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:

Murao - Who are they? The Murao, also known as Mauriya, are an agricultural community of Uttar Pradesh numbering around 1.8 million people. They are similar to the Kacchi and the Koeri, both large agricultural communities of north India, and are at times considered a subdivision of the former. However, they are… ...Read More...

Gosain - Who are they? The Gosain are traditionally a community of religious mendicants - homeless, wandering ascetics who have renounced material pleasures to become a sadhu (saint) and live by collecting alms and looking after temples. They are dedicated to the worship of Shiva, god of destruction who is also a… ...Read More...

Nat - Who are they? The Nat are a community of professional dancers, singers and acrobats who originated from Rajasthan. They used to live on the patronage of Rajput rulers and therefore prefer to call themselves Raj Nat. They are also referred to as Bhanmati, which means ‘something amazing’. Location The Nat… ...Read More...

Baghban - Who are they? The name Baghban comes from the Urdu Baghban, which means one who looks after the garden. The Bagban or Bagvan are a horticultural community residing mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh (around 420,000 in number) and the southern state of Karnataka. The Baghban living in Uttar Pradesh identify… ...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...

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.