In the countryside of Rajasthan, many of the people of this community still reside in small hamlets of round, mud-brick huts painted on the outside with colourful geometric designs and decorated with detailed mirror inlays.[17] In earlier days the main occupation of the Meghwal community was agricultural labor, weaving, specially Khadi and woodcarving, and these are still the main occupations. The women are famous for their embroidery work and are master wool and cotton weavers.[18][19]
Some of them have migrated from villages of Rajasthan to large cities such as Bombay. In a 1936 study by B.H. Mehta, the researcher noted that most had migrated to the city to escape from a wretched rural life, and felt that city conditions were an improvement despite their crowded and insanitary conditions.[20] Increasing numbers of the Meghwal today are educated and are obtaining government jobs. In Punjab, especially in the cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana a good number of them is engaged as workers in factories producing sports, hosiery, surgical and metal goods. Very few of them have their own business or a small scale industry. Tiny business and service units are their main support for livelihood.[21] Many of them became petty agriculturists after successful implementation of land reforms in J&K.[citation needed] On migration from Pakistan Meghs were also given barren lands in Alwar (Rajasthan). It is now fertile land. Babu Gopi Chand helped them in the process.[citation needed]
Their staple diet includes rice, wheat and maize, and pulses such as moong, urad and channa. They are not vegetarian but eat egg, fish, chicken and mutton when available, although they abstain from pork, beef and buffalo meat.[4] In Jammu, a Megh religious leader Bhagata Sadh (of Keran) lead a very big group of them to vegetarianism.[citation needed]
No comments:
Post a Comment