Charan: Difference between revisions

The '''Charans''' (IAST: Cāraṇ; [[Sanskrit]]: चारण; [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]: ચારણ; [[Urdu]]: ارڈ; IPA: cɑːrəɳə) are a South Asian community natively residing in the [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]] states of [[India]], as well as the [[Sindh]] and [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] provinces of [[Pakistan]]. Historically, Charans were [[Poet|poets]] & literateurs, as well as [[Warrior|warriors]] and [[Jagir|jagirdars]]. They specialised in diverse occupations as [[historians]], literateurs, [[Soldier|soldiers]], [[Pastoralism|pastoralists]], [[Farmer|agriculturalists]], [[Trader (finance)|traders]], and [[Merchant|merchants]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Palriwala|first=Rajni|date=1993|title=Economics and Patriliny: Consumption and Authority within the Household|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3520426|journal=Social Scientist|volume=21|issue=9/11|pages=47–73|doi=10.2307/3520426|issn=0970-0293|quote="In Rajasthan, they were bards and 'literateurs', but also warriors and jagirdars, holders of land and power over men; the dependents of Rajputs, their equals and their teachers. On my initial visit and subsequently, I was assured of this fact vis-a-vis Panchwas and introduced to the thakurs, who in life-style, the practice of female seclusion, and various reference points they alluded to appeared as Rajputs. While other villagers insisted that Rajputs and Charans were all the same to them, the Charans, were not trying to pass themselves off as Rajputs, but indicating that they were as good as Rajputs if not ritually superior....most of the ex-landlord households, the Charans and one Pathan, remained in the middle and upper ranks of village society"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=K. L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XyCBDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en|title=Caste, Social Inequality and Mobility in Rural India: Reconceptualizing the Indian Village|date=2019-02-02|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|isbn=978-93-5328-202-8|pages=322-323|language=en|quote="Charans, a landowning caste (ex-zamindars), Brahmins and Banias were at the centre of the village...the upper castes, namely, Brahmins, Charans and Banias were dominant and grabbed new jobs and opportunities.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Patel|first=Tulsi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RiwTAQAAIAAJ|title=Fertility Behaviour: Population and Society in a Rajasthan Village|date=2006-11-30|publisher=OUP India|isbn=978-0-19-568706-4|language=en|quote="The jagir was held by members of the Charan caste...By this criterion most of the vegetarian castes enjoy a high rank while the non-vegetarian castes belong to the lower category, except Charan and Rajput who belong to the highest category, despite being non-vegetarian and non-teetotaler...While the abolition of feudal land tenures has led to downward mobility of Charans and Rajputs, it has helped upward mobility of Patels and Jats...Except for Charans and Rajputs, all others cultivate land as tenants and sharecroppers, especially if their own holding is small...However, Brahmins do take up wage labour in agriculture, unlike Banias, Charans and Rajputs...My entry into homes of higher castes, especially those of Charans and Rajputs, was not easy either."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=Kim|date=1993-01-01|title=Negotiating sacred space: The Mandirand the Oran as contested sites|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00856409308723191|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=16|issue=sup001|pages=49–60|doi=10.1080/00856409308723191|issn=0085-6401|quote="In the past some Charans were agriculturalists, engaged in farming lands which were divided equally between male descendants of the lineage."}}</ref><ref name="Tambs-Lyche2017" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Marcus|first=George E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYK2AAAAIAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en|title=Elites, Ethnographic Issues|date=1983|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|isbn=978-0-8263-0658-6|pages=219|language=en|quote="Charans were court poets and historians."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Shah|first=P. R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XGseAAAAMAAJ|title=Raj Marwar During British Paramountcy: A Study in Problems and Policies Up to 1923|date=1982|publisher=Sharda Publishing House|isbn=978-0-7855-1985-0|pages=194|language=en|quote="The Charans constituted a body of faithful companions of the

Rajputs. They composed poems in praise of the heroic deeds of the

Rajputs, and thus inspired them with courage and fortitude. They

also guarded the mansions of their patrons, gave protection to their

women and children during emergency and also acted as tutors for

the young ones. In return land gifts and honours were conferred

upon them. The Charans, who could not devote themselves to intellectual pursuits, took to trade. They also protected merchants and

travellers passing through desolate regions and forests."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandra|first=Yashaswini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VawSEAAAQBAJ|title=The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback|date=2021-01-22|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-93-89109-92-4|pages=235|language=en|quote="Charans were poets"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gupta|first=Saurabh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZyoCgAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en|title=Politics of Water Conservation: Delivering Development in Rural Rajasthan, India|date=2015-10-01|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-21392-7|pages=42|language=en|quote="Sharma (ibid) argues that the ex-Zamindars (or landlords) who own big landholdings even today are influential but those who do not retain it are not only less influential but have also slid down the scale of status hierarchy. The families most affected by this belong to the Rajputs, Jats, Charans and Brahmins (all traditionally powerful caste groups)."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Matheson|first=Sylvia A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCVuAAAAMAAJ|title=Rajasthan, Land of Kings|date=1984|publisher=Vendome Press|isbn=978-0-86565-046-6|language=en}}</ref>

Exercising their privilege to transport [[goods]] between various states with [[impunity]] and utilising the large wealth of [[cattle]] as pack animals, Charans were able to establish a “virtual monopoly of trade in North-Western India”. Many Charans are said to have become wealthy [[Merchant|merchants]] and [[Money lenders|money-lenders]]. Their caravans were considered to be insured against bandits. In Rajasthan, the Kachela Charans excelled as merchants. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Matheson|first=Sylvia A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCVuAAAAMAAJ|title=Rajasthan, Land of Kings|date=1984|publisher=Vendome Press|isbn=978-0-86565-046-6|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

 

 

The [[Salt road|Salt-Trade]] in Marwar involved thousands of people & pack animals like [[Ox|oxen]] & [[Camel|camels]]. Charans along with Pushkarna [[Brahmin|Brahmins]] and [[Bhil people|Bhils]] were engaged in salt-trade and exempted from the payment of custom duties. Kachela Charans from [[Sindhari]] used to collect salt from [[Tilwara|Talwara]] & sell in other parts of [[Marwar]].<ref name=":2" />

 

<blockquote>The Charans held the reputation of defending the merchandise entrusted to their charge through sword and shield if necessary; or else, if outnumbered, by threatening to take, or even taking, their own life.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Charans were described as “greatest carriers of goods” for delivery in important centres of [[Malpura]], [[Pali, Rajasthan|Pali]], [[Sojat]], [[Ajmer]], and [[Bhilwara]] by acting as escorts(bailers).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rajasthan, District Gazetteers: Pali|url=http://indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/rajasthan-district-gazetteers-pali-0|access-date=2022-01-14|website=INDIAN CULTURE|language=en}}</ref> The route of the caravans was through [[Suigam]]([[Gujarat]]), [[Sanchore|Sanchor]], [[Bhinmal]], [[Jalore|Jalor]] to [[Pali, Rajasthan|Pali]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rajput States and the East India Company|url=http://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/rajput-states-and-east-india-company|access-date=2022-01-14|website=INDIAN CULTURE|language=en}}</ref> The inviolability of a Charan along with their knowledge of the [[Trade route|trade routes]] distinguished them as ideal caravan escorts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Living goddesses, past and present in North-west India, German Scholars on India – Global InCH- International Journal of Intangible Cultural Heritage|url=https://globalinch.org/bibliography/living-goddesses-past-and-present-in-north-west-india-german-scholars-onindia/|access-date=2022-01-14|language=en-US}}</ref> Caravans of [[Horse|horses]], [[Camel|camels]] and pack [[Ox|oxen]] carrying various [[Commodity|commodities]] passed through desolate stretches of [[desert]] & forested hills which were always under threat of [[Banditry|bandits]] & dacoits. Charans acted as the protectors & escorts.  As caravan protectors, "[[sacred]] Charans" thwarted the attempts of bandits.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Chandra|first=Yashaswini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VawSEAAAQBAJ|title=The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback|date=2021-01-22|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-93-89109-92-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=Kim|date=1993-01-01|title=Negotiating sacred space: The Mandirand the Oran as contested sites|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00856409308723191|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=16|issue=sup001|pages=49–60|doi=10.1080/00856409308723191|issn=0085-6401}}</ref> If not strong enough to defend their [[convoy]] with [[sword]] and [[shield]], they would threaten to kill themselves. Given the position of Charans in the socio-cultural system of the time, the wilful killing of a Charan was equivalent to equally abominable crime of killing a Brahmin. As such, if a Charan did commit suicide over any transgression of the caravans under his guardianship, the marauder-robbers responsible for the suicide were deemed to have "earned the sin of a Charan’s death, with all its post-life connotations of hell-fire and damnation." Thus, under the safety of Charans, commodities were transported from one region to another.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hunter|first=William Wilson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tAOzgEACAAJ|title=The Imperial Gazetteer Of India (Volume Xxi) Pushkar To Salween|date=2020-11-19|publisher=Alpha Editions|isbn=978-93-5421-782-1|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sahai|first=Nandita Prasad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AttHAAAAMAAJ|title=Politics of Patronage and Protest: The State, Society, and Artisans in Early Modern Rajasthan|date=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-567896-3|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Kothiyal|first=Tanuja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQS-DAAAQBAJ|title=Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert|date=2016-03-14|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-316-67389-8|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

 

[[Horse trading|Horse trade]] was one of the prominent occupations of Charans.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Jansen|first1=Jan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GLJkAAAAMAAJ|title=Epic Adventures: Heroic Narrative in the Oral Performance Traditions of Four Continents|last2=Maier|first2=Hendrik M. J.|date=2004|publisher=Lit|isbn=978-3-8258-6758-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Deva|first=B. Chaitanya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=11bjCwAAQBAJ|title=INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN MUSIC|date=1992|publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|isbn=978-81-230-2103-4|language=en}}</ref> Some Charan sub-groups like Kachela Charans(from [[Kutch district|Kutch]] & [[Sindh]]) and Sorathia Charans(from [[Kathiawar]]) were historically engaged in horse breeding & trading.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wtUSAQAAMAAJ|title=Social Scientist|date=2005|publisher=Indian School of Social Sciences.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dutson|first=Judith|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PS6zop4lVSUC|title=Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America|date=2012-05-07|publisher=Storey Publishing|isbn=978-1-60342-918-4|language=en}}</ref> The common connection of horses also led to bonds between Charans & the [[Kathi people|Kathi]] tribe. Some Kuchela Charans settled around Mallani([[Barmer district|Barmer]], Rajasthan) in western [[Rajasthan]] which was notable for its horse-breeding. [[Marwari horse|Marwari horses]] from this area came to be known as Mallani horses. By the 18th century, most of the horse trade business in the [[Bikaner State|Bikaner]] kingdom was controlled by Charans, besides [[Afghans]]. Charan horse dealers were considered to be very well networked. In another example of the clout of horse-trading Charans, a Charan from the Kachela subgroup arrived at the court of [[Marwar]] ruler, [[Takht Singh|Maharaja Takhat Singh]], under the auspices of the sect leader of [[Nath|Nath Sampradaya]], and marketed his horses, with 10 horses being directly purchased by the ruler himself. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Kamphorst|first=Janet|url=http://site.ebrary.com/id/10314656|title=In praise of death: history and poetry in medieval Marwar (South Asia)|date=2008|publisher=Leiden University Press|isbn=978-90-485-0603-3|location=Leiden|oclc=614596834}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Saxena|first=Rajendra Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRbtAAAAMAAJ|title=Karkhanas of the Mughal Zamindars: A Study in the Economic Development of 18th Century Rajputana|date=2002|publisher=Publication Scheme|isbn=978-81-86782-75-0|language=en}}</ref>