from Class Structure and Social Stratification in Early Muslim India
Local Muslim masses adopted different professions. Most of them did not leave their inherited professions. Weaver’s son was normally a weaver; goldsmith’s son was normally a goldsmith and so on. Muslims were divided into many castes (Jatis) on the basis of their professions. These were weavers (jola), livestock herders (mukeri), cake sellers (pi-thdri), fishmongers (kabari), converts from the local population (garasal), loom makers (sanakar), circumcisers (hajam), bow makers (tirakar), pa-permakers (kagaji), wandering holy men (kalandar), tailors (darji), weavers of thick cord (benata), dyers (rangrej), users of hoes (halan), and beef sellers (kasdi). Government demand appears to have brought into existence still other groups of Muslim artisans. The bow makers, for example, provided weaponry for the kingdom's armed forces, while papermakers would have met both the bureaucracy's appetite for files and the Muslim religious elite's demand for books.24
The converted Muslims who were living in urban areas could not raise their standard of living to the higher degrees, although, their general status in society was the same like immigrants, at least as a theory. Different industrial units such as textiles, carpets, bed-strings, dyeing, indigo, calico-painting, metal work, stone and brick work, coral and ivory work, leather work, imitation jewellery etc., were in the urban areas, therefore Muslims of the specific areas were working in these industrial units. But medieval Indian historians have not mentioned their salaries or income.25 Some Muslims especially on coastal areas were related to trade or broker ship. Class of Muslim brokers was an organized one and earning profits. Foreign trade was mostly in the hands of foreign Muslims. Internal trade was shared by Muslims and Hindus both. Muslims of this class were well established but were insignificant politically.26 Later when Iqta-system was introduced and Iqtadars were bound to appoint armies, the local Muslims and in some cases Hindus must have been appointed in the armies.27 Common Muslims of rural areas, too, could not leave their age old professions. They were either peasants or village artisans whose lives were very difficult and tough. The impact of local Hindus was far greater on them than that of the Islamic ideas.28
The converted Muslims who were living in urban areas could not raise their standard of living to the higher degrees, although, their general status in society was the same like immigrants, at least as a theory. Different industrial units such as textiles, carpets, bed-strings, dyeing, indigo, calico-painting, metal work, stone and brick work, coral and ivory work, leather work, imitation jewellery etc., were in the urban areas, therefore Muslims of the specific areas were working in these industrial units. But medieval Indian historians have not mentioned their salaries or income.25 Some Muslims especially on coastal areas were related to trade or broker ship. Class of Muslim brokers was an organized one and earning profits. Foreign trade was mostly in the hands of foreign Muslims. Internal trade was shared by Muslims and Hindus both. Muslims of this class were well established but were insignificant politically.26 Later when Iqta-system was introduced and Iqtadars were bound to appoint armies, the local Muslims and in some cases Hindus must have been appointed in the armies.27 Common Muslims of rural areas, too, could not leave their age old professions. They were either peasants or village artisans whose lives were very difficult and tough. The impact of local Hindus was far greater on them than that of the Islamic ideas.28
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