Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi

Qaume-e-Punjaban / Shamsi
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups

The Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi (Urdu: پنجابی سوداگران دہلی), sometimes referred to as the Qaum-e-Punjabian (Punjabi and Urdu: قوم پنجابیان), Dehlawi (Arabic: الدهلوي), or simply Shamsi Biradari (Urdu: شمسی برادری) are a merchant community of Khatri Muslims that historically came from Sargodha, Chiniot, Bhera and other cities in West Punjab and settled mainly in Old Delhi, India.[1] The community got established in Delhi during the tenure of Sa'adullah Khan Chinioti, the Punjabi Grand Vizier of Shah Jahan, in the 17th century.[2]

They also settled in a number of other cities, chiefly Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta), and towns in western Uttar Pradesh, such as Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur, Kanpur; including areas within western Uttar Pradesh that now fall in the state of Uttarakhand; namely Roorkee, Nainital and Haldwani. After the partition of India, and subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947, many members of the community migrated to Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Lahore, while a few chose to migrate to Mecca and Medina.[3][4][5]

They are divided into various lineages and some also use Multani, Goronwalay, Kathuria, Bathla, Allahwalay, Namoonay Walay, Taar-Gitti Walay, Lahore Walay, Chawla, Chandna, Sarwana, etc., as a title.[6]

History

The community belongs to the Muslim Khatris community, some of whom were converted to Islam by Shamsuddin Sabzwari. Some subgroups use the surname Shamsi (a disciple of Shams), in his honour. The families moved from Sargodha, Bhera, Khushab, or Pind Dadan Khan in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, on the invitation by Sa'adullah Khan, the prime minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in search of business opportunities to Uttar Pradesh and especially in Delhi.[3] Historically, the Qaum-e-Punjabian played an important role in India's trans-regional trade. They are noted to be among the "most important" Muslim merchants.

Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla

The Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla, is a separate subgroup of the Punjabi Saudagars. They are said to have settled in the town of Aonla in Rohilkhand in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over Rohilkhand, in particular, the city of Bareilly, where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum-e-Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organisations. A significant number have immigrated to Kolkata and Mumbai. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and Khera. A much smaller number have also settled in Karachi.[7]

Current position

The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave India. After the independence of Pakistan, a large number of these traders migrated to Lahore and Karachi. A few numbers of these traders migrated to Mecca and Medina and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in Delhi.[8][4]

Important institutions founded or run by the community include Jamiyat Education Board, Marrium Batla Hospital, Bilqees Memorial Hospital, Yusuf Salateen Eye Hospital, Haji Fazal Ilahi General Hospital, Ismail Allahwala Boys Campus, Najam Girls School, Delhi Mercantile Society, Shamsi Hospital, Riaz Masjid, Saudagran Cooperative Housing Society, Alamgir Road, Jamiyat Taalim Al Quran, Ameeniya Muslim Girls School, Yahya Sootwalay Hospital, Jamiyat Sabira Clinic and Diabetic Centre, M.Y. Chandiwala Clinic, Abdul Khaliq Abdul Razzaq Hospital, B.H.Y. Hospital, Abdul Khaliq Allah wala town, Shamsi Education Foundation etc. The Jamiyat also give monthly pension, houses, daily household things to widows, unmarried, orphans and other poor people of their Biradri.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Salman, Peerzada (10 February 2013). "Community and cityscape". DAWN.COM.
  2. ^ Shaikh, Asad Salim (2003). Tarikh ka Pahla Panjabi Vazir-i Aʻzam: Navab Saʻdullah Khan (in Urdu). Lahore: Izhar Sanz. pp. 40–41. ISBN 9789695625743. OCLC 70052456.
  3. ^ a b Salman, Peerzada (6 February 2018). "Jasmine and Journeys launched". DAWN.COM.
  4. ^ a b Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Published under the auspices of the Pakistan American Foundation. 2007. pp. 19–20.
  5. ^ Gayer, Laurent (2025). Gunpoint Capitalism: Enforcing Industrial Order in Karachi. Oxford University Press. pp. 73, 85. ISBN 978-0-19-782724-6.
  6. ^ Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1698. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
  7. ^ Muslims of Calcutta: A Study in Aspects of their Social Organization by M.K.A Siddiqui
  8. ^ Article Title
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