Tailoring is the English translation of Darzi. In the Indian tradition, it was customary to wrap clothing over the body rather than wear stitched clothes. Used in Hindi and Urdu, the word Darzi comes from the Persian language.[1][2]
In the Indian subcontinent the Darzi caste, is found among Hindus and Muslims. They are known as Idrisi[3] in the Muslim community. Darji are a community of tailors, numbering around Darzi are largely a landless community whose main occupation is tailoring. The profession of tailoring is being done by both communities. In the Muslim community, the Darzi caste is known as Idrisi. According to the data of National Commission of Backward Classes, Darzi castes are listed as Other Backward Class (OBC) or Schedule Castes.[citation needed]
History and origin
The word Darzi (दर्ज़ी درزی) literally means business of tailor. The Darzi claim descent from Idris (Enoch), one of the Biblical and Koranic prophets. According to their traditions, Idris was the first person to learn the art of sewing. It is said to be derived from the Persian word darzan, which means to sew[citation needed]. This is also the commonly accepted derivation of the name of the non-related religion Druze. The Darzi are said to have settled in South Asia during the early period of the Sultanate of Delhi. They are also divided on a linguistic basis, with those of North India speaking various dialects of Urdu,[4] while those of Punjab speaking Punjabi.
In India
Hindu Darzi
The Hindu Darzi have various synonyms as well as legends about their community origins, the legends vary according to the Indian states in which they reside.
In the desert state of Rajasthan, the Darzi trace their descent from their legendary Hero Shri Peepa Ji Maharaj,[5] who later became saint during Bhakti Movement in India[6] who were the Great Spiritual Scholar of Swami Ramanada.[7] Swami Ramananda was a 14th century Vaishnava devotional Poet, saint who lived in the Gangetic basin of Northern India. As the time passed due to many reasons people from this community shifted from their originating place to their place of work/Job to the other cities and can be found all over India.[8]
Other clans of Hindu Darzi living in the different parts and states in India include Kakusth, Damodar Vanshi, Tank or Tak, Juna Gujrati, (these are living in Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Karnataka). In Karnataka, the Darzi community is known as Pisse, Wade, Kakade and Sanyasi. In Odisha: Maharana, Mahapatra, which are also used as a surname.
Delhi During the Mughal period, some units of Mughal soldiers who were Ilbari Turks used to protect the borders of Delhi. In the beginning of the 18th century, the weakening army of the Mughals and the increasing rebellions and internal wars of the Jaats and Sikhs took away the power of the Mughal forces and these soldiers left their areas around Delhi and left for Awadh. There were more in which children and women were also included.
This was the first military exodus from Delhi to Awadh in the early 18th century. These military families were settled in Ismailganj village by the Nawab of Awadh, A few decades later, in the war of 1857, these Ilbari soldiers fought with British power at a place called Chinhat, where there was a caravan saraaen and in the village of Ismailganj, Ilbari and Sayyad were victorious. and caused heavy loss of life and property to the British Cantonment in which the British lived along with their families.
After the end of the revolution, the revolutionaries were searched and action was taken against them, the houses were demolished and the Ilbari and Sayyid revolutionaries were hanged on the trees and their dead bodies were left hanging on the trees.
The jagirs of Sayyad's were confiscated and the Ilbaris had to leave the village and take refuge in other areas like Barabanki, Satrikh, Kanpur, Faizabad, Rudauli and other areas, due to the brutality and barbarism of the British soldiers, they had to change their hideouts again and again, but due to the rebels, the British They could not get any help, permanent shelter from the zamindars. Due to which he had to change his surname from Ilbari to Idrisi to hide his identity.
Therefore, later some regional zamindars were given shelter in their areas to save their rapidly deteriorating economic condition.
The Punjabi Darzi is said to be converted from the HinduChhimba caste, and have several territorial divisions. These include the Sirhindi, Deswal and Multani. The Punjabi Darzi (Chhimba Darzi) are almost entirely Sunni.[10]
The Idrisi of Jharkhand have a common origin with those of Bihar, and intermarry. The community speak the Angika dialect of Hindi. Most Idrisis are still engaged in tailoring, but many Idrisis, particularly in Jharkhand are now farmers. Their customs are similar to other Bihari Muslims.[11]
In Pakistan
In Pakistan, the Darzi are two distinct communities, the Delhiwal Idrissis, who are found among the Muhajir ethnic group, and the Punjabi Darzi, who are ethnically Punjabi. The former are immigrants from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are concentrated in the port city of Karachi. Like their North Indian kinsmen, many have now opened small shops and businesses, although many other members of the community work for other Idrissis. They remain divided by sectarian divisions, the Sunni Idrisi not marrying into Shia Idrisi families. The community claims itself to be of Shaikh status.[citation needed]
In Punjab, the Punjabi Darzi are immigrants from East Punjab. Many in rural areas of Punjab have taken to cultivation, while those in urban areas have opened up small businesses. The Punjabi Darzi claim to belong to the Muslim Rajput community. They are entirely Sunni, and many belong to the orthodox Deobandi sect.[12]
^The Panjab Past and Present. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 1986. p. 63. A tailor in Hindi is darzi and his wife is called darzin. A dyer of clothes was termed as rangrez. A washerman was called dhobi or rajak.
^People of India: Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One, edited by Amir Hasan & J.C. Das, ISBN9788173041143, pages 412–415
^People of India: Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two, edited by Amir Hasan & J.C. Das, ISBN9788173041143, page 413
