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Punjabis are a largely an Indo-Aryan people native to the Punjab region located in the north west corner of the Indian subcontinent. Punjabis are the largest ethnic group of Pakistan and are also found in India, where they are a tiny minority.

The Punjabis are a heterogeneous group and can be subdivided into a number of tribal or 'caste' identities each having their own subtle differences and sense of difference in ancestry or origin. However, there is usually a lack of evidence to give credit to many of the claims made by the various subgroups of Punjabis as it relates to the ancestry or origins of their group and most stories appear to be purely myths.

Subgroups

Some of the major subgroups of the Punjabis include the Jats, Rajputs, Khatris, Gakhars, Aroras, Brahmins, Tarkhans, Sainis, Arains, Ahirs, Gujjars, Sansis and Harijans and Chamars. Most of these subgroups can be further sub-divided into clan and family groups.

Punjabi Diaspora

The Punjabis are native to the Punjab but have immigrated in large numbers to many parts of the world. The United Kingdom has the largest numbers of Punjabis who are mostly from Mirpur (which actually is on the border between Kashmir and Punjab), but a little over 350,000 Punjabis also hail from Indian Punjab (who are mostly Sikh, some Hindu). Canada also has a big immigrant community of Punjabis. The Middle East has a large immigrant community of Punjabis, in places such as the UAE and Kuwait. Punjabis also immigrated to South East Asia; places such as Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Religion

Religion has played an important part in shaping Punjabi ethnic identity and it is not uncommon for Punjabis to generally treat their religious identity as their ethnic one. Punjabis belong largely to three major religions, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. The large majority of Punjabis are Muslims, followed by Hindus and Sikhs, although a large number of Punjabis in Pakistan are Christian as well. Although the Punjabi Sikhs are smaller in number than the Punjabi Muslims and Punjabi Hindus they are often thought of to have the strongest Punjabi identity due to their more frequent and visible use/display of the Punjabi language and traditional, non-religious aspects of the Punjabi culture.

Further reading

• H.A. Rose, Ibbetson, Maclagan, (1990). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services, India, ISBN 8120605055
• Ibbetson, Punjab Castes: Race, Castes and Tribes of the People of Punjab. Cosmo Publications, ISBN 8170204585
• Ibbetson, Denzil, (2002). Panjab castes. Low Price Publications. ISBN 8175362901

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