Nick Jones at 14:03, 12 February 2026

2026-02-12T14:03:59Z

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{{Short description|People of northwest India and Pakistan}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox ethnic group|
| group = Meghwal
| image = Megh girls-3.jpg
| caption = A group of Megh girls in Jammu, India
| poptime =
| popplace = • India • Pakistan
| langs =
| rels = •[[Hinduism]] •[[Navayana|Buddhism (Navayana)]]
| related =
}}
The '''Meghwal''' or '''Meghwar''' (also known as '''Megh''' and '''Meghraj''') people live primarily in [[northwest India]], with a small population in Pakistan. Their traditional occupation was agricultural farming, cattle-herding and weaving. Meghwals are known for their contribution to embroidery and the textile industry. Most are Hindu by religion, with Rishi Megh, [[Kabir]], [[Ramdev Pir]] and Bankar [[Mataji]] as their chief gods.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Dominique-Sila |title=The Kāmaḍ of Rajasthan — Priests of a Forgotten Tradition |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland |volume=6 |issue=1 |date=April 1996 |pages=29–56 |access-date=5 June 2010 |doi=10.1017/S1356186300014759 |s2cid=162210744 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/abs/kamad-of-rajasthan-priests-of-a-forgotten-tradition/DAB4B8D64E9D0FB1EC401A75AB73022A |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930061136/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/abs/kamad-of-rajasthan-priests-of-a-forgotten-tradition/DAB4B8D64E9D0FB1EC401A75AB73022A |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Synonyms==
The Meghwal community is known by various names, depending on location. Examples include ''Balai,'' ''Menghwar''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Pathak|first=Bindeshwar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2Qt9tv2nSkC|title=Continuity and Change in Indian Society: Essays in Memory of Late Prof. Narmadeshwar Prasad|date=1998|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-726-7|language=en|access-date=18 November 2021|archive-date=27 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154327/https://books.google.com/books?id=l2Qt9tv2nSkC|url-status=live}}</ref> The community is also known by the neutral term ''Bhambhi'' as well as ''Dhed'', considered derogatory.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vyas |first=V. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WLR3QLtafsEC |title=Rajasthan, the Quest for Sustainable Development |date=2007 |publisher=Academic Foundation |isbn=978-81-7188-621-0 |pages=350 |language=en |quote=A unique feature of Rajasthan has been that each occupational caste has three names—one, which is respectful, the second which is general and third which is demeaning. For instance, a leather worker would be respectfully addressed as Meghwal, the neutral term is Bhambhi and is despairingly referred as Dhed. |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812154415/https://books.google.com/books?id=WLR3QLtafsEC&newbks=0&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Snodgrass |first=Jeffrey G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC |title=Casting Kings: Bards and Indian Modernity |date=2006-08-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-804140-5 |pages=182 |language=en |quote=Rajasthani castes typically have three names: one respectful, one neutral, and one demeaning (Kothari 1994: 205). In this case Bhambhi is the most neutral of the three terms. Meghwal is used by Bhambhis to make a higher status claim—specifically, that they are descended from the Hindu saint Megh. Balai, on the other hand, is used to refer to this community's sometimes role as a village or town crier, referred to as a ganv balai, or even a royal crier in the service of the king, called a raj balai. |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812154415/https://books.google.com/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC&newbks=0&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Origins==
They claim to have descended from Rishi Megh,<ref name="tribuneindia.com">{{cite web
|url=http://tribuneindia.com/2009/20090119/region.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122193340/http://tribuneindia.com/2009/20090119/region.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=22 January 2009
|title=Regional Briefs, Punjab, Abohar.
|access-date=24 August 2009
}}</ref> a saint who had the power to bring rain from the clouds through his prayer. The word ''Meghwar'' is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] words ''megh'', meaning clouds and rain, and ''war'' (Hindi: वार), meaning a group, son and child. (Sanskrit: वार:)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Supreme Sanskrit-Hindi Kosh|author1=Alok Kumar Rastogi |author2=Shri Sharan |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Kalra Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Delhi}}</ref>

However, it is theorized that at the time of [[Muslim invasion of India]], many people of high castes including [[Rajput|Rajputs]], [[Charan|Charans]], [[Brahmin|Brahmins]], and [[Jat people|Jats]] joined or were recruited in the Bhambhi or Meghwal caste. Due to this, there came 5 main divisions in the community:<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Pathak |first=Bindeshwar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2Qt9tv2nSkC |title=Continuity and Change in Indian Society: Essays in Memory of Late Prof. Narmadeshwar Prasad |date=1998 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-726-7 |pages=199, 200 |language=en |quote=I shall briefly discuss the Chamars, Balais, Bhambis and Meghwals of Rajasthan. The term “Adak” was used for the traditional Chamars in general, whereas the term "Sadak” was used particularly for those converted Chamars who were recruited in the Chamar castes from higher castes. This conversion is elaborated in Munshi Hardayal Singh's description of how members of the Brahmin, Rajput, Jat and Charan castes in Rajasthan were lowered. |access-date=18 November 2021 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154327/https://books.google.com/books?id=l2Qt9tv2nSkC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Choudhry |first=P. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5K-1AAAAIAAJ |title=Rajasthan Between the Two World Wars, 1919-1939 |date=1968 |publisher=Sri Ram Mehra |pages=81 |language=en |quote=There are four divisions amongst them, each division claiming to have sprung from a higher caste, viz. : 1. Adu or unmixed Bhambhis; 2. Maru the descendants of Rajputs; 3. Jata the descendants of Jats, and 4. Charanya, the descendants of a Charan. |access-date=25 February 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154443/https://books.google.com/books?id=5K-1AAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Shyamlal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRBuAAAAMAAJ |title=From Higher Caste to Lower Caste: The Processes of Asprashyeekaran and the Myth of Sanskritization |date=1997 |publisher=Rawat Publications |pages=63, 64 |language=en |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154327/https://books.google.com/books?id=qRBuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last1=Channa |first1=Subhadra Mitra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tTAnAgAAQBAJ |title=Life as a Dalit: Views from the Bottom on Caste in India |last2=Mencher |first2=Joan P. |date=2013-05-30 |publisher=SAGE Publications India |isbn=978-81-321-1777-3 |pages=124 |language=en |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154328/https://books.google.com/books?id=tTAnAgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

# Adu or unmixed [[Bhambi|Bhambis]],
# Maru Bhambis comprising [[Rajput|Rajputs]],
# Charaniya Bhambis including [[Charan|Charanas]],
# Bamnia Bhambis comprising [[Paliwal|Paliwal Brahmins]]
# Jata Bhambis including [[Jats]]

Some Meghwals are associated with other social groups. [[Shyam Lal Rawat]] refers to the Meghwals of [[Rajasthan]] as "one of the dominating backward castes ...",<ref>{{cite book |title=Studies in Social Protest |first=Shyam Lal |last=Rawat |year=2010 |pages=xiv, 356 |publisher=Rawat Publications |isbn=978-8131603314}}</ref> a connection also made by Debashis Debnath.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Hierarchies Within Hierarchy: Some Observations on Caste System in Rajasthan |first=Debashis |last=Debnath |journal=Indian Anthropologist |volume=25 |issue=1 |date=June 1995 |pages=23–30 |jstor=41919761}}</ref> The Balali and Bunkar communities have also begun using{{When|date=September 2025|reason=The reference does not give a date or year for when this "began" to happen}} the Meghwal name.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dalit Women in Rajasthan: Status of Economic, Social & Cultural Rights |url=http://www.pwescr.org/Dalit_Report.pdf |access-date=22 July 2013 |archive-date=26 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126012916/http://www.pwescr.org/Dalit_Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Culture ==
There exists cultural differences among these sub-caste groups of Meghwal. For example: the Meghwal like Jata Bhambis, Bamnia Bhambis and Charania Bhambis in Rajasthan do not [[Interethnic marriage|inter marry]] within other sub-castes. These sub-groups being more conscious about their previous identities maintain their old customs and [[Tradition|traditions]].<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":32" />

Furthermore, there were also considerable diversity in dressing habits between different sub-groups. In 1891, when Hardyal Singh wrote about the Bhambi, Meghwal caste of Marwar states, he observed:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":32" /><blockquote>"The first two divisions (The Adu or unmixed Bhambis and the Maru Bhambis) are very closely connected and inter-marry, while the last two divisions only marry in their own communities respectively. The Bhambis are not allowed to wear gold and silver ornaments, but an exception is made in the case of head village Bhambi and his wife. There is striking popularity in the dress of men, but the Maru Bhambi women generally wear [[Lehenga|Ghagra]] or petticoat of country chintz, while the Jata Bhambis dress themselves like the [[Jat people|Jat]] women and are distinguished from the use of lac churas instead of ivory ones. The women of the Charania Bhambis wear a dress of yellow colour like the [[Charan]] women."</blockquote>In Gujarat, except the Maheshwari Meghwals, Marwada, Gujara and Charaniya sub-sections of Meghwals worship the [[Devi|Mata]]. Moreover, the Marwada and Gujara Meghwals, in contrast to the Charaniya Meghwals, hold great reverence for the saint [[Ramdev Pir|Ramdev Puri]]. Unlike the Maheshwari Meghwals, the Marwada Meghwals possess the ''chori'' or marriage altar. While the Charaniya Meghwals abstain from the traditional [[skinning]] and [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]] activities of Meghwals, the other groups do not exhibit specific objections to engaging in such tasks.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Dipankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIuZ5WdSzl0C |title=Interrogating Caste: Understanding Hierarchy and Difference in Indian Society |date=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-029706-5 |pages=83 |language=en |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812155836/https://books.google.com/books?id=WIuZ5WdSzl0C&newbks=0&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gupta |first=Dipankar |date=1984 |title=Continuous Hierarchies and Discrete Castes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4373801 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=19 |issue=47 |pages=2003–2005 |jstor=4373801 |issn=0012-9976 |quote=Within caste groups too the endogamous jatis are also separated by divergent customs. |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812155841/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4373801 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geographical distribution==
The Meghwal are found in [[Gujarat]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]] and Rajasthan.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} The Meghs, Kabir Panthi or Bhagat are from [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_jk.pdf/ |title=Census India - Govt. of India |access-date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327161508/http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_jk.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and are known as Megh, Arya Megh and Bhagat. In some places they are known as Ganeshia, Meghbansi, Mihagh, Rakhesar, Rakhia, Rikhia, Rishia and other names. Some of the Mahashas also claim to be belonging to Meghs.<ref>{{cite book
|author=Mark Juergensmeyer.
|title=Religious Rebels in The Punjab: The Social Vision of Untouchables
|year=1988
|publisher=Ajanta Publications, Delhi
|isbn=81-202-0208-2 |page=214}}</ref>{{qn|date=August 2014}} After [[Partition of India]] in 1947, the Meghs who had become converts to the [[Hinduism]], had to migrate to Indian territory.<ref>{{cite book
|author=Mark Juergensmeyer.
|title=Religious Rebels in The Punjab: The Social Vision of Untouchables
|year=1988
|publisher=Ajanta Publications, Delhi
|isbn=81-202-0208-2 |page=225}}</ref>{{qn|date=August 2014}}

As of 1991, the population of Meghs in Punjab (India) was estimated at 105,157.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://data.undp.org.in/shdr/punjab/07-Dalits.pdf
|title=Dalits – On the Margins of Development
|access-date=15 August 2009
|url-status=unfit
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721180829/http://data.undp.org.in/shdr/punjab/07-Dalits.pdf
|archive-date=21 July 2011
}}</ref>

==Lifestyle==
In the countryside of Rajasthan, many of the people of this community still reside in small hamlets of round, mud-brick huts painted on the outside with colourful geometric designs and decorated with detailed mirror inlays.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} In earlier days the main occupation of the Meghwal community was agricultural labour, weaving, specially [[Khadi]] and woodcarving, and these are still the main occupations. The women are famous for their embroidery work and are master wool and cotton weavers.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/1922
|title=Weaving a common destiny
|date=June 1992
|publisher=Centre for Science and Environment
|access-date=15 August 2009
|archive-date=18 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718070626/http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/1922
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.craftrevival.org/CraftArtDetails.asp?CountryCode=India&CraftCode=003678
|title=Ancient Lac Dyeing Practices of Kachchh and its revival by the Vankar Shyamji Valiji of Bujodi
|publisher=Craft Revival Trust
|access-date=15 August 2009
|archive-date=19 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719043943/http://www.craftrevival.org/CraftArtDetails.asp?CountryCode=India&CraftCode=003678
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Increasing numbers of the Meghwal today are educated and are obtaining government jobs. In Punjab, especially in the cities like [[Amritsar]], [[Jalandhar]] and [[Ludhiana]] a good number of them is engaged as workers in factories producing sports, hosiery, surgical and metal goods. Very few of them have their own business or a small scale industry. Tiny business and service units are their main support for livelihood.<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://joe.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/1/43
|title=Innovations, Entrepreneurship and Development
|year=2010
|journal=Journal of Entrepreneurship
|doi=10.1177/097135570901900103
|access-date=11 April 2010
|last1=Bal
|first1=Gurpreet
|last2=Judge
|first2=Paramjit S.
|volume=19
|pages=43–62
|s2cid=154601153
|archive-date=8 March 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308094359/http://joe.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/1/43
|url-status=live
|url-access=subscription
}}</ref>

==Arts==

The Meghwal women in Rajasthan are known for their exuberantly detailed costumes and jewellery. Married women often wear gold nose ring, earrings and neckpieces, given as a "bride wealth" dowry by her soon-to-be husband's mother. Nose rings and earrings are often decorated with precious stones of ruby, sapphire and emerald. The Meghwal women's embroidery is sought after. Their work is distinguished by their primary use of red, which comes from a local pigment produced from crushed insects. The Meghwal women artisans of Thar desert in Sindh and Balochistan, and in Gujarat are considered masters of the traditional embroidery and [[Ralli quilt|Ralli]] making. Exotic hand-embroidered items are a part of the dowry of Meghwal woman.<ref>{{cite book
|title=Asian embroidery
|author1=Jasleen Dhamija |author2=Crafts Council of India |author-link=Jasleen Dhamija
|publisher=Abhinav Publications
|year=2004
|page=125
|isbn=81-7017-450-3}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Balai]]
*[[Kolhi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline|Meghwal}}

{{Social groups of Rajasthan}}

[[Category:Dalit communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Sindh]]
[[Category:Weaving communities of South Asia]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Delhi]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]

Meghwal people - Revision history

Nick Jones at 14:03, 12 February 2026