Group: | Rayeen, Rain or Rai Rajput |
Popplace: | Haryana • Punjab • Uttar Pradesh |
Langs: | Haryanvi • Punjabi • Hindi |
Rels: | Hindu |
The ' Rain, Raeen or Rayeen is a Muslim found in the state of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Chaudhary, Rao, Rai and Rana.[1]
According to their own traditions, the community were muslim of Sindh, who were expelled by Umayyad general Muhammad bin Qasim during Muslim conquests on the Indian subcontinent. They also claim a connection with the last Hindu Rajput ruler Raja Rai Sahasi II of Rai dynasty (c. 416–644 CE) of the Sindh who was the brother of Rana Maharath/Malhot a Rajput king of Chittor. The community is now found mainly in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh.[2]
They were and still zamindars & farmers. A few were substantial landowners, with a small minority being landless. They practice animal husbandry as a secondary occupation, and they provide much of the dairy products for the towns in Haryana.[3]