Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi


The Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi, sometimes referred to as the Qaum-e-Punjabian, Dehlawi, or simply Shamsi Biradari are a merchant community that historically came from Sargodha and Chiniot districts in West Punjab and settled mainly in Old Delhi, India. The community got established in Delhi during the tenure of Sa'adullah Khan Chinioti, the Punjabi Grand Vizier of Shah Jahan, in the 17th century.
They also settled in a number of other cities, chiefly Kolkata, and towns in western Uttar Pradesh, such as Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur, Kanpur; including areas within western Uttar Pradesh that now fall in the state of Uttarakhand; namely Roorkee, Nainital and Haldwani. After the partition of India, and subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947, many members of the community migrated to Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Lahore.
They are divided into various lineages and some also use Multani, Goronwalay, Kathuria, Bathla, Allahwalay, Namoonay Walay, Taar-Gitti Walay, Lahore Walay, Chawla, Chandna, Sarwana, etc., as a title.

History

The community belongs to the Muslim Khatris community, some of whom were converted to Islam by Shamsuddin Sabzwari. Some subgroups use the surname Shamsi, in his honour. The families moved from Sargodha, Bhera, Khushab, or Pind Dadan Khan in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, on the invitation by Sa'adullah Khan, the prime minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in search of business opportunities to Uttar Pradesh and especially in Delhi.

Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla

The Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla, is a separate subgroup of the Punjabi Saudagars. They are said to have settled in the town of Aonla in Rohilkhand in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over Rohilkhand, in particular, the city of Bareilly, where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum-e-Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organisations. A significant number have immigrated to Kolkata and Mumbai. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and Khera. A much smaller number have also settled in Karachi.

Current position

The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave India. After the independence of Pakistan, a large number of these traders migrated to Lahore and Karachi. A few numbers of these traders migrated to Mecca and Medina and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in Delhi.

Notable people