The Chaki are a Muslim community found in the state of

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

. A small number are also found in the city of

Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

.People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 272-275

History and origin

The Chakee claim to be a clan of the Soomra community of

Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

. According to their traditions, a Soomra prince Chaneeeswar invaded

with the help of

Alauddin Khalji Alaud-Dīn Khaljī, also called Alauddin Khilji or Alauddin Ghilji (), born Ali Gurshasp, was an emperor of the Khalji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent. Alauddin instituted a number of significant administrative ...

to dethrone his younger brother Dodha. Once the

Khalji The Khalji or Khilji (Pashto: ; Persian: ) dynasty was a Turco- Afghan dynasty which ruled the Delhi sultanate, covering large parts of the Indian subcontinent for nearly three decades between 1290 and 1320.Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...

. The local rulers in Kutch,

Jamnagar Jamnagar () is a city located on the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat of Saurashtra region. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jamnagar district and the fifth largest city in Gujarat. The city lies just to the south o ...

and other parts of Saurashtra gave refuge to these Soomra. A few Soomra hid with members of the

Lohar Lohar is a social group in India, Nepal and Pakistan. They are associated with iron smelting work. They form part of a loose grouping of traditionally artisanal castes known as Panchals. Lohars worship Lord Vishwakarma and other Hindu gods and ...

and

Ghanchi Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the pressing of oil in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik. The Jewish community of Maharashtra (called Bene Israel) was ...

community and came to be known as Chakee. They are distributed mainly in the cities of

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. Etymology According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...

Mandvi Mandvi is a Beach town with municipality in the Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch State. The old city was enclosed in the fort wall and remai ...

Mundra Mundra is a census town and a headquarter of Mundra Taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Founded in about the 1640s, the town was an important mercantile centre and port throughout its history. Mundra Port is the largest p ...

and Moghpat in Kutch, as well as the district of

. The community speak the Kutchi. In

, they are found mainly in

Chakiwara Chakiwara ( ur, چاکیواڑا ) is a neighbourhood locality in Lyari, located in the Karachi South district of Karachi, Pakistan. The area gets its name from the Chakee, a community of Gujarati Muslims. Chakiwara derives its name as ...

area of

Present Circumstances

The Chakee speak a dialect of Kutchi with many Sindhi loanwords. There customs are similar to many neighbouring Muslim

Maldhari Maldharis are herdsmen community in Gujarat, India. Originally nomads, they came to be known as Maldharis after settling in Junagadh district (mainly Gir Forest). "Maldhari" is an occupational term which refers to people from a variety of castes a ...

communities, such as the

Halaypotra The Halaypotra ( sd, هاليپوٽا) are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch. Hist ...

. The Chakee community is divided into fifteen clans, the main ones being the Allahyo, Makkad, Khokhra, Davva, Banani, Lela and Kotuda. These clans are named after the village of occupation or an ancestor. Each clan is of equal status, and intermarry. The community however prefer marrying close kin, and parallel and cross cousin marriages are preferred. The majority of the Chakee are now agricultural labourers, while a few are involved in plying camel carts. A significant number of the Chakee have immigrated to

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the histori ...

and the Gulf States. In addition, a large community exists in

, where the neighbourhood of

is a centre of the tribe. Like other

Gujarati Muslim The term Gujarati Muslim is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the state of Gujarat in western coast of India. Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati language as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Momin Ansari, Memons ...

s, they have a caste association, known as the Chakee Jamat. This acts both as a welfare organization and as an instrument of social control.

References

{{reflist Sindhi tribes Social groups of Gujarat Sindhi tribes in India Muslim communities of India Muslim communities of Gujarat

History and origin

Present Circumstances

See also

References