An Ethnographic Study on the Community of Kan...

An Ethnographic Study on the Community of Kanjars in Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Author Name : Anukriti Mishra, Prof. (Dr.) Alam Ara

ABSTRACT

The word 'Kanjar' appears to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "KANANA-CHARA'' in the sense of a "wanderer in the jungle”. The Kanjars are an interesting vagrant tribe and their encampants are found all over India. They belong to all religions, particularly Hindus and Muslims. The Hindus contribute the major proportion of the Kanjars. Large sections of these people have settled life , some are cultivators and field labourers; others live in towns and make door screens, baskets, sieves, and the like and some of them in this way have considerably raised their social status. They appear to be aware of their understanding about current events and are vigilant towards their rights. There are a majority of married people. After research, one can say that they have come a long way in terms of social and economic status.

Keywords: Current events, Field labourers, Kanjar, Marriage, Religion, Social status