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The '''Arain''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|آرائیں}}}}) are a ] tribe of ] who are found mainly in the ] province and also that of ]. They are chiefly associated with farming, with many being "peasant-proprietors"<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988 |first=Shahid Javed |last=Burki |journal=Asian Survey |volume=28 |issue=10 |date=October 1988 |pages=1082–1100 |jstor=2644708}} {{subscription required}}</ref> and some being ]s (landlords). The '''Arain''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|آرائیں}}}}) are a ] tribe of ] who are found mainly in the ] province and also that of ]. They are chiefly associated with farming, with many being "peasant-proprietors"<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988 |first=Shahid Javed |last=Burki |journal=Asian Survey |volume=28 |issue=10 |date=October 1988 |pages=1082–1100 |jstor=2644708}} {{subscription required}}</ref> and some being ]s (landlords).


In the Punjab Census Report (1911), Pandit Harikishan Kaul points out that members of the Arain tribe are “mostly ],” (in the Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, Denzil Ibbetson also refers to the Arains as, “Almost to a man Muhammadans”).
⚫ == Origins ==
The Arains are historically exclusively ].<ref>{{cite book |title=A History Of Pakistan And Its Origins |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |authorlink=Christophe Jaffrelot |others=trans. Beaumont, Gilliam |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2004 |isbn=9781843311492 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q9sI_Y2CKAcC&pg=PA154 |page=154 |accessdate=10 December 2012}}</ref> Their origins are uncertain, with some members of the community claiming a connection with the ]s. Others, with whom the historian and political scientist ] agrees, believe that they are probably displaced farming communities who moved to Punjab from Sindh and ] as Muslim armies encroached. Jaffrelot also believes the community to be related to the ].<ref name="Jaffrelotp208">{{cite book |title=A History Of Pakistan And Its Origins |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |authorlink=Christophe Jaffrelot |others=trans. Beaumont, Gilliam |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2004 |isbn=9781843311492 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q9sI_Y2CKAcC&pg=PA208 |page=208 |accessdate=10 December 2012}}</ref>


Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening.
⚫ There are claims that many Arain descend from ] who came to India with the invading armies of ]. Such claims are given credence by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts&nbsp;— such as ''Tareekh-e-Arain'', ''Sham Ta Multan'', ''Tareekh Frishta'', ''Tohfa Tul Ikram'' and ''Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa'' - that trace the lineage of many notable Arains including ], ], and the ]. According to these sources, the word ''Arain'' is derived from ''Areeha'' which is the Arabic name for the city of ] in the ], Palestinian Territory, the place from where they came.<ref>2.Tarikh-i-Araian by Ali Asghar Chaudri, published by Ilmi Kitabkhana Urdu Bazar Lahore Pakistan in 1989</ref>{{Page needed|date=December 2012}}<ref>Aina Haqeeqat Numa by Maulana Akbar Shah Khan pages 126,127</ref>

{{Cquote |Almost to a man Muhammadans and strongly inclined to orthodoxy the Arains came to be immigrants from ] and have some affinities with the ]s. On the other hand some of the Arain and ] ] clan names are identical, and those not always merely names of other and dominant tribes. From Uch they migrated to ] and thence into the ].<ref name="Denzil Ibbetson Page 13">Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 13, Vol II,</ref>}}

{{Cquote|In Sirsa the ] Arains meet those of the Ghaggar. The two do not intermarry, but the Arains of the Ghaggar valley say they were ]s living on the Panjnad near ] who were ejected some four centuries ago by Sayad Jalal-ul-din of Uch. They claim some sort of connection with ].<ref name="Denzil Ibbetson Page 13"/>}}

{{Cquote|The Sutlej Arains in Sirsa say they are, like the Arains of Lahore and Montgomery, connected by orign with the ] ]s. Mr Wilson thinks it probable that both classes are really Kambohs who have become Musalmans.<ref name="Denzil Ibbetson Page 13"/> However, other British writers discounted this viewpoint since many Kambohs are also Muslims.<ref>A Glossary of the Tribes & Castes of the Punjab & North-west Frontier Provinces, 1911, p 14, H. A. Rose</ref>}}

{{Cquote |The nucleus of this caste was probably a body of ] Saini or Kamboh cultivators who were converted to Islam at an early period . Thus in ] the Arains say they came from Sirsa, Rania, and Delhi and claim descent from ] Jaj (grandson of Lau, founder of Lahore), who ruled Sirsa: that they were converted in the 12th century and migrated to the Jullundar Doab about 300 years ago. But the ]s claim descent from Raja Bhutta, fifth in descent from ] Karn and say they were forcibly converted even earlier&nbsp;— by ]&nbsp;– and driven from Uch.<ref>Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 15, Vol II,</ref>}}

⚫ Some Arain however propose descent from ] belonging to ]'s expeditionary force to India. Such claims are given credance by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts; ''Tareekh-e-Arain'', ''Sham Ta Multan'', ''Tareekh Frishta'', ''Tohfa Tul Ikram'' and ''Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa'', that reliably trace the lineage of many notable Arains including ], ], ], and the famous ]. According to these sources, the word ''Arain'' is derived from ''Areeha'' which is the Arabic name for the city of ] in the West Bank, Palestinian Territory, the place from where they allegedly came.<ref>Tareekh-e-Arain Asghar Ali Chaudhry, Publisher (Ilmi Khitab Khana) 1989</ref><ref>Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa by Moulana Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi</ref>

==The Arain during the British Raj==
The British considered the Arain as a landholding 'agricultural' caste. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain, all of whom were Muslims, received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.<ref>Punjab Colony Manual (Lahore, 1936), p. 13; and Chenab Colony Settlement
Report (1915)</ref><ref>"The Punjab Canal Colonies', 1885-1940", Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1980; and Imran Ali, The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 (Princeton University Press,
Princeton, New Jersey, 1988).</ref>

The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline".<ref name="ReferenceA">''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref><ref>Castes The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie. Printed in India at Deluxe Offset Press, Daya Basti, Delhi-110035 and Published by Seema Publications, Delhi-110007</ref> Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Education was prioritised with the new found wealth<ref>"...the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref> and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.<ref>"Soon they came to dominate the legal profession... ...and... ...spring into politics.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>

The Arain also contributed to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikely acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation."<ref>Punjabi Musalmans, 1915, reprinted 1991, p 66, J. M. Wikeley - Ethnology</ref> Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One notable rebellion occurred in the ], when the Arain ] led an inter-communal uprising in ] against the ].<ref>http://www.apnaorg.com/articles/news-33/</ref>


== British Raj period == == British Raj period ==
The British considered the Arain as a landholding 'agricultural' caste. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.<ref>Punjab Colony Manual (Lahore, 1936), p. 13; and Chenab Colony Settlement Report (1915)</ref><ref>"The Punjab Canal Colonies', 1885-1940", Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1980; and Imran Ali, The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 (Princeton University Press,Princeton, New Jersey, 1988).</ref> Rajpoot women were famous for prostitutuin. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.<ref>Punjab Colony Manual (Lahore, 1936), p. 13; and Chenab Colony Settlement Report (1915)</ref><ref>"The Punjab Canal Colonies', 1885-1940", Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1980; and Imran Ali, The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 (Princeton University Press,Princeton, New Jersey, 1988).</ref>


The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline".<ref name="ReferenceA">''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{full|date=February 2013}}<ref>Castes The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie. Printed in India at Deluxe Offset Press, Daya Basti, Delhi-110035 and Published by Seema Publications, Delhi-110007</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}}{{dubious|date=February 2013}} Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Education was prioritised with the new-found wealth<ref>"...the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}} and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.<ref>"Soon they came to dominate the legal profession... ...and... ...spring into politics.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}} The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline".<ref name="ReferenceA">''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{full|date=February 2013}}<ref>Castes The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie. Printed in India at Deluxe Offset Press, Daya Basti, Delhi-110035 and Published by Seema Publications, Delhi-110007</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}}{{dubious|date=February 2013}} Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Education was prioritised with the new-found wealth<ref>"...the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}} and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.<ref>"Soon they came to dominate the legal profession... ...and... ...spring into politics.", ''Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988'', Shahid Javed Burki.</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2013}}
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Rayeen in Rohilkhand region mainly immigrated from the villages of ], ] and ] around 1780 AD due to famines in their native ].<ref>Page no 140, Tarrekh Arain, 5th Ed, Chaudhry Asgahr Ali, Ilimi Kutub Khana, LahoreAD</ref> Rayeen in Rohilkhand region mainly immigrated from the villages of ], ] and ] around 1780 AD due to famines in their native ].<ref>Page no 140, Tarrekh Arain, 5th Ed, Chaudhry Asgahr Ali, Ilimi Kutub Khana, LahoreAD</ref>


== Notable people == == Notable Arains ==
<!--Notability means only people with their own pages on Misplaced Pages should be added to this list--> <!--Notability means only people with their own page on Misplaced Pages should be added to this list-->
Following is a list of notable Arains out of '''50 MILLION''' Arains. The Arain tribe comprises of 1/3rd of the population of ]

*] Fourth Prime Minister of Pakistan.
*Sardar ], a renowned politician and painter belonging to district ].Former ] of ].His Father Sardar Ahmad Ali and Grand Father Sardar Muhammad Hussain were also Members of Parliament.
*], the first Muslim judge in British India.<ref>Title Justice Mian Shah Din by Bashir Ahmad (1962)</ref>
*Lieutenant ], ], ex Pakistan Navy officer
⚫ *], an eminent British Indian politician and a founder of the Unionist Party.<ref name="Shahid Javed Burki 1988">Pakistan under Zia 1977-1988 by Shahid Javed Burki. Asian Survey. Vol. 28, No. 10 (Oct., 1988), pp. 1082-1100</ref>
*], a politician and landlord who played an important role in turning the Muslim community of urban Punjab towards favouring an independent Pakistan.
*], lawyer and politician, former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami.
*], an influential politician of the Punjab in the 1920s.
*Pir ] Shattari, a Sufi saint and the spiritual guide of Baba ].
*], a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.He is the son of Justice Muhammad Saddique.His brother Chaudhary Muhammad Farooq was ] and his brother Chaudhary Asad ur Rehman was Member of National Assembly for three times and Federal Minister.
*], first Chief Justice of Pakistan.
*], the first British Muslim member of the UK Parliament.
*Sir ], president of the All India Muslim League.He was Member of ].
*], Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff.
*],Pakistani Cricketer.
*], Famous Urdu novelist of Indo-Pak.<ref>Tarrekh Arain</ref>
*], Governor of Punjab in 1758.
*], Ex Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team. King of Swing.
*], Cricketer
*], Cricketer
*], Fast Bowler and Member of Punjab Assembly from Lahore.
*], Politician representing the Pakistani People's Party.She is Federal Minister. Her Husband Khalid Ghurki was MNA, Other Family Members are Arshad Ghrki MNA, Farooq Ghurki Provincial Minister and Muhammad Iqbal Ghurki Former Provincial Minister.
*], Famous Cricket Player.
*], Chairman ].
*],Former Captain of Pakistani Hockey Team.
*],First Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team. He was President ], He was Member Of Punjab Assembly and Provincial Minister. His son Shahid Hafeez Kardar is ].
*], Former Governor of punjab, Ex Mayor of ] and Member of National Assembly. His Cousin Mian Zahid Sarfraz from ] was Interior Minister of ].
*], Urdu Writer and Civil Servant of Pakistan.
*], Pakistani television Host and Ex Member of National Assembly.
*], Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab.
*], Former Federal Minister of Law,Justice and Human Rights.He is the son of ],a Freedom Fighter and the Fourth ].
*], Politician in ] and ], She was the First woman to Preside over an Asian Legislature.She Belonged to a Very Noble Mian Arain Family of ]. She was the Daughter of Sir Mian Muhammad Shafi and Wife of Sir Mian Muhammad Shah Nawaz. In 1935 She Formed Punjab Provincial Women's Muslim Leaque. She was Elected Member of ] in 1937. She was also Elected a Member of ].
*], Former ] of ].
*], Senator,Former Federal Minister and PPP Leader.
*], Former ]. He is son of Justice Muhammad Akram. His brother Malik Pervez and sister Yasmin Rehman are the Members of ].
*], Former Mayor of ] and Owner of ].
*], Only Officer in Pakistan Navy to have been Awarded Sitara-e-jurat(SJ) and Bar.
*], ], Sitara-e-Eisaar, Tamgha-e-Basalat.
*], Was a Pakistani ], ] and ].
*], Second ] of the ] From 1953 to 1959.He was also the First Muslim and Native naval Chief Taking the reins from rear Admiral ].
*], Surveyor General of pakistan from 1974 to 1981.
*] politian of ].
*], Former Captain of Pakistan Hockey Team.
*], Diplomat and writer.
*], Former Member of National Assembly from Lahore.
*], Member of Punjab Essembly in 2002 and 2007 from ]. His father Mian Muhammad Zaman was member of National Assembly in 1985,1990 and 1997 and was Federal ] and Chaiman Federal Land Commission. His Grand Father Mian Ghulam Muhammad was Member of ] from 1951-1955.
*] (Pakistani Punjabi film actor).
*], First ] and Three-Star General of ] from March 1972 to April 1974.
*], Famous ] ] and Television Actor.
*], Pakistani Cricket Player. His Brothers Manzoor Elahi and Zahoor Elahi also Played for Pakistan.
*], Member of ].
*], Former Federal Minister.
*], Actor and Director.
⚫ *], President of Supreme Court Bar.<ref>The Nation,Thursday,November 01,2012</ref>
*], Celebrated American author and Boeing engineer.<ref>www.dakotaboom.com</ref>


⚫ == See also ==
*], Governor of Punjab in 1758.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/03/dina-arain-the-master-double-game-player.html |title=Dina Arain: the master 'double game' player}}</ref>
* ]
⚫ *], politician and a founder of the ]<ref name="Shahid Javed Burki 1988">Pakistan under Zia 1977-1988 by Shahid Javed Burki. Asian Survey. Vol. 28, No. 10 (Oct., 1988), pp. 1082–1100</ref>
* ]
⚫ *], lawyer and ]<ref>''The Nation'', Thursday, November 01, 2012</ref>{{full|date=December 2012}}
* ]


== Bibliography ==
*''Punjab Census Report, 1911'', Pandit Harikishan Kaul
*''A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province'', H. A. Rose
*''Kinship and Continuity: Pakistani Families in Britain'', Alison Shaw
*''Tareekh-e-Arain'', Asghar Ali Chaudhry
*''Sham Ta Multan'', Muhammad Idrees Advocate
== See also == == See also ==
* ] * ]

Revision as of 04:51, 13 June 2013

Ethnic group
Arain
Regions with significant populations
Pakistan • India
Languages
Punjabi • Seraiki • Sindhi • Urdu • Balochi
Religion
Islam

The Arain (Template:Lang-ur) are a Muslim tribe of Pakistan who are found mainly in the Punjab province and also that of Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, with many being "peasant-proprietors" and some being zamindars (landlords).

In the Punjab Census Report (1911), Pandit Harikishan Kaul points out that members of the Arain tribe are “mostly Muhammadans,” (in the Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, Denzil Ibbetson also refers to the Arains as, “Almost to a man Muhammadans”).

Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening.

Almost to a man Muhammadans and strongly inclined to orthodoxy the Arains came to be immigrants from Uch and have some affinities with the Kambohs. On the other hand some of the Arain and Hindu Saini clan names are identical, and those not always merely names of other and dominant tribes. From Uch they migrated to Sirsa and thence into the Punjab.

In Sirsa the Sutlej Arains meet those of the Ghaggar. The two do not intermarry, but the Arains of the Ghaggar valley say they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan who were ejected some four centuries ago by Sayad Jalal-ul-din of Uch. They claim some sort of connection with Jaisalmer.

The Sutlej Arains in Sirsa say they are, like the Arains of Lahore and Montgomery, connected by orign with the Hindu Kambohs. Mr Wilson thinks it probable that both classes are really Kambohs who have become Musalmans. However, other British writers discounted this viewpoint since many Kambohs are also Muslims.

The nucleus of this caste was probably a body of Hindu Saini or Kamboh cultivators who were converted to Islam at an early period . Thus in Jullundur the Arains say they came from Sirsa, Rania, and Delhi and claim descent from Rai Jaj (grandson of Lau, founder of Lahore), who ruled Sirsa: that they were converted in the 12th century and migrated to the Jullundar Doab about 300 years ago. But the Bhuttas claim descent from Raja Bhutta, fifth in descent from Raja Karn and say they were forcibly converted even earlier — by Mahmud of Ghazni – and driven from Uch.

Some Arain however propose descent from Arabs belonging to Muhammad bin Qasim's expeditionary force to India. Such claims are given credance by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts; Tareekh-e-Arain, Sham Ta Multan, Tareekh Frishta, Tohfa Tul Ikram and Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa, that reliably trace the lineage of many notable Arains including Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Bhutto family, Zia Ul-Haq, and the famous Mian Family of Bhaghbanpura. According to these sources, the word Arain is derived from Areeha which is the Arabic name for the city of Jericho in the West Bank, Palestinian Territory, the place from where they allegedly came.

The Arain during the British Raj

The British considered the Arain as a landholding 'agricultural' caste. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain, all of whom were Muslims, received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.


The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.

The Arain also contributed to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikely acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation." Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One notable rebellion occurred in the Mutiny of 1857, when the Arain Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi led an inter-communal uprising in Ludhiana against the British East India Company.

British Raj period

Rajpoot women were famous for prostitutuin. When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, and were preferred to assist with the opening up of the new agrarian frontier in canal colonies of the Punjab between 1906 – 1940. The Arain received 86% of the land that was allotted to Muslim agricultural castes, and were thus the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rule.

The British considered the Arain the best cultivators amongst all the castes, and were favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in the value of the land settled by Arain to rise significantly, and Arain families thus flourished. Education was prioritised with the new-found wealth and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.

The Arain also contributed to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikeley acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation." Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One notable rebellion occurred in the Mutiny of 1857, when the Arain Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi led an inter-communal uprising in Ludhiana against the British East India Company.

Present day

Although gardening and market-gardening were considered historically to be ritually impure occupations and thus those engaged in such activities were considered to be of low standing, the Arains have proven to be industrious and disciplined practitioners. In the present day, they are the largest agricultural community in Pakistan and they often have a wealth that belies their low ritual status.

Distribution

Historically, the Arain community was concentrated in territory that is now part of Indian Punjab, especially the Jalandhar Doab. According to 1911 Census of India, the highest concentrations of Arains was in the Kapurthala State, where they accounted for 16% of the population, and neighbouring Jalandhar District, where they formed 15% (about one third of the Muslim population) of the population. By the late 19th Century, the Arain were encouraged by the British colonial authorities to settle in the new canal colonies in the Sandal Bar and Neeli Bar regions, and by 1911 Arain formed 12% of the population of Lyalpur District and 7% of Montgommery District. Other districts with large Arain populations were Lahore (10%), Gurdaspur (7%), Ferozepur (6%), Gujranwala, Sialkot (6%) and Multan (5%). In the Phulkhian States, Hoshiarpur, Karnal, Delhi and Hissar they formed less than five percentage of the population. North and west of the Jhelum, they were practically absent in the Pothohar region, the Salt Range and the Thal Dessert, where their place was and still taken by the Maliar caste. Those few Arains who were found in this region are often treated as sub-tribe of the Jats. In essence the Arain were found in territory stretching from the Chenab in the west to the Sultlej in the east, in what was the Punjabi speaking heartland of the British colonial province of Punjab. This was also the region that suffered the worst violence during the partition of India in 1947, with almost the entire Arain population of Indian Punjab migrating to Pakistani territory. However, there are still a small number of Muslim Arains still found in Malerkotla, Sangrur and Patiala districts.

The bulk of the Arain population is now settled in the districts of Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh, with a large number of refugees settled by the Thal Development Authority in the districts of Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Layyah.

Related communities in North India

There are a number of communities in North India, that claim kinship with the Arain of Punjab. The Arain of Delhi claim to be descended from Arains who settled in Delhi during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Another community that is connected with the Arain are the Rayeen, who are a Muslim tribe found in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Rampur, Bijnor and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Rayeen in Rohilkhand region mainly immigrated from the villages of Jalandhar, Sirsa and Ferozpur around 1780 AD due to famines in their native Punjab region.

Notable Arains

Following is a list of notable Arains out of 50 MILLION Arains. The Arain tribe comprises of 1/3rd of the population of Pakistan

See also

Bibliography

  • Punjab Census Report, 1911, Pandit Harikishan Kaul
  • A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province, H. A. Rose
  • Kinship and Continuity: Pakistani Families in Britain, Alison Shaw
  • Tareekh-e-Arain, Asghar Ali Chaudhry
  • Sham Ta Multan, Muhammad Idrees Advocate

See also

References

  1. Burki, Shahid Javed (October 1988). "Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988". Asian Survey. 28 (10): 1082–1100. JSTOR 2644708. (subscription required)
  2. ^ Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 13, Vol II,
  3. A Glossary of the Tribes & Castes of the Punjab & North-west Frontier Provinces, 1911, p 14, H. A. Rose
  4. Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 15, Vol II,
  5. Tareekh-e-Arain Asghar Ali Chaudhry, Publisher (Ilmi Khitab Khana) 1989
  6. Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa by Moulana Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi
  7. Punjab Colony Manual (Lahore, 1936), p. 13; and Chenab Colony Settlement Report (1915)
  8. "The Punjab Canal Colonies', 1885-1940", Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1980; and Imran Ali, The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1988).
  9. ^ Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
  10. Castes The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie. Printed in India at Deluxe Offset Press, Daya Basti, Delhi-110035 and Published by Seema Publications, Delhi-110007
  11. "...the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.", Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
  12. "Soon they came to dominate the legal profession... ...and... ...spring into politics.", Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
  13. Punjabi Musalmans, 1915, reprinted 1991, p 66, J. M. Wikeley - Ethnology
  14. http://www.apnaorg.com/articles/news-33/
  15. Punjab Colony Manual (Lahore, 1936), p. 13; and Chenab Colony Settlement Report (1915)
  16. "The Punjab Canal Colonies', 1885-1940", Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1980; and Imran Ali, The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 (Princeton University Press,Princeton, New Jersey, 1988).
  17. Castes The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir, by Sir James McCrone Douie. Printed in India at Deluxe Offset Press, Daya Basti, Delhi-110035 and Published by Seema Publications, Delhi-110007
  18. "...the Arain families put their money into education and reaped quick rewards.", Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
  19. "Soon they came to dominate the legal profession... ...and... ...spring into politics.", Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988, Shahid Javed Burki.
  20. Punjabi Musalmans, 1915, reprinted 1991, p 66, J. M. Wikeley - Ethnology
  21. http://www.apnaorg.com/articles/news-33/
  22. Cite error: The named reference Jaffrelotp208 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Census of India 1911 Vol 14, Punjab Part 1, A Report by Pundit Harkishan Kaul pages 438 to 439 and 445
  24. People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 37 to 42 Manohar
  25. Kinship and continuity: Pakistani families in BritainAlison Shaw Page 121
  26. Three Pakistan villages by John Joseph Honigmann
  27. People of India Delhi Volume XX edited by T Ghosh & S Nath pages 49 to 52, Manohar Publications
  28. A People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII
  29. Page no 140, Tarrekh Arain, 5th Ed, Chaudhry Asgahr Ali, Ilimi Kutub Khana, LahoreAD
  30. Title Justice Mian Shah Din by Bashir Ahmad (1962)
  31. Pakistan under Zia 1977-1988 by Shahid Javed Burki. Asian Survey. Vol. 28, No. 10 (Oct., 1988), pp. 1082-1100
  32. Tarrekh Arain
  33. The Nation,Thursday,November 01,2012
  34. www.dakotaboom.com
Ethnic groups, social groups and tribes of the Punjabis
Agrawal
Arains
Ahirs
Chauhans
Scheduled Castes
Gakhars
Gurjars
Jats
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Khatris
Mohyal Brahmin
Rajputs
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