Jadgal people

Ethnic group in West Asia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Jaḍgāl (lit.'Jaṭṭ-speakers';[3] also known as, Jatgal,[4] Nummaṛ or az-Zighālī) is an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group which speaks the Jadgali language.[5] Jadgals are present in the Balochistan region of Iran and Pakistan, as well as in Oman.[6]

Quick Facts Nummaṛنماڑالزيغآلي, Regions with significant populations ...
Jadgal
Nummaṛ
نماڑ
الزيغآلي
Regions with significant populations
 Pakistan100,000
 Iran25,000
Languages
Jadgali and Balochi (Makrani dialect)[1]
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Sindhis[2]
Close

History

Jadgal people are often connected with the Jats of Balochistan.[7] They migrated from Sindh via Bela to Panjgur.[8][full citation needed][9][2] Anthropologist Henry Field notes the origin of the Jadgals to be in the western Indian subcontinent; they subsequently migrated to Kulanch and are still found in Sindh and Balochistan.[10][11] Regardless of their origins, they are generally seen as Baloch by the society in Balochistan.[12]

When the Arabs arrived in modern-day Sindh and Baluchistan, they met the Jadgal at the coast of Makran where the Arab name of az-Zighālī comes from.[13] In 1811, Saidi Balochis as well as Jadgal mercenary troops were killed in a battle with the Wahhabis against the Sultanate of Oman.[14] The modern-day Jadgals in Oman claim to be descended from Arabs, however they also accept the folk etymology of them being from Sindh, in the lower indus valley.[15]

Demographics

Around 100,000 Jadgals live in Pakistan according to a 1998 census conducted by Pakistan.[16] In Iran, the Sardarzahi ethnic group is of Jadgal origin, claiming to be from Sindh.[17] The rest of the Jadgals number around 25,000 according to a 2008 census conducted by Iran.[13] All of the Jadgals in Iran live in the Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan and Kerman provinces.[18][19]

Language

Jadgal people in Balochistan speak Jadgali language, although they converse with strangers in Balochi.[12] Many linguists believe the Lasi dialect of the Lasi people may be related to Jadgali.[20] The Jadgali tongue in Oman is similar to the language of Al Lawatia.[15]

Tribes

  • Baryada
  • Sardarzahi
  • Bijjarzai
  • Bizenjo
  • Zehri
  • Sasoli
  • Sajdi
  • Sangur
  • Rais
  • Tambarani
  • Chanal
  • Motak
  • Mengal
  • Mir
  • Hoot
  • Manjotha
  • Zardari

References

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