Tyagi
Regions with significant populations
India
Languages
Punjabi • Urdu • Hindi • Khadi Boli
Religion
Hinduism • Islam
Related ethnic groups
Garha • Jats • Gurjars • Meds

Tyagi, originally called Taga, is a cultivator caste who claim Brahmin status.[1] The landholding community is confined to Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. They are often considered the highest of the agricultural castes.[2] During the British Raj, they changed their name from Taga to Tyagi, and began claiming Brahmin status.[3] As of a 1990 report by the Backward Classes Commission, Government of Haryana, they were mostly engaged in farming.[4][5] The Government of Haryana granted reservation to Tyagis along with five other castes in 2016.[6] However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court shortly put a stay on the government's order.[7]

Religion

The name Tyagi is prevalent in both Hindu and Muslim communities.[8] Community members who converted to Islam are known as Muslim Tyagis,[9] Mulla Brahmin, Musalman Taga, Mahesra and Moolay Taga.[10]

Diet

Members of the community are generally vegetarian but some do eat non-veg food.[11]

References

  1. ^ Binod C Agrawal. (1974). Tribe,Caste and Peasantry. Ethnographic & Folk Culture Society,U.P. p. 188.
  2. ^ Satya Prakash Arya (1975). Sociological Study of folklore. Indian Publications. p. 116.
  3. ^ Rath, Saroj Kumar (2018). "Satyagraha and Social Justice in India". In Masaeli, Mahmoud; Prabhakar, Monica (eds.). India as a Model for Global Development. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 91.
  4. ^ Haryana (India). Backward Classes Commission (1990). Report of the Backward Classes Commission, 1990, Government of Haryana. Controller of Printing and Stationery. p. 105.
  5. ^ Annapurna Chattopadhyaya (2002). The People and Culture of Bengal, A study in Origins. Firma K.L.M. p. 489. ISBN 9788171021444.
  6. ^ "Tyagis, Rors eye quota at Centre". The Tribune. 9 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Stay on quota for Jats in Haryana". The Tribune. 27 May 2016.
  8. ^ Kripa Shankar Mathur, Binod C. Agrawal (1974), Tribe, caste, and peasantry, Ethnographic & Folk Culture Society, U. P., 1974, p. 189, ... The present Hindu and Muslim Tyagis are the descendants of a common ancestor ...
  9. ^ Brij Raj Chauhan, Unesco (1990), Rural-urban articulations, A.C. Bros., 1990, ISBN 978-81-85489-01-8, ... In Saharanpur district SC Dube described the Tyagi village where half of the population is of Muslim Tyagi and the other half of the Hindu Tyagi ...
  10. ^ History of origin of some clans in India, with special reference to Jats (1992), Mangal Sen Jindal, Sarup & Sons, p. 159
  11. ^ KS Singh (17 September 1998). India's communities. OUP. p. 3414-3415. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2. Delhi: They are vegetarian but do not take masur dal, onion and garlic. However, tendency to consume non-vegetarian food has been observed....Haryana: They are vegetarian but a few among them have started taking eggs and meat.....Uttar Pradesh: They are vegetarian. Wheat, rice and maize are their staple cereals.

Further reading

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