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The Arora is an Indo-Aryan^{[citation needed]} community of the Punjab region. Commentators differ in their opinions regarding the relationship between the Arora and the Khatri community.

They are traditionally a Kshatriya community, whom Lakshmi Chandra Jain, an economic historian writing in 1929, believes "control[led] the finance of much of the commerce of India with central Asia, Afghanistan and Tibet."^[1]

The name of the community is claimed to have originated from the ancient city of Aror in the northwestern part of what is now the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Hindu temples of Kabul and the Hindu Fire Temple of Baku built and maintained by them^{[citation needed]} still exist.^{[clarification needed]}

Aroras were mainly concentrated in West Punjab (now Pakistan) along the banks of the Indus River and its tributaries; in the Malwa region in East Punjab (a part of India), although not greatly in what became the North-West Frontier Province from 1901; in Sindh (mainly as Sindhi Aroras but there were many Punjabi and Multani speaking Aroras as well); in Rajasthan (as Jodhpuri and Nagauri Aroras/Khatris); and in Gujarat. In post-independence and post-partition India, Aroras mainly reside in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Origins[link]

The town of Rohri in Sukkur District as sketched in 1842

Denzil Ibbetson, who wrote the Report for the Indian census of 1881, notes that "The Aroras are often called Roras in the east of the Panjab". However, he considers the community calling itself Ror to be distinct from the Punjabi Arora, stating that "I can hardly believe that the frank and stalwart Ror is of the same origin as the Arora" even though they shared a common account of their origin. The account was that in the past they had denied their original status in order to avoid persecution, and were in fact "Rajputs who escaped the fury of Paras Ram by stating that their caste was aur or 'another'", from which word their name came.^[2]

According to Ibbetson, the belief of the Punjabi community is that in fleeing the persecution there was at some point a bifurcation, with some members moving north and others moving south. From this arose the two major endogamous divisions within the Arora, respectively known as Uttradhi and Dakhna, which in turn had subdivisions.^[3] H. A. Rose is more specific, considering this to be the belief of the Arora of Gujarat, who maintain that Paras Ram pushed the community towards Multan, where they founded the town of Arorkot,^{[nb 1]} probably near to the present day Rohri. That town was subsequently cursed and its inhabitants fled in different directions through its north, south and west gates. While Rose agrees with Ibbetson that the Dakhna division is sometimes thought to include a subdivision called Dahra, he states that the Dahra went westwards, rather than south, and that there is also another major division known as the Sindhi of Sindh.^[4]

For the purposes of his report on the census, Ibbetson treats the Arora as a separate community from that of the Khatri, although similarly one of the "great mercantile castes".^[5] He notes that the Arora claimed to be of Khatri origin, evidenced by their claims to have denied their true origin to avoid persecution, but that the Khatri themselves rejected this.^[3] Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya, writing in 1896, goes further and states that only the Arora believe this connection to be true.^[6] However, a more recent commentator, Scott Cameron Levi, believes that they are a "sub-caste of the Khatris".^[7]

Occupation and demographics[link]

At the time of the 1881 census, more than half the Arora in the then Punjab Province lived in the areas of Derajat and Multan, with another significant presence at Bahawalpur. Their influence extended as far as Kohat and Peshawar, as well as towards Sirsa. Unlike other mercantile castes of the region, the Arora had almost sole control of the mercantile activities in their areas of abode, sharing them with no other mercantile community as defined by Ibbetson. He noted of the Punjab mercantile classes that

They do not engage in the carrying trade, nor do they traffic in cattle; being for the most part Hindus they will not sell liquor or meat; and being of fair social standing they do not sell vegetables; but with these exceptions almost the whole of the mercantile and commercial transactions, excepting as a general rule petty hawking and peddling, are conducted ....^[8]

Ibbetson further noted that unlike other Punjabi mercantile castes such as the Bania, the Arora did not confine themselves solely to that economic activity, although it was nonetheless their primary occupation: they had a "peculiar versatility .... trader[s] first indeed, but after that anything and everything."^[9] He considers that the Khatri shared the same trait. The Arora were "the trader par excellence of the Jakti-speaking or south-western portion of Panjab", which corresponded to the lower river valleys, and were a match for the Khatri in the higher reaches of those rivers.^[10]

Despite their versatility and industry - they worked in such occupations as agriculture, metalwork, weaving and basket-making, as well as trading - they were not well respected and were particularly liable to be referred to as kirár (roughly, "coward"). This term was also used, but less frequently, in respect of other mercantile communities, except the Khatri. Ibbetson believes that the prevalence of usage against Arora may have been connected to their status as Hindus in an area where Hindus were looked down upon.^{[3][nb 2]}

In 1911, Rose reported that the Arora of Bahawalpur were " ... dealing in every commodity, and even selling shoes and vegetables. Some are contractors, bankers or moneylenders, and in the latter capacity they have now acquired a considerable amount of land by mortgage or purchase from Muhummadan owners, though forty or fifty years ago they did not own an acre of cultivated land".^[12]

After partition[link]

The Aroras settled in Amritsar during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh or even earlier.^[13] It is presumed that they migrated from Sind or Multan to Lahore, and then to Amritsar. This is inferred from the fact that, after a very long stay in the central Punjab, they ceased to speak their Lahnda dialect.^[13] The Arora Sikhs are mostly found in big towns, especially in Amritsar. They were living there even before the partition. Their Hindu counterparts, the majority of whom migrated from Pakistan, arrived in India in 1947 after a journey lasting up to a month or more to cross only 100 to 400 miles, starved, dehydrated, ill, and often with only the clothes they were wearing. Aroras not only have survived but have prospered.^[13] The Amritsar Gazetteer claims Aroras are very energetic and intelligent. They are mostly engaged in trade and industry. They are superior in business acumen to their counterparts settled in the district. A good number of them have also joined public and private services.^[13] The Hoshiarpur Gazetteer says

Before independence, the Aroras did not constitute a sizeable population in the district. With the migration of the non-Muslim population from Pakistan to India in 1947, they settled here, though in small numbers. The Aroras were generally settled in West Punjab (Pakistan) and in the Firozepur District. Their representation in the eastern districts of the Punjab was not notable. According to Ibbetson, the Aroras are the Khatris of Ror (Rori Sukkur, Sindh, in Pakistan). Whatever be their origin, the fact is that they resemble Khatirs in certain traits. In certain respects, they are even superior to them. They are also divided into many groups and castes, Uchanda, Nichanda, etc., but in social life, these groups are of no importance. They intermarry in their groups like others. They also intermarry among Khatirs. In the All-India meeting in 1936, held by the Khatris at Lahore (Pakistan), it was decided that the Aroras, Soods and Bhatias were Khatri for all intents and purposes. And, as such, they should be admitted to the Khatri stock. This interpretation did not find much favour then, but with the lapse of time, it has almost been accepted.^[14]

Before the partition, Aroras used to marry only among their sub-group i.e. Uttradhi, Dakkhna or Dahra and members of the same geographic region. But after the partition, spheres of permissible arranged matrimonial alliances were widened to others of Punjabi origin,<^[13] especially Khatris, Bhatias, and Sood. Inter-caste marriages with other communities of Punjab (with Brahmins and Baniyas especially) and other parts of India and world have become quite common and are becoming more common every day. These sub-castes have mixed so overwhelmingly that all of these castes together are now referred to as the Punjabi Aroras or simply the 'Punjabi' community. Aroras have been increasingly shunning the caste system, twith he Aroras (and all Punjabis in general) becoming more liberal, especially the populace in bigger towns and cities.^{[original research?]} Among Punjabis, socioeconomic status has replaced caste as the primary concern in matrimonial alliances.^{[original research?]}

Notable Aroras[link]

See also[link]

• Hinduism in Punjab

References[link]

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu castes and sects: an exposition of the origin of the Hindu caste system and the bearing of the sects towards each other and towards other religious systems. Calcutta: Thacker, Spink. http://www.archive.org/details/hinducastesands00bhatgoog. 
• Ibbetson, Denzil (1916). Panjab castes; being a reprint of the chapter on "The races, castes and tribes of the people" in the report on the census of the Panjab published in 1883 by the late Sir Denzil Ibbetson. Punjab: Government Printing Press. http://www.archive.org/details/panjabcastesbein00ibbeuoft. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
• Jain, Lakshmi Chandra (1929). Indigenous banking in India. London: Macmillan and Co.. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_vQp5Bqiuw0C. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
• Levi, Scott Cameron (2002). The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550–1900. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-12320-5. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9qVkNBge8mIC. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
• Rose, H. A, (1911). A Glossary of The Tribes & Castes of The Punjab & North West Frontier Province. II. Lahore: Samuel T. Weston. http://www.archive.org/details/glossaryoftribes03rose. Retrieved 2011-10-23. </ref>

Malaika Arora Khan
Khan as a guest on the sets of Ndtv Greenathon 4, 2012
Born	Malaika Arora (1973-08-23) 23 August 1973 (age 38)[1] Chembur Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Other names	Malaika Khan
Occupation	Actress, Dancer, model, VJ, Television Presenter
Years active	1997–present
Spouse	Arbaaz Khan (1998–present)

Malaika Arora Khan (born on 23 August 1973),^[1] also known as Malaika Arora, is an Indian model, actress, television personality and former MTV VJ.^[2] She is one of India's top item girls. She is most famous for her dance on the song "Chaiyya Chaiyya" (1998), more recently, "Munni Badnaam Hui" (2010).

Early life and background[link]

Arora Khan was born as Malaika Arora in Chembur, Mumbai to a Punjabi father, Anil Arora, a native of Indian border town Fazilka and a Malayali Catholic mother, Joyce Polycarp. Her father worked in the Merchant Navy.^[3]

She completed her secondary education at Swami Vivekanand School in Chembur, Mumbai. Her aunt Grace Polycarp was the principal of the school. She is also an alumnus of the Holy Cross High School Thane where she had studied until ninth grade. She completed her college education from Jai Hind college, Churchgate. She lived in Borla Society, Chembur opposite Basant Talkies before starting her modeling career.^[4]

Career[link]

Malaika Arora From The SRK, Urmila, Juhi & Chitrangda at 'I Am' National Award winning bash (20)

Khan was selected as one of the MTV VJs when MTV India started its operations. She rose to an interviewer for MTV India, becoming the most prominent non-movie, non-model female in urban India. MTV India, recognizing her potential, gave her plum roles co-anchoring with Cyrus Broacha the popular program Love Line and Style Check, at award ceremonies and concerts on the television channel.^[5] Khan then entered the modeling world. Her modeling career was equally successful. She appeared in many advertisements as well as cameos for song and item numbers in Bollywood films such as "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in the film Dil Se...^[5]

In 2005, she did another item number, "Kaal Dhamaal" in the film, Kaal. She also did an item number in Mahesh Babu's Telugu film Athidhi. In 2007, she did a title song in Heyy Babyy directed by Sajid Khan and another popular song for Om Shanti Om whose director is the sister of Sajid, Farah Khan. She also did an item number in the film, Welcome with Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor. In 2009 she was a Rishton Ke Parkhi in the Star Plus reality show called Lux Perfect Bride with Shekhar Suman and Amrita Rao.

In 2010, she featured in the superhit item song "Munni Badnaam" in the film Dabangg, which was produced by her husband Arbaaz Khan.^[6] On March 12th, 2011, she led a successful world record attempt in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the Indian Film Festival - Bollywood & Beyond. 1235 participants performed a choreographed dance to "Munni Badnaam" with Malaika leading them from the stage.^[7]

Television[link]

Arora Khan appeared in the television show Nach Baliye as one of the three judges.^[2] The show was aired on STAR One in mid-2005. She continued as a judge in Nach Baliye 2 that started airing in the last quarter of 2006. In this show, she performed many item numbers as an example for all contestants. She highly criticized Bakhtiyaar Irani for being arrogant in the show. She strongly mentioned that he should do a crash course on humility to improve his behaviour.

Khan appeared in the show Zara Nachke Dikha as a judge with the Indian actor Chunky Pandey on Star One.^[3]

Khan was seen as judge in the show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2010 with actress Madhuri Dixit and choreographer Remo D'Souza.^[8]

Personal life[link]

Malaika Arora Khan with husband Arbaaz Khan at the wedding of her sister Amrita Arora.

Khan is married to Bollywood actor-director-producer Arbaaz Khan whom she met during a coffee ad shoot. Together they have a son, Arhaan. Her sister is actress Amrita Arora, and her brothers-in-law are Bollywood actor Salman Khan and Bollywood actor-director-producer Sohail Khan. Her father-in-law is the famous scriptwriter Salim Khan.^[2]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Malaika Arora at the Internet Movie Database

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