Bhatia caste is last name of many people in Indian subcontinent. Bhatia caste definition is A commercial caste of Sind and Gujarat a few of whom settle temporarily in the Central Provinces. Sir D. Ibbetson writes of them:18 The Bhatias are a class of Rajputs originally coming from Bhatner Jaisalmer and the Rajputana desert who have taken to domestic pursuits. The name would seem to show that they were Bhatis (called Bhatti in the Punjab); but be that as it may their Rajput origin seems to be unquestioned. They stand distinctly below the Khatri and perhaps below the Arora and are for the most part engaged in petty shopkeeping though the Bhatias of Dera Ismail Khan are described as belonging to a widely-spread and enterprising mercantile community. They are very strict Hindus far more so than the other trading classes of the western Punjab; and eschew meat and liquor. They do not practise widow-marriage. Mr. Crookes account19 leaves little doubt that the Bhatias are a branch of the Bhatti or Yaduvansi Rajputs of Jaisalmer who have gone into trade; and Colonel Tod expresses the same view: The Bhattiah is also one of the equestrian order converted into the commercial and the exchange has been to his advantage. His habits are like those of the Arora next to whom he ranks as to activity and wealth.20 The chief occupation of the Bhatias Mr. Crooke states is moneylending and to this they add trade of all kinds agriculture landholding and Government service. Many of them go on expeditions to Arabia Kabul Bokhara and other distant places of business. Many in Bombay carry on trade with Zanzibar Java and the Malay Peninsula.. Bhatia caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Bhatia caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Bhatia caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Bhatia caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many foreginers and followers of Abrahmic religions criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
Secondly I have seen Abrahmic religions especially Muslims and Christians claiming that they have no caste system – It is an utter lie. All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Bhatia caste is also known as Bhatia Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don’t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.
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