Khatik
| Khatik | |
|---|---|
| खटीक | |
| Religions | Hinduism, Jainism, Islam |
| Languages | • Hindi • Punjabi • Rajasthani • Tamil • Telugu |
| Country | • India • Nepal • Pakistan [1][2] |
| Populated states | Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana |
| Ethnicity | India |
| Family names | Sonkar, Suryavanshi, Chak, etc |
| Notable members | Jagannath Pahadia, Udit Raj, Virendra Kumar Khatik |
| Subdivisions | Suryavanshi, Sonkar, Chak, Dhangar, Are Katika, Kalal, Rangiya and Mewafarosh |
| Related groups | Akhil Bhartiya Khatik Samaj |
The Khatik (Hindi: खटीक) are an ethnic tribe found in the Indian subcontinent, mainly modern-day India, Pakistan and Nepal. The Hindu Khatik have scheduled caste status in India.[3] They are one of the most widespread communities in modern South Asia. Indian Khatik have a population of approximately 2.3 million and are located mainly in New Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.[4]
History
The Khatik claim a common ancestry from the Rajput tribe. Khatik used to provide meat to the army of Rajput rulers. Kings only assign their personal "Rasoiya" (cook) from Khatik tribe. Khatiks used to live within the Rajputs' kingdom, and when Rajputs organised "Yagya," Khatiks used to sacrifice goats in front of Hindu devi Kaali.[5]
Etymology
'Khatik' is derived from the Sanskrit (Indic ancient language) word, "Khattik" which means "Butcher or Kasai" and the Hindi word "Khatt" means immediate killing.[citation needed]
Society
The Khatiks belong to the same ethnicity as the Rajputs, and inter-marriages take place among them. Like other Hindu communities, they are divided into clans called gotras like Chandel, Panwar, Dayma, Chauhan, Tanwar, Badgurjar, Kirar etc.[6]
Legal status
Khatik are identified as a Scheduled Caste in some states of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while they have OBC status in Maharashtra and Bihar.[7]
Political involvement
Khatiks actively participate in politics, and they are not dependent on a single party but are distributed among various political parties as per their belief and interest.[8]
Current status
- Today, most are in animal husbandry, agriculture, service industries, and government agencies.[9]
- There are some politicians, doctors, engineers, sports-persons and movie stars as well[citation needed]
- The Khatik community has a higher sex ratio than the Indian national average.[citation needed]
- Among the major Dalit groups, Khatiks have registered the highest overall literacy rate (64.4 per cent) and highest women's literacy rate.[4]
Subdivisions
The Hindu Khatik caste is divided into these subgroups based on their livelihood, which are the following: -
- Suryavanshi - they claim to be sons of Surya (Sun) and Raja Khatwang (grandfather of Lord Rama). They proudly drive tangas for a livelihood. They are widely spread in Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh.[citation needed]
- Sonkar - they started keeping pigs to save their families from the Mughal army.[citation needed]
- Suryavanshi Aare Katika or Are Katika - they claim to be Aare Brahmin and lived in the kingdom of Veer Shivaji in Maharashtra.[citation needed]
- Chak (Chik, Chikwa) - they used to sell meat and make drums.[citation needed]
- Dhangar - they take care of animals who produce milk.[citation needed]
- Kalal - they are also involved in the meat profession.[citation needed]
- Rangiya - they used to colour goat and deer skin to sell.[citation needed]
- Mewafarosh - they used to sell fruits and dry-fruits.[citation needed]
Religion
Khatiks historically followed the Hindu religion, but now they are also found in Islam and Jainism for the following reasons: -
- Muslim Khatik - The Mughal ruler Aurangzeb started forcibly converting Hindus into Islam, and at that time, a large number of Hindu Khatiks converted into Islam; now they are identified as Muslim Khatiks and are broadly found in Maharastra. Presently, they are united under the leadership of Haji Arfat Shaikh, president of the Maharashta State Muslim Khatik Samaj[10]
- Veerwal Khatik - Khatiks in Rajasthan were inspired by a Jain guru and adopted Jainism, and turned Veerwal and are now identified as Veerwal Khatiks.[11]
See also
- Sonkar (surname)
- Khatik (surname)
- Chauhan (surname)
- Chak (social group)
- Akhil Bhartiya Khatik Samaj
- Dhangar
References
- ↑ Jaffrelot, Christophe. A History of Pakistan and Its Origins. Anthem Press. p. 212. Search this book on
- ↑ http://idsn.org/wp-content/uploads/user_folder/pdf/New_files/Nepal/Caste-based_Discrimination_in_Nepal.pdf
- ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two edited by A Hasan and J C Das pages 811 to 815
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "CHAPTER – 3 : DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF SCHEDULED CASTE DALITS IN INDIA" (PDF). Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthani_people?wprov=sfla1
- ↑ https://www.khatiksamaj.net/khatik-surname/
- ↑ "खटीक समाज की मांग, अनुसूचित जाति में किया जाए शामिल". Navbharat Times (in हिन्दी). 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
- ↑ "Chandigarh Congress welcomes members of Khatik community into party fold". The Indian Express. 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
- ↑ "Khatiks". Peoplegroupsindia.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ↑ Gazette, The Milli (2011-04-06). "Reservation for Dalit Muslims". www.milligazette.com. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
- ↑ "धर्म के नाम पर देश तक बंट गए : पहाड़िया". Dainik Jagran (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2019-06-14.
- CS1 हिन्दी-language sources (hi)
- Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan
- Muslim communities of India
- Hindu communities
- Indian castes
- Sikh communities
- Social groups of India
- Dalit communities
- Shudra castes
- Social groups of Haryana
- Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
- Social groups of Punjab, India
- Social groups of Rajasthan
- Social groups of Bihar
- Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh
