The Kolhi (Sindhi: ڪولهي; कोल्ही) is a subgroup of the Koli caste native to Sindh, Pakistan. Kolhis are mostly Hindus but some of them are Koli Christians or Muslim Kolis. They engage in agriculture; most of them are poor peasants and sharecroppers.[1][2][3]

Kohli
Subset of Larger Koli caste
Statue of Rooplo Kolhi, legendary hero for Kolhis of Sindh
EthnicitySindhi
LocationSindh, Pakistan
VarnaAgriculturist
DemonymKoli
Branches
Language
Religion
Surnames

The Kolhi caste is said to have originated Gujarat. They migrated from there first to Kutch, then to Thar and Parkar. Kolhis have subcastes such as Thakor, Khant, Baria and Chunvalia.[4]

Divisions

There are four communities of Kolhis in Sindh; firstly Parkari Kolhis, who are native to Nangarparker region and who speak Parkari Koli language, secondly Kutchi Kolhi, who migrated from Kutch district of India to Sindh, and who speak the Kachhi Kolhi language and live in Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, and Tando Allahyar districts of Sindh,[5] thirdly Wadiyara Kolhi who came from Wadiyar in Gujarat state and speak Wadiyari Kolhi, and fourthly Tharadari Kolhi, who originated in Tharad city, in Gujarat.[6][7] The kolhi women get a unique tattoo on their arms, neck and face.

Notable Kolhi

See also

References

  1. ^ Walbridge, Linda (2012-10-12). The Christians of Pakistan: The Passion of Bishop John Joseph. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-13178-3.
  2. ^ Hussain, Ghulam. "INTERSECTING SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES OF DALIT PEASANTS & DALIT COMMUNITIES OF SINDH".
  3. ^ Hussain, Ghulam (2019-08-31). "Ethnographic Research". The Rise of Dalit Peasants: Kolhi Activism in Lower Sindh. Vol. 2. Mendeley. doi:10.17632/5sfhcztmx6.2.
  4. ^ Nadiem, Ihsan H. (2001). Thar: The Great Pakistani Desert, Land, History, People. Sindh, Pakistan: Sang-e-Meel Publications. pp. 109–11. ISBN 978-969-35-1244-1.
  5. ^ Editor, Missio (2019-06-11). "Pakistan: Kutchi Kohli Christians". Missio. Retrieved 2023-07-04. ((cite web)): |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Guddu, Emmanuel (2014-04-24). "The Koli of Pakistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  7. ^ "The Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles". kcm.co.kr. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  8. ^ "PPP clarifies reports on Krishna Kolhi | SAMAA". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2021-01-19.[dead link]
  9. ^ Report, Dawn (2016-08-22). "Homage paid to freedom fighter Rooplo Kolhi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  10. ^ "Veerji Kolhi – a senior member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)". Struggle for Hindu Existence. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
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