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The '''Gadhai''' are a [[Muslim]] community found in the state of [[Gujarat]] in [[India]].<ref name="people" />

== Origin ==
The Gadhai claim to have immigrated from [[Rajasthan]] about five hundred years ago. They were first settled in [[Kutch]], where they were employed by the local [[Rajputs of Gujarat|Rajput]]s, and then brought to [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] by the [[Kathi (caste)|Kathi]] rulers. The Gadhai bred donkeys, which were the main beasts of burdens. They are said to get their name from the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] word for a donkey, which is gadha, and gadhai means a donkey keeper. The Gadhai were also involved in selling salt. According to their traditions, the community were once [[Rajput]]s, who lost status as a result of their conversion to [[Islam]]. They are now found mainly in the districts of [[Amreli District|Amreli]], [[Bhavnagar District|Bhavnagar]] and [[Junagadh district|Junagadh]]. The Gadhai speak Gujarati, but some also understand [[Urdu]].<ref name="people">''People of India Gujarat'', Volume XXII, Part One, edited by R.B. Lal, S.V. Padmanabham & A. Mohideen, page 359-363, Popular Prakashan</ref>

== Present circumstances ==
The community is divided into thirteen clans, all of whom intermarry. Their main clans are the Kaliya, Lalliya, Rathore (Rathod), Savant, Musia, Gagaina, Ming, Saag, Zorana, Sayara, Mamodia, Lallagh and Naar.<ref name="people" />

The Gadhai have seen a decline in their traditional occupation, which was selling salt. Many are now small and medium-sized farmers. A smaller number are sharecroppers, with a few employed as agricultural labourers. The Gadhai are [[Sunni]] Muslims, and have customs similar to other [[Gujarati Muslim]] communities.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Indian Muslim}}

[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]

Gadhai - Revision history

CleanupBot at 05:45, 2 January 2022