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:

Musahar- Who are they? Traditionally, the Musahar of Uttar Pradesh are bee keepers (honey collectors) and stitch leaf plates for local sale. The Musahar also cultivate land. Some other occupations include wage-labour in industry, forestry, fishing, pulling hand carts and rickshaws, working as laborers in brick kilns. Some Musahar are involved… ...Read More...

Gaddi- Who are they? The Gaddi are a Muslim community of cow herders. They can be found throughout the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar and Rajasthan. Origin William Crooke describes them as a "community of cow-herders" in his Tribes and Castes of North-Western India (1896). They are said to… ...Read More...

Chamar- Who are they? One of the largest communities of India, they are a Scheduled Caste that has a single generic name. The name Chamar is derived from the Sanskrit charmakar (leather worker). They work with leather, making hides and shoes and bags. They were relegated to living on the outer… ...Read More...

Dhobi- Who are they? Traditionally, the Dhobi are washer men. The name dhobi is derived from the Hindi dhona (to wash). The Dhobi were considered ‘untouchables’ – the lowest castes in the Hindu social hierarchy. India's independence brought about a new constitution that lifted this age-old stigma of impurity. The new designation… ...Read More...

Dhunia- Who are they? The Dhunia are also known as Mansoori, Behna, Naddaf, and Pinjara. They are a Muslim community of cotton-carders, numbering around 3 million people. Location They live mainly in the districts of Gonda, Bahraich, Deoria, Basti, Gorakhpur, Bara Banki, Bareilly, Sitapur, Azamgarh, Kheri, Bijnor and Siddarthnagar of Uttar… ...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.