Warya

The Waryah (also known as Varya (Sindhi: وريا‎) and Varah) are a Muslim community largely found in the Sindh region of Pakistan and in the state of Gujarat in India. They are mostly located in Banni, Mandvi, Bhuj, Mundra region of Kutch, India and Tando Adam Khan, Sanghar, Sanghar District, Bachal Varya, Karachi province of Sindh and Dera Ghazi Khan District.^[1]

History and origin

The word Varya comes from the Kutchi and Sindhi languages and means to come back. The Varyas fought for Independence of Sindh and converted to Islam. They initially migrated to Ajmora village in Mandvi, Gujarat, and then spread to other parts of Bhuj, Mandvi, Anjan and Lakhpat talukas of Kutch District. They are now mainly in the Kanthi region of Kutch.

The Varya community use the Kutchi and Saraiki languages.^[2] Second they are found in Punjab, they are lived in Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan and others District of Punjab. literally Warya is known as Warya Jutt and Warya Rajpoot as well Bhatti Rajpoot and Bhatti Jatt.^[3]

Population

There are 2000 families currently living in Karachi and more than 40000 in the interior of Sindh, Southeren Punjab and in Dera Ghazi Khan. Most of them are inhabited at Bachal Varya the village of varya community like Kutchi communities many of them have migrated to other parts of India. Like many Gujarati Muslims, they have a caste association, the Varya Jamat, which is responsible for the welfare of the community. They are mostly Sunni Muslims.^[4]

References

1. People of India Gujarat, Volume XXI Part 3, edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen, pages 1207-1210.
2. People of India Gujarat, Volume XXI Part 3, edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen, pages 1207-1210.
3. People of India Gujarat, Volume XXI Part 3, edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen, pages 1255-1260.
4. Kutchi People in Sindh, Volume VI edition 2, edited by Sabir Alvi, Esa Khan, and Azeem Rajpot pages 254-257.