India is a land of contrasts

…a rich tapestry of cultures, ethnic mixes, languages and traditions. India’s landscapes span from the awe inspiring Himalayas, beaches, forests, the Deccan plateau and the Rajasthani desert. From North to South, East to West – there are changes to color of skin, clothing, food and language. These may appear to be superficial regional and language changes. Yet, varying religions, traditions, culture and caste add another layer to the complexity of Indian society. India’s caste system is intricately entwined with the people’s identities. The people group name denotes everything – it is a person’s occupation, religious beliefs, social standing, traditions and life story.

India – tradition and change

As India continues to grow, many people are drawn away from their traditional occupational groups into other professions and locations. A father and grandfather who are itinerant cattle herders have a grandson who works at a call centre in Delhi. Although he is an office worker, the community identifies this young man with his people group. Everything about who he is, his surname and who he will marry is entwined with the knowledge of this background.

People Groups of India

There are over 72 People Groups with a population of more than 100,000 each in Uttar Pradesh, North India. This site currently features 72 profiles of these groups from the Agaria to the Yadav. There are, of course, many hundreds more depending on how you define these groups. Here are 5 random profiles. You can find a full list on our profiles page:

Rajput - Who are they? The Rajput people are a proud people whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word Rajputra which means king’s son. The Rajput own rural land and are engaged in agriculture. Some Rajputs are also in trade, government service and an increasing number of doctors and engineers. Landless… ...Read More...

Balmiki - Dalit life is excruciatingly painful, charred by experiences. Experiences that did not manage to find room in literary creations. We have grown up in a social order that is extremely cruel and inhuman. Omprakash Valmiki Who are they? The Balmiki are one of the largest socially stigmatized Dalit groups numbering… ...Read More...

Shaikh - Who Are They? The Shaikh are a large Muslim community of around 45 million who are primarily cultivators but also rear buffaloes, cows, goats and sheep in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Business, trade, service, weaving, woodwork, masonry are other sources of livelihood. Location They are settled in… ...Read More...

Bhotia - Who are they? The Bhotia or Bhotiya are an occupational caste of shepherds. Numbering around 120,000 people, they live predominantly in the northern states of Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal. They have Mongolian features and are known as Pahari… ...Read More...

Bhisti - Who are they? The Bhisti are traditionally a community of water-carriers and supply water in skin bags. A few still do this work but drinking water has been made readily accessible and the Bhisti are no longer needed to provide water. The water is needed mainly by vegetable growers, at… ...Read More...

Community Forums

We have now also added a new forum feature to give members a space to communicate more freely around a broader range of topics. You can find a forum for each of the people groups and several others to discuss other topics. More will be added later.