1 INDEX
2 OF
3 THE CASTES AND SUBCASTES
4 RETURNED IN
5 THE SCHEDULES AT THE PUNJAB CENSUS, 1891.
6 The schedules, on which particulars regarding each individual were returned, contained
7 two columns in which the particulars regarding caste were entered, Inthe former of these
8 two columns the main caste or tribe (translated by gaum) was entered: and in the latter
9 the sub-caste or clan (gaum ki shdkh), The enumerators were instructed as follows
10 regarding the filling up of these two columns :==
11 Column 4 (Caste, &c.).—In this column enter the caste or tribe :—
12 As Brahman, Rajput, Khatri, Jat Arora, Gujar, Biloch, Pathan, Kauet, Chamar, &’c. Do not enter
13 vague terms as Marwari, Karar, Hindki, Pahari, Arya, &c. For Christians enter the race as Native,
14 Eurasian, European, Armenian, &c.
15 Column 5 (Sub-division of caste).—Here show the division of the tribe or caste under which the people
16 ordinarily class themselves :—
17 As Gaur, Sarsut for Brahmans; Tiwana, Syal, Chauhan, &c., for Rajputs ; Sandhu, Virkh, &c., for
18 Jats; Yusafzai, Khattak, &c., for Pathans. For females record the sub-division as stated by the persons
19 with whoin they are living. Where no sub-division is returned, repeat the entry in column 4; but do not
20 leave this column blank.’ For Native and Eurasian Christians enter in this column the caste or other desig-
21 nation, if any, which they themselves return ; but if they return no entry for this column, repeat the entry in
22 column 4. For Europeans return the nationality, as English, Irish, American, French, &c.
23 And the following additional instructions were given to the supervisors who checked
24 the entries of the enumerators :—
25 Column 4.-When persons of very low caste return themselves as belonging to some.much higher
26 caste, to which they obviously do not belong, you are at liberty to use your discretion about the caste entry.
27 For instance, if a Teli says he is a Moghal or a Rajput, and obviously cannot be so, you may enter him as
28 a Teli and not as a Moghal or Rajput. But you must only make such alterations in very obvious cases. |
29 Column 5.—I\t is not intended that the subdivision of the tribe or caste shown in column 5 should be ne-
30 cessarily the next sub-division after the tribe or caste, as known to Mirasis or to historians. Column §
31 should give the sub-divisions to which people commonly ascribe themselves, For instance, a Syal is a Raje
32 put; and historians say he is a Punwar Rajpat 3 but the entry for a Syal will be “ column 4, Rajput ; column
33 5, Syal”? and not * column 4, Rajput ; and column 5, Punwar,” because the Syals always describe them-
34 selves as Syals and not as Punwars.
35 To the superior staff the following explanations and warnings were issued :—=
36 Filling up of the Schedules.—It will be noticed that the same details of tribe and caste are not being
37 taken at the present Census as were taken in 1881. The essential point to be observed is that the name by -
38 which a man’s tribe or caste is commonly known must appear in one or other of the two columns. In
39 making the vernacular translation of the schedule, it is impossible to use words defining exactly what is
40 wanted which will be generally intelligible throughout the Province. The word “kaum” is intended te
41 imply what we call the main caste or tribe, and the “ shakh,” as explained in the instructions, is the sub-divi-
42 sion of the main tribe or caste to which the people commonly ascribe themselves. Great care should be
43 taken to enter the names of religions, castes, languages, and occupations in the terms used by the persons
44 who are being enumerated. Except where a discretion has been specially reserved to the Census Staff by
45 the instructions, no attempt should be made to aim at uniformity by altering the names given, What is
46 necessary in this direction will be done after the Census is over.
47 The figures recorded for sub-castes were not tabulated, except in one or two selected
48 instances. The general rule was-to take out figures for the main castes only. Tables
49 showing the numbers recorded in each tahsil against each sub-caste were published after
50 the Census of 1881: and detailed information regarding the strength of each sub-caste can,
51 so far as the confused nature of the material admits, be ascertained by reference to those
52 lists, The numerical strength of the sub-castes has therefore not been recorded in the
53 ptesent index.
54 Besides omitting the record of the numbers of each sub-caste, the following index.
55 differs in two other particulars from those published after the Census of 1881. In the
56 schedules of the Census of 1881 there were three columns for caste, one to show the
57 original caste or tribe (as/ gaum), another to show the clan (sd¢ gé jirgah), and a third to
58 show the Got or Family (got gd shdkh). Thelists of 1881, therefore, show particulars
59 under three heads in cases where particulars. under all three heads were récorded.
60 Whereas this index makes no distinction between the various kinds of sub-divisjons which
61 come under the main castes or tribes, and which I have termed throughout ‘“$ub-castes,”
62 The omission of this extra classification is no doubt a considerable drawback ‘to the scien-
63 tific value of the index, but the attempt made in 1885 to secure the proper return of the
64 clans and gots was found so difficult in practice that we had to abandon in 1891 any idea
65 of securing more information than that supplied by the two columns noticed above.
66 A further matter in which the present index differs from those based on the Census
67 of 1881, is this: that the latter wers published separately by divisions, whereas that
68 B
69 ’