Gaurwa

The Gaurwa is a Rajput clan, found in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India.

History & Origin

The Guarwa are by origin Chauhan Rajputs, whose ancestors were said to have allowed WIDOW re-marriage (karewa in Hindi), a custom not allowed in traditional Hindu societies. Many of the Gaurwa converted to Islam, during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Gaurwa have the following divisions:

• Tarkar
• Jasawat
• Jais
• Jaiswar
• Bhal
• Bargala
• Indauliya
• Bachhal
• Nare
• Uriya
• Mahadwar
• Bangar
• Porch

The Muslim branch of the tribe emigrated to Pakistan, at the partition of India. The Gaurwa have practically merged into the Ranghar community, with whom they had already shared many customs. They have all but abadoned the Braj Bhasa dialect, and have switched to Ranghari and Punjabi.

In India, the community is basically made of small peasents, concenterated in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring districts of Haryana. They have a village based caste council, which exercise social control. They marry among themselves, although there are a few marriages with pure Hindu Rajput clans. Unlike their Pakistani counterparts, The INDIAN Gaurwa continue to speak the Braj Bhasa language.

Distribution

In India, they are found mainly in Ballabhgarh tehsil and Palwal tehsil of Faridabad District, in Haryana state. Communities are also found in Agra, Bulandshahr and Mathura districts of Uttar Pradesh.

In Pakistan, they are found mainly in Okara, Vehari and Multan district.

See also

• Ranghar
• Rawe