Thari people explained

Group:Thari
Native Name:ٿري
Region1: Pakistan (Tharparkar and Umerkot)
Pop1:2.6 million
Ref1:[1]
Region2: India (Rajasthan)
Pop2:Unknown
Langs:Dhatki/Thari
Rels:Islam and Hinduism[2]
Related:Kutchi, Rajasthani, Jadgal, Sindhi

The Thari also known as the Dhatti (ٿري, ڍاٽي) are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group who reside in the Thar Desert, which is divided between Pakistan and India. They speak Thari, also known as Dhatki language. Thari is also a geographical term, it refers to anything which belong or come from Thar desert. The Thari people live primarily in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan.[3] In India, Thari speakers are found in western parts of Rajasthan.[4] [5]

Lifestyle and Culture

The Thar live in the harsh environment of the Thar Desert, therefore they spend a considerable amount of time fetching water for themselves or their animals.[6] The Thari marry early, often during teenage years.[7] They wake up early and herd the animals with the females waking up earlier than the men.[8] The Thari are known for their carpet industry, and earlier in history they used to make shawls.[9] The Thari also celebrate Lok Mela, along with the Sindhis.[10]

The Thari have suffered throughout history due to the environment they live in, but as the world progresses into a new era, the Tharis have been suffering even more with no cars or phones.[11] The music of the Thari is regarded as Rajsthani music with a "little spice" to it.[12] The ethnobotany of plants used by the Thari people has been considered affective by scientists.[13]

The Thari, whether Muslim or Hindu, have always been peaceful to each other.[14] Some Thari women work coal mining jobs across Sindh.[15]

Clothing

The clothing of the Thar is a mix of Rajasthani and Sindhi clothing, as well as a small influence of Gujarati. The Thari women wear Ghagra cholis, a type of Punjabi and Gujarati clothing with the Thari men wearing a turban and sometimes wearing a Shalwar Qameez. During funerals, Thari women wear bangles and Thari men wear black dresses.[3]

Language

See main article: Dhatki language. The Thari people speak the Dhatki language, an Indo-Aryan language. The Thari also speak Sindhi and Urdu.[16]

Notable People

Notable Thari people include:

  1. Mai Bhaghi, A Thari women who sang in Sindhi and Urdu[17]
  2. Fozia Soomro, A Thari Singer[18]
  3. Sohail Sangi, A Thari journalist and activist working at Dawn[19]
  4. Ram Singh Sodho, A member of Pakistan Muslim League (Q)[20]
  5. Mahesh Kumar Malani, A member of the National Assembly of Pakistan[21]
  6. Muhammad Usman Diplai, A Thari poet who wrote in Sindhi[22]
  7. Jam Saqi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Pakistan[23]
  8. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Chief Minister of Sindh[24]
  9. Lal Kumar, a Thari cricketer who played for the Hyderabad Cricket Team[25]
  10. Chettan Mal Arwani, A member of Pakistan Muslim League (Q)[26]
  11. Bherulal Balani, A member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh[27]
  12. Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, A Thari Shia cleric who is the president of Tehrik-e-Nafaz-e-Fiqah-e-Jafaria[28]
  13. Vasand Thari, A Thari singer, poet, and journalist[29]
  14. Mai Dhai, A Thari singer[30]
  15. Gian Chand, A member of the Senate of Pakistan[31]
  16. Ghulam Mohammad Lot, A member of Pakistan People's Party[32]
  17. Abdul Qadir Junejo, A playwright and columnist who wrote in Sindhi and Urdu[33]
  18. Sharjeel Memon, A former member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh[34]
  19. Khatu Mal Jeewan, A member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan[35]
  20. Krishna Kohli, A member of the Senate of Pakistan[36]
  21. Rana Parshad Sodha, 18th King of Umerkot
  22. Rana Ratan Singh, Thari activist during British rule[37]
  23. Rana Chandra Singh, One of the Founding members of the Pakistan People's Party[38]
  24. Rana Hamir Singh, Current Rana of Umerkot and member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Basic Survival issue of Thari People .
  2. Web site: Thar: where Muslims and Hindus live in complete religious harmony | Footloose | thenews.com.pk. www.thenews.com.pk.
  3. Web site: Thar Desert Information .
  4. Book: Gambier . Yves . Stecconi . Ubaldo . A World Atlas of Translation . 15 February 2019 . John Benjamins Publishing Company . 978-90-272-6296-7 . 137 . en.
  5. Book: Frawley . William J. . International Encyclopedia of Linguistics . 1 May 2003 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-977178-3 . 291 . en.
  6. Book: Mohammad Aslam Uqaili . Mohammad Aslam . Khanji . Harijan . Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development . 2011 . 145 . 9783709101094 .
  7. Web site: Tharparkar: Pakistan's ongoing catastrophe .
  8. Nasim . S . Thar. Developing teachers' skills in Thar desert area, Sindh, Pakistan . 2007 .
  9. Web site: Culture: Shawl Weavers of Thar . 4 March 2018 .
  10. Web site: Lok Mela: Day two showcases colours of Sindh . 12 April 2014 .
  11. Parwani . Lalchand . Life Style of Thar Problems and opportunities in 21st century . University of Sindh, Jamshoro .
  12. Web site: Tharparkar: The history and culture amid catastrophe . 8 August 2022 .
  13. Qureshi . Rahmatullah . Bhatti . G. Raza . Ethnobotany of plants used by the Thari people of Nara Desert, Pakistan . Fitoterapia . 2008 . 79 . 6 . 468–473 . 10.1016/j.fitote.2008.03.010 . 18538950 .
  14. Web site: A friendly desert . 24 June 2022 .
  15. Web site: How coal changed the life of Thari women .
  16. Book: Laghari . Inayat Hussain . Dhataki (Thari) language is sub dialect of Sindhi language سندهی زبان کا ایک لہجہ ڈاٹکی (تهری . 2005 . Urdu.
  17. Web site: 12 songs from Pakistan's mountains, deserts, shrines and streets. Nadeem F.. Paracha. May 15, 2014. DAWN.COM.
  18. Web site: TRIBUTE: THE SONG OF THE PEACOCK. Gobind. Menghwar. September 4, 2022. DAWN.COM.
  19. Web site: News stories for Sohail Sangi - DAWN.COM. www.dawn.com.
  20. Web site: Ex-Thar MPA dies in India. A.. Correspondent. February 15, 2021. DAWN.COM.
  21. Web site: Mahesh Malani becomes 1st Hindu to win NA seat from Tharparkar in Sindh. Press Trust of India. July 26, 2018. Business Standard.
  22. Web site: I was handcuffed and tied but it was worth my fight against One Unit. Hidayat. Hussain. March 6, 2017. DAWN.COM.
  23. Web site: Renowned Sindhi politician and leftist leader Jam Saqi passes away. March 5, 2018.
  24. Web site: PM Imran appoints ex-CM Arbab Ghulam Rahim as SAPM on Sindh Affairs. Sanaullah. Khan. July 28, 2021. DAWN.COM.
  25. Web site: Lal Kumar | Pakistan Cricket Team | Official Cricket Profiles | PCB. www.pcb.com.pk.
  26. Web site: Chetan Mal Arwani - Profile, Political Career & Election History. UrduPoint.
  27. Web site: Obituary: Voice of the voiceless no more. September 29, 2016. The Express Tribune.
  28. Web site: Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi passes away. Web Desk. Staff. July 25, 2022.
  29. Web site: Thari lawyers warn police officials to mend their ways & stop humiliating lawyers, litigants. Hanif. Samoon. June 30, 2021. The Pakistan Daily.
  30. Web site: Mai Dhai: Pakistani Legendary Folk Singer's Classic Tale!. July 30, 2020.
  31. Web site: Welcome to the Website of Provincial Assembly of Sindh. www.pas.gov.pk.
  32. Web site: Ex-lawmaker Ghulam M. Lot passes away. A.. Correspondent. October 26, 2019. DAWN.COM.
  33. Web site: Abdul Qadir Junejo (1945 – 2020) – Novelist / Drama Writer / Avid Reader.
  34. Web site: Welcome to the Website of Provincial Assembly of Sindh. www.pas.gov.pk.
  35. Web site: Faryal urges PPP leaders to shun differences. May 22, 2022.
  36. Web site: PPP chief says all citizens equal. Latest News - The Nation.
  37. Book: Goswami . Modhumita . An Army Wife on a Trapeze: Travel, Tales and more . 2022 . 9789392929526 .
  38. Web site: Footprints: The ties that bind. Shazia. Hasan. April 3, 2015. DAWN.COM.
  39. Web site: Sindh govt forms a committee for survey, settlement of desert lands in three districts, says Rana Hamir Singh. July 30, 2021.