhatyara is the baker and seller of ready-cooked food, who is found in all the caranaversaries in towns and encamping grounds. It has been believed that almost without exception, a Jhinwar by caste. 2. Jhinwar, Machhi is the cook and midwife of Punjab Proper
- ↑ Singh, Joginder (1997). The Sikh Resurgence (Digital & Hardcover Book). National Book Organisation. p. 41. ISBN 978-81-85135-87-8.
- ↑ Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh (1997). The Sikh Reference Book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-9695964-2-4.
- ↑ Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (1987). History of the Babar Akalis. ABS Publications. ISBN 978-81-7072-010-2.
- ↑ Social Sciences Research Journal (Research Paper). Vol. 22–23. Panjab University, Chandigarh. 2014. pp. 27, 28.
- ↑ Shah, Pankaj (6 April 2013), "Political parties eye Lok Sabha polls, bank on boatmen to claim pole position", The Times of India, retrieved 14 April 2014
- ↑ Srivastava, Piyush (25 February 2014), "BJP castes a wider UP net, uses Modi's background to attract OBC votes while seeking blessings by feeding Brahmins", India Today, retrieved 14 April 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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