Tyagi

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Tyagi
Regions with significant populations
India
Languages
UrduHindiKhadi Boli
Religion
HinduismIslam
Related ethnic groups
GarhaJatsGurjarsMeds

Tyagi, originally called Taga, is a cultivator caste who claim Brahmin status. [1] The landholding community is confined to Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. They are often considered the highest of the agricultural castes. [2] During the British Raj, they changed their name from Taga to Tyagi, and began claiming Brahmin status. [3] As of a 1990 report by the Backward Classes Commission, Government of Haryana, they were mostly engaged in farming. [4] [5] The Government of Haryana granted reservation to Tyagis along with five other castes in 2016. [6] However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court shortly put a stay on the government's order. [7]

Contents

Religion

The name Tyagi is prevalent in both Hindu and Muslim communities. [8] Community members who converted to Islam are known as Muslim Tyagis, [9] Mulla Brahmin, Musalman Taga, Mahesra and Moolay Taga. [10]

Diet

Members of the community are generally vegetarian but some do eat non-veg food. [11]

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References

  1. Binod C Agrawal. (1974). Tribe,Caste and Peasantry. Ethnographic & Folk Culture Society,U.P. p. 188.
  2. Satya Prakash Arya (1975). Sociological Study of folklore. Indian Publications. p. 116.
  3. Rath, Saroj Kumar (2018). "Satyagraha and Social Justice in India". In Masaeli, Mahmoud; Prabhakar, Monica (eds.). India as a Model for Global Development. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 91.
  4. Haryana (India). Backward Classes Commission (1990). Report of the Backward Classes Commission, 1990, Government of Haryana. Controller of Printing and Stationery. p. 105.
  5. Annapurna Chattopadhyaya (2002). The People and Culture of Bengal, A study in Origins. Firma K.L.M. p. 489. ISBN   9788171021444.
  6. "Tyagis, Rors eye quota at Centre". The Tribune. 9 May 2016.
  7. "Stay on quota for Jats in Haryana". The Tribune. 27 May 2016.
  8. Kripa Shankar Mathur, Binod C. Agrawal (1974), Tribe, caste, and peasantry, Ethnographic & Folk Culture Society, U. P., 1974, p. 189, ... The present Hindu and Muslim Tyagis are the descendants of a common ancestor ...
  9. Brij Raj Chauhan, Unesco (1990), Rural-urban articulations, A.C. Bros., 1990, ISBN   978-81-85489-01-8, ... In Saharanpur district SC Dube described the Tyagi village where half of the population is of Muslim Tyagi and the other half of the Hindu Tyagi ...
  10. History of origin of some clans in India, with special reference to Jats (1992), Mangal Sen Jindal, Sarup & Sons, p. 159
  11. KS Singh (17 September 1998). India's communities. OUP. p. 3414-3415. ISBN   978-0-19-563354-2. Delhi: They are vegetarian but do not take masur dal, onion and garlic. However, tendency to consume non-vegetarian food has been observed....Haryana: They are vegetarian but a few among them have started taking eggs and meat.....Uttar Pradesh: They are vegetarian. Wheat, rice and maize are their staple cereals.

Further reading