Caste system

The Castes of Marwar (Census Reprot of 1891)

It is always interesting to know something about the people with whom we have to deal and to learn their ways, manners, and customs is an amusing task. The want of a book containing descriptions of the various tribes and castes of Marwar was long felt. No attempt has hitherto been made to undertake the work on account of a great many difficulties that attended its achievement. But the census of Marwar for 1891, the charge of which was entrusted to the undersigned, made the way clear and easy. The Darbar sanctioned the publication of such a work, and the census tours made throughout the country for the purpose of inspecting the preliminary arrangements of the districts afforded suitable opportunities for the collection of the required material. The census Supervisors and Inspectors, as well as the Pargana Hakims, were provided with a set of questions dealing with the chief points to enable them to collect information regarding the ways and other social circumstances of the people, but a good many facts were investigated through personal inquiries from trustworthy representatives of various communities. Many valuable references were also obtained from the Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan by Col. Tod. the Punjab Census Report of 1881 by Mr. Danziel Ibbetson, the Hindu tribes, and castes by the Revd. M. A. Sherring, the Races of the North-Western Provinces by Sir Henry Elliot, the Memoir of Central India by Sir John Malcolm, the Indian castes by John Wilson, also the Gazetteers of Rajputana and several other publications, to the authors of all of which the undersigned owes a good deal of obligation.