Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Meghwal" in English language version.
A unique feature of Rajasthan has been that each occupational caste has three names—one, which is respectful, the second which is general and third which is demeaning. For instance, a leather worker would be respectfully addressed as Meghwal, the neutral term is Bhambhi and is despairingly referred as Dhed.
Rajasthani castes typically have three names: one respectful, one neutral, and one demeaning (Kothari 1994: 205). In this case Bhambhi is the most neutral of the three terms. Meghwal is used by Bhambhis to make a higher status claim—specifically, that they are descended from the Hindu saint Megh. Balai, on the other hand, is used to refer to this community's sometimes role as a village or town crier, referred to as a ganv balai, or even a royal crier in the service of the king, called a raj balai.
I shall briefly discuss the Chamars, Balais, Bhambis and Meghwals of Rajasthan. The term "Adak" was used for the traditional Chamars in general, whereas the term "Sadak" was used particularly for those converted Chamars who were recruited in the Chamar castes from higher castes. This conversion is elaborated in Munshi Hardayal Singh's description of how members of the Brahmin, Rajput, Jat and Charan castes in Rajasthan were lowered.
There are four divisions amongst them, each division claiming to have sprung from a higher caste, viz. : 1. Adu or unmixed Bhambhis; 2. Maru the descendants of Rajputs; 3. Jata the descendants of Jats, and 4. Charanya, the descendants of a Charan.
Within caste groups too the endogamous jatis are also separated by divergent customs.
A unique feature of Rajasthan has been that each occupational caste has three names—one, which is respectful, the second which is general and third which is demeaning. For instance, a leather worker would be respectfully addressed as Meghwal, the neutral term is Bhambhi and is despairingly referred as Dhed.
Rajasthani castes typically have three names: one respectful, one neutral, and one demeaning (Kothari 1994: 205). In this case Bhambhi is the most neutral of the three terms. Meghwal is used by Bhambhis to make a higher status claim—specifically, that they are descended from the Hindu saint Megh. Balai, on the other hand, is used to refer to this community's sometimes role as a village or town crier, referred to as a ganv balai, or even a royal crier in the service of the king, called a raj balai.
I shall briefly discuss the Chamars, Balais, Bhambis and Meghwals of Rajasthan. The term "Adak" was used for the traditional Chamars in general, whereas the term "Sadak" was used particularly for those converted Chamars who were recruited in the Chamar castes from higher castes. This conversion is elaborated in Munshi Hardayal Singh's description of how members of the Brahmin, Rajput, Jat and Charan castes in Rajasthan were lowered.
There are four divisions amongst them, each division claiming to have sprung from a higher caste, viz. : 1. Adu or unmixed Bhambhis; 2. Maru the descendants of Rajputs; 3. Jata the descendants of Jats, and 4. Charanya, the descendants of a Charan.
Within caste groups too the endogamous jatis are also separated by divergent customs.
Within caste groups too the endogamous jatis are also separated by divergent customs.