Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir - Castes in Mirpur

Castes in Mirpur

The caste system is generally considered out dated and archaic. There is no historic precedence with which to create a hierarchy, rather most castes are judged and ranked in society by the prestige attached to the jobs with which the caste entails.

• Sayed: Peers (Monk), they are downward of the family of Mohammad.
• Shaikhs: Tradesmen, they are downward Arabic; they add with their first name the name of "Malik."
• Kashmiri: Of origin of Kashmir, they form a caste in Punjab, make various trades atchers, foremen... They add with their first name the name of "Goal."as tradesmen,
• Arain: The oral tradition said that they are descendants of the army of Ibn Qasim, whose troops had been created in Perse. They are originating in Perse and became with time landowners. One finds this caste only in Punjab. They add with their first name the name of "Chaudry", "Mian", "Mair", sometimes "Khan."
• Teli: Business caste, traditionally oil makers, provided edible oil to society.
• Jat: Landowners; they add with their first name the name of "Chaudry", "Shima", (it is not systematic).
• Rajput: Traditionally thought of as landowners. They add Raja to their first name.
• Kakezai – A well educated ethnic group mostly settled in Mirpur city, linked to business.
• Qazi: The oral tradition said that they would go down from the Afghan soldiers. They would have since the beginning exerted the function of monk. Currently it is a caste land great landowners; it is very largely represented in the administration and the bureaucracy. They add with their first name the name of "Qureshi".
• Pathan: Descendants of pathans, they form a caste in Punjab, they make various trades as civils servant, tradesmen...
• Gujjar: Herdsmen, and often landowners.

The "Artizans castes and other groups" are as follows:

• Tarhan: Carpenters.
• Qamyar: Potters.
• Lowar: Will forge.
• Kassaï: Butchers.
• Mirassi: Travelling musicians, troubadours.
• Mautchi: Shoe-makers.
• Tobi: Launderers.
• Darzi: Dressmakers.
• Jalaye: Tisserands.
• Lahari: Dyers.
• Mashqi: Water carriers.
• Teli: Oil Tycoons.
• Balwalai: Messengers.
• Naï: Hairdressers; they are also able to make small operations, they circumscise the new born ones and are cooks during the festivals and the marriages...
• Fakir: They are nourished by people of the districts where they live, in exchange of all kinds of odd jobs (to wash the crockery, to prepare the narghile...).