Noongar (caste)

The Noongar are a Hindu caste found in the states of Haryana and Punjab in India.[1][2] They are also known as Nungar, Teli Julaha or Teli.[3][4]

Origin

According to a historical myth, Noongars were initially Julaha but were separated as a different caste when a Julaha married a Teli woman, from whom the progeny of Noongars came up.[3]

The community on Haryana are found mainly in the districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Karnal, Ambala, Jind and Sonepat, and they speak Khari boli and Haryanvi.[1] While in Punjab, they are found in Rajpura tehsil of Patiala district, and Kharar tehsil of Ropar district, and speak Punjabi.[2]

Present circumstances

In Punjab

Like those in Haryana, the Punjab Noongar are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. There main clans, called gotras, includethe Khaltia, Kalealia, Jatewadea, and Bhogra. In addition, the community is also divided between those who practice Hinduism and those who practice Sikhism. There is no intermarriage between Hindu and Sikh Noongars.[2]

The Noongar in Punjab have abandoned their traditional occupation of salt making. Almost all are either settled agriculturist and landless agricultural labourers. Those in Ropar district are largely landowners while in Rajpura many are largely landless. The community has now taken to horticulture, with many Noongar owning fruit orchards. There is now concerted attempt to claim Rajput status. However, the Noongar have also been granted Other Backward Class status, which allows to avail the benefit of a number of affirmative actions of the Government of India.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 People of India Hayana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 385 to 389 Manohar
  2. 1 2 3 4 People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 345 to 348 Manohar
  3. 1 2 Ashok Pratap Singh& Patiraj Kumari (2007). Psychological Implications in Industrial Performance. Global Vision Pub House,. p. 620. ISBN 9788182202009.
  4. ↑ Kumar Suresh Singh (1996). People of India: Himachal Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 426. ISBN 9788173040948.
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