103.85.126.56 at 14:29, 16 June 2026

2026-06-16T14:29:24Z

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{{short description|Indian caste}}
{{for|the Tamil caste|Kallar (caste)}}
[[File:Portrait of a Lahore distiller and vendor of liquor (Kalwar, Kullal, Kalal, or Kalar), ca.1862–72.png|thumb|Portrait of a Lahore distiller and vendor of liquor (Kalwar, Kullal, Kalal, or Kalar), ca.1862–72]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
The '''Kalwar,''' '''Kalal''' '''or''' '''Kalar''' are an [[Indian caste system|Indian caste]] historically found in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu & Kashmir]] and other parts of north and central India. The caste is traditionally associated with the distillation and selling of [[liquor]].<ref name="bayly">{{cite book |title=Locality, Province and Nation: Essays on Indian Politics 1870 to 1940 |editor1-first=John |editor1-last=Gallagher |editor2-first=Gordon |editor2-last=Johnson |editor3-first=Anil |editor3-last=Seal |edition=Reprinted |publisher=Cambridge University Press Archive |year=1973 |isbn=978-0-52109-811-3 |first=Christopher A. |last=Bayly |authorlink=Christopher Bayly |chapter=Patrons and Politics in Northern India |page=[https://archive.org/details/localityprovince0000unse/page/63 63] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x104AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA63 |url=https://archive.org/details/localityprovince0000unse/page/63 }}</ref>

==History==
In Hindu Mythology they are believed to be as descendants of Haihaya Vansh. The Kalar's had a monopoly in the liquor trade in India, because of this they were always stayed financially strong. The warrior [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia|Jassa Singh]] also belonged to this clan. Jassa Singh styled himself as [[Ahluwalia (misl)|Ahluwalia]] after the name of his native village, and established the ruling dynasty of the [[Kapurthala State]].<ref name="Donald_1968">{{cite book |author=Donald Anthony Low |title=Soundings in Modern South Asian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfD02m8q8eYC&pg=PA70 |year=1968 |publisher=University of California Press |oclc=612533097 |pages=70–71 }}</ref>

Following Jassa Singh's rise, other [[Sikh]] Kalals also adopted Ahluwalia as the name of their caste, and started giving up their traditional occupation. The regulations imposed by the [[British Raj|colonial British administration]] on manufacture and sale of liquor accelerated this process, and by the early 20th century, most Kalals had abandoned their traditional occupation. Still they dominance in liquor trade in till 2000s, then after govt. strict rules broke their monopoly. Jawahar Prasad Jaiswal used to be called as Liquor King of North India. In many parts of India they are considered as Vaishya community. <ref name="Donald_1968"/>

Before the advent of the British rule, the Muslim Kalals also attempted to raise their social status by adopting the [[Kakezai]] [[Pashtuns|Pashtun]] identity. Some of these Kalal-turned-[[Kakazai|Kakezais]], such as the [[Hoshiarpur district|Hoshiarpur]] family that ruled the [[Doaba|Jalandhar Doab]] in the 1840s, further raised their status by claiming to be high-caste [[Punjabi Shaikh|Shaikhs]]. Sikh Kalals also claimed Khatri or Rajput origin.<ref name="Donald_1968"/>

Kalwars in [[Allahabad]] were claiming themselves to be of the [[Kshatriya]] status in the 1890s.<ref name="bayly" />

During the [[British Raj|British]] rule, the Kalals took up a variety of occupations, including trade, agriculture, army service (especially the Ahluwalias), government service, and law.<ref name="Donald_1968"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Sindh]]
[[Category:Brewing and distilling castes]]

{{India-ethno-stub}}

Kalwar caste - Revision history

103.85.126.56 at 14:29, 16 June 2026