Muslim Dhobi
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Nepal[1] •  Pakistan •  India | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi • Gujarati • Punjabi • Seraiki | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Malik • Shaikh |
The Muslim Dhobi are a South Asian Muslim caste whose traditional occupation is washing clothes. They are converts from Hinduism to Islam here the Dhobi castes are launderers.[2] Muslim Dhobis are found throughout the Indian subcontinent.They are OBC in Haryana.[3] Now they are demanding ST right.[4]
The community is also known as Charhoa and Gazar in Pakistan, and Qassar in India. They also use "Hawari" as a surname.
Present circumstances
In Pakistan
In Pakistan, the Punjab Qassar are mainly a rural community. The Qassar are an artisan caste, receiving a fixed share of the agricultural produce for their services. The Gazar sub-division, found in southern Punjab, have taken to agriculture. The Gazar and Charhoa are Seraiki speaking, while the Qassar in central Punjab speak Punjabi.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Dhobi Muslim" (PDF). Asia Harvest. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "मुस्लिम धोबी समाज ने मांगा आरक्षण". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 8 January 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "List of Backward Classes | Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes, Government of Haryana". haryanascbc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "हवारी विकास संगठन ने तेज की आरक्षण में शामिल करने की मांग". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 13 May 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ Chaudhary, Muhammad Azam (1999). Justice in Practice: Legal Ethnography of a Pakistani Punjabi Village. Oxford University Press. pp. 7–9.