{{Short description|Washerman caste in India}} {{For|the caste that practices Islam|Muslim Dhobi}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Dhobi | image = A dhobie (washerman) ironing in the early 1870s.jpg | image_caption = Carte-de-visite of a Dhobi ironing. | religions = Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism | related_groups = Muslim Dhobi }}
'''Dhobi,''' known in some places as '''Dhoba''',<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Amritha Mondal|title=Owning Land, Being Women Inheritance and Subjecthood in India|date=6 April 2021|publisher=Bibiliographic publication|isbn=9783110690361|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kdwhEAAAQBAJ&dq=Dhoba+agriculture&pg=PT41}}</ref> '''Rajaka''', is a scheduled caste in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are washing, ironing, and agricultural labour.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=R N Hadimani|title=The politics of poverty|year=1984|publisher=Ashish Publication|page=184|isbn=9780391032644|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_d4fc2ashDUC&dq=agriculture+labours+dhobis&pg=PA184}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Ranabir samaddar|title=State of Justice in India|year=2009|publisher=Sage publication|page=55|isbn=9788132104193|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XNCGAwAAQBAJ&dq=agriculture+labours+dhobis&pg=RA2-PA55}}</ref><ref>Channa, Subhadra Mitra. 1991. "Caste, 'Jati' and {{Sic|Enthnicity}}—Some Reflections Based on a Case Study of the Dhobis." ''Indian Anthropologist'' 21(2):39-55. {{JSTOR|41919653}}.</ref>
In 2017, Supreme Court of India noted calling people ''dhobi'' was offensive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calling People 'Harijan' or 'Dhobi' Is Offensive: Supreme Court |url=https://thewire.in/law/calling-people-harijan-or-dhobi-is-offensive-supreme-court |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=thewire.in |language=en}}</ref>
== Synonyms == === Maharastra === In Maharashtra, the Dhobi are found throughout the state, and are also known as Parit. They speak Marathi among themselves, and Hindi with outsiders.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Suresh Kokate|title=The Social and the Symbolic|date=7 March 2007|publisher=SAGE Publication|pages=295–310|isbn=9788132101178|quote = Sathiriya Maratiya Parit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7yGAwAAQBAJ&q=the+social+and+the+symbolic}}</ref>{{request quotation|date=August 2023}}
=== Tamil Nadu === Vannar belongs to the Valangai ("Right-hand caste faction"). Some of The Valangai comprised castes with an agricultural basis while the Idangai consisted of castes involved in manufacturing, Valangai, which was better organised politically <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gmlQAQAAMAAJ&q=%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D+|title=Ān̲antaraṅkar nāṭkur̲ippu: āyvu|date=4 October 1991|publisher=Tamil̲iyal Tur̲ai, Putuvaip Palkalaik Kal̲akam|via=Google Books}}</ref>{{request quotation|date=August 2023}} {{cquote|"Kayvanaval Allitharum and the tiger flag were hoisted <br/>were Identified"|400px||-Right hand history}} <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Soundarapandian|title=Right hand history|publisher=Department of Archeology|year=1995|page=108|url=https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/book-detail?id=jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZt1kxyy&tag=%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%88%20%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81#book1/}}</ref>
In the Tirunelveli region, Thai deities (female deities) are worshipped in large numbers and are worshiped with a pedestal or trident. in states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Vannars are still the priests of the Mariamman temple<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Sivamathi|title=Spiritual repository|publisher=Sura Publication|year=2006|page=244|isbn=9788174789440|quote=The fiery goddess became known as Draupadi Amman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pl_V-zPgyf4C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Ganapathy Raman |title=Worship of idols in Tirunelveli|publisher=Thirumagal Publication|year=1986|page=113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvwXAAAAIAAJ}}</ref>
== Demographics == {| class="wikitable" !State/Territory !Known as !Description !Status<ref name=":2">[http://socialjustice.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Compendium-2016.pdf Compendium 2016] socialjustice.nic.in</ref> |- |Andhra Pradesh |Rajaka |In Andhra Pradesh, the Rajakas do farming and agriculture, as well as washing, and ironing. However, there are many Rajakas in all sectors, such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists, social services, IT, and politicians.<ref name="andhrapradesh">{{Cite web|title=National Commission for Backward Classes|url=http://ncbc.nic.in/Home.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fPdf%2fandhrapradesh.pdf|website=ncbc.nic.in}}</ref> |OBC |- |Assam |Dhupi |In 2001, Assam's Dhupi population was at 49,929, accounting for 2.7% of the total Scheduled Class (SC) population.<ref>"[https://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_assam.pdf Assam – Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes]." ''2001 Census of India''. 2001.</ref> A high of 27.9% of this population was urban. The literacy rate among this group was 76%, above both the state figure (66.8%) and the aggregated national figure (54.7%) for SCs. |SC |- |Bihar |Dhobi, Rajak |According to jangana 2023 Dhobi community in Bihar makes up around 0.84% (11 lakh) Hindu Dhobi, 0.31% (4 lakh) Muslim Dhobi (Qassar) of the state's total population, with maximum concentration in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Siwan, Purnia and East Champaran districts, respectively. Bihar's Dhobi community is included in Scheduled Caste from OBC Status due to socioeconomically low. Now, they are in all sectors, but mainly as government employers, doctors, IT engineers, social service, agriculture, farming and politicians. Among the numerically larger castes of SC, Dhobi have registered the highest overall literacy rate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_bihar.pdf|title=Census data|accessdate=15 April 2023}}</ref> |SC |- |Jharkhand | | |SC |- |Madhya Pradesh | |In Madhya Pradesh, Dhobi are a Scheduled Class in the districts of Bhopal, Raisen, and Sehore.<ref name=":2" /> |SC and OBC elsewhere |- |Manipur |Dhupi | |SC |- |Meghalaya |Dhupi | |SC |- |Mizoram |Dhupi | |SC |- |Odisha |Dhoba, Dhobi, Rajak, Rajaka |Odisha has a significant population of Dhobi people in its coastal belt, i.e. eastern Odisha (Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Ganjam) and a smaller population in its central and western areas. They are included in Scheduled Caste list of Odisha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1766850/|title=Indian Kanoon|accessdate=15 April 2023}}</ref> |SC |- |Rajasthan | | |SC |- |Tripura |Dhoba | |SC |- |Uttar Pradesh<ref>{{cite web|title=central list of OBCs Uttar Pradesh|url=http://www.ncbc.nic.in/user_panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvxbegUDuc3MN4eB5E3Ecc1drRPAf1qXQ%2bl0IqIfhjN1xHrf4i2h5g0|publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes, India}}</ref> |Diwakar, Rajak |The Dhobi population in the state has been classified as SC. |SC |- |Uttarakhand | | |SC |- |Delhi | | |SC |}
==Dhobis in Nepal== The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Dhobi as a subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Dalits.<ref>[https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II]</ref> At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 109,079 people (0.4% of the population of Nepal) were Dhobi. The frequency of Dhobis by province was as follows: * Madhesh Province (1.2%) * Lumbini Province (0.9%) * Bagmati Province (0.0%) * Gandaki Province (0.0%) * Koshi Province (0.0%) * Karnali Province (0.0%) * Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Dhobis was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |title=2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314170005/https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Kapilvastu (2.1%) * Rautahat (2.0%) * Rupandehi (2.0%) * Parasi (1.7%) * Parsa (1.4%) * Sarlahi (1.3%) * Bara (1.2%) * Banke (1.1%) * Mahottari (1.0%) * Saptari (0.9%) * Siraha (0.9%) * Dhanusha (0.8%)
== Notable people == {{Main|List of Dhobis}} * Ram Chander, recipient of Mahavir Chakra during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 * Chintamoni Dhoba, ruler of Dhalbhum region and established capital at Ambikanagar * Gadge Maharaj, Marathi Hindu saint * Suryabanshi Suraj, Indian politician
== See also == * Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai * ''Dhobi Ghat'', 2010 movie * Hēna
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caste, Dhobi}} Category:Indian castes Category:Laundry Category:Dalit communities Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Scheduled Castes of Bihar Category:Scheduled Castes of Rajasthan Category:Scheduled Castes of Jharkhand Category:Scheduled Castes of Odisha Category:Scheduled Castes of Assam Category:Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh Category:Scheduled Castes of Delhi Category:Scheduled Castes of Uttarakhand Category:Scheduled Castes of Mizoram Category:Scheduled Castes of Meghalaya Category:Other Backward Classes of Karnataka