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:

Yadav - Who are they? The Yadav are, at present, mostly a landowning community, with large sections being small-scale farmers. Their traditional and main occupations are animal husbandry (cattle and buffaloes) and agriculture, with the selling of milk and milk products forming an integral source of their livelihood. The Yadav is a… ...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...

Arakh - Who are they? The Arakh are a small community of cultivators of about 250,000 in number. It is believed that they migrated from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is one of seven sacred cities for Hindus. The Arakh have two endogamous subgroups, namely, Suryavanshi Arakh (of the sun’s lineage) and Mooti… ...Read More...

Pasi - Who are they? The Pasi are engaged in settled cultivation in Uttar Pradesh but work in a variety of jobs in other states. This people group can be found in 52 districts of the country as a whole, primarily in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab. They… ...Read More...

Pathan - Who are they? The Pathan people are one of four major Muslim communities in India. A hardy, immigrant community from neighboring Afghanistan, these people claim to be descended from Saul, the first king of Israel. They came to India during the successive Muslim invasions of the 11th and 12th centuries… ...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.