Protection of identity not at the cost of alienation
Bhatkallys News Service | By Shafaat Shahbandari | 12 Jan 2017
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Shafaat Shabandri[/caption]
Nawayaths are a singular race, and a rare gem of India's rich and divergent cultural heritage.
While India has many precious jewels hidden in its vast treasures, rarely one would come across a community as striking as the Nawayaths.
It's a confluence of majestic rivers flowing through the western ghats, all the way to the Arabian Sea.
The dialect, the cuisine, the culture and the traditions add spices and fragrance to an incredible potpourri that is India.
Spread over a vast area on the western coast of India, the tiny community has lived, survived and prospered through several centuries, fiercely guarding its unique identity.
Protection of its identity and its clannish cohesion have been the key tools to its survival as a community over periods of turbulence and peace. But will these tools be potent enough to take it forward in the 21st century.
For centuries, Nawayaths - particularly those from Bhatkal, which is the community's de facto headquarters - have lived side by side and worked with other communities, both Muslims and non-Muslims.
As is natural with all societies, the community has had its fair share of issues, but its flourishing amidst a mix of other communities suggest a largely peaceful existence.
Conservative in outlook, orthodox in religious beliefs and laid-back in approach, this mild-mannered community of traders has largely been harmless to others and history is witness to this fact.
Known as hospitable, friendly and generous, however, the generosity of Nawayaths dries up when it comes to mixing their blood with others. And why not? They posses the bloodline of the proud Arabs, or so the legend goes.
Every community and race prides itself on its ancestry and heritage, but Nawayaths, I would say, go an extra mile in keeping their identity from corroding.
Everyone has a right to choose who they will share their bonds with, so the Nawayaths exercise this right only with their brethren and that too mostly from their own town or village.
It is understandable that marrying outside their community would amount to diluting their identity, but what stops them from striking a chord with Nawayaths from neighbouring towns and villages, is beyond me.
Though, efforts are being made at the official level to build common platforms of art and culture, but hardly anything is being done that can bring these different branches together at the grass roots level.
Even the spread of education among the masses and the greater cultural awareness haven't resulted in the real mixing of people.
Intermarriage among the Nawayaths of Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Manki, Shiroor and Baidoor is still unheard of. Rather, even when those one in a 1,000 cases of intermarriage occur, it becomes a fodder of gossip and sneering for men and women.
No doubt, efforts of cultural associations and regional conferences are helping foster stronger bonds within the community that is spread across dozens of villages and towns in Uttar and Dakshin Kannada, the real bonding will not happen until marital exchanges take place.
At a time when devilish forces are bent on exploiting frictions, it is our collective responsibility to work towards blurring the lines of differences and find the common roots that go back hundreds of years.
Years of neglect has left the branches on the verge of falling off the tree, but a little watering and nurturing can once again make the tree fruitful and flowering.
To be continued...
(Shafaat Shahbandari is a Dubai based journalist)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Bhatkallys.com is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Bhatkallys.com and Bhatkallys.com does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Shafaat Shabandri[/caption]
Nawayaths are a singular race, and a rare gem of India's rich and divergent cultural heritage.
While India has many precious jewels hidden in its vast treasures, rarely one would come across a community as striking as the Nawayaths.
It's a confluence of majestic rivers flowing through the western ghats, all the way to the Arabian Sea.
The dialect, the cuisine, the culture and the traditions add spices and fragrance to an incredible potpourri that is India.
Spread over a vast area on the western coast of India, the tiny community has lived, survived and prospered through several centuries, fiercely guarding its unique identity.
Protection of its identity and its clannish cohesion have been the key tools to its survival as a community over periods of turbulence and peace. But will these tools be potent enough to take it forward in the 21st century.
For centuries, Nawayaths - particularly those from Bhatkal, which is the community's de facto headquarters - have lived side by side and worked with other communities, both Muslims and non-Muslims.
As is natural with all societies, the community has had its fair share of issues, but its flourishing amidst a mix of other communities suggest a largely peaceful existence.
Conservative in outlook, orthodox in religious beliefs and laid-back in approach, this mild-mannered community of traders has largely been harmless to others and history is witness to this fact.
Known as hospitable, friendly and generous, however, the generosity of Nawayaths dries up when it comes to mixing their blood with others. And why not? They posses the bloodline of the proud Arabs, or so the legend goes.
Every community and race prides itself on its ancestry and heritage, but Nawayaths, I would say, go an extra mile in keeping their identity from corroding.
Everyone has a right to choose who they will share their bonds with, so the Nawayaths exercise this right only with their brethren and that too mostly from their own town or village.
It is understandable that marrying outside their community would amount to diluting their identity, but what stops them from striking a chord with Nawayaths from neighbouring towns and villages, is beyond me.
Though, efforts are being made at the official level to build common platforms of art and culture, but hardly anything is being done that can bring these different branches together at the grass roots level.
Even the spread of education among the masses and the greater cultural awareness haven't resulted in the real mixing of people.
Intermarriage among the Nawayaths of Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Manki, Shiroor and Baidoor is still unheard of. Rather, even when those one in a 1,000 cases of intermarriage occur, it becomes a fodder of gossip and sneering for men and women.
No doubt, efforts of cultural associations and regional conferences are helping foster stronger bonds within the community that is spread across dozens of villages and towns in Uttar and Dakshin Kannada, the real bonding will not happen until marital exchanges take place.
At a time when devilish forces are bent on exploiting frictions, it is our collective responsibility to work towards blurring the lines of differences and find the common roots that go back hundreds of years.
Years of neglect has left the branches on the verge of falling off the tree, but a little watering and nurturing can once again make the tree fruitful and flowering.
To be continued...
(Shafaat Shahbandari is a Dubai based journalist)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Bhatkallys.com is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Bhatkallys.com and Bhatkallys.com does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
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