Who Are Bhagnaris? Their Language, Origin, and History
If Mumbai were a thali of assorted food items, the Bhagnaris would be that mysterious yet indispensable chutney small in quantity, explosive in flavor, and impossible to forget once you have had a taste. We Indians beat Wasabi down long back with our mirchi ka aachar.
Born in the dusty alleys of Balochistan, seasoned in the spice markets of Karachi, and finally garnished with the spirit of Mumbai, this minuscule community has managed to stir up an extraordinary recipe for success. Without asking for reservations or making noise about representation, We Bhagnaris have quietly risen in every field imaginable law, medicine, engineering, and as far as some of our women are concerned, even the noble art of arguing with their respective mothers-in-laws, proving that size or age does not matter when the zest for life does.
Mumbai is the city that is never supposed to sleep and We Bhagnaris are the community that never stops working and never, ever gives up a chance for a good laugh while at it. The Bhagnaris, are a minuscule but mighty clan, which 100 years back you could have described as a tribe, settled mostly in Maharashtra, mainly Mumbai, some cities of Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, a living proof that good things really do come in small packages.
Remember, Mumbai’s Best-Kept Secret is not Vada Pav. The Bhagnaris’ origin is exotic enough to make even Bollywood jealous. May be one of these days I will write a story on our travel, history, trials, tribulations, resilience, struggle and success and turn it in to a Bollywood or even may be Hollywood block buster. I just need some inspiration by way of a good financer and producer for this movie or I guess a Tele Serial running in to various seasons would be a better option. Is anyone out there?
Originally from the city of Bhag in southern Balochistan, which, let us be honest, sounds glamorous until you realise that Bhag is a place which is dusty, suffers from scarcity of water where even camels find it difficult to survive. The Bhagnaris found themselves migrating, first to Karachi, where they occupied prime real estate on Pamoo Dalal Street, proudly called Bhagnari Pada, in case anyone’s GPS gets adventurous. Then came Partition, and like many epic tales, the Bhagnaris set forth once again, most of them finally settling in Mumbai a move that profoundly transformed both their fortunes and filled in Mumbai’s quota of clever lawyers, doctors, engineers, and builders.
The language which we speak and have named it Bhagnari is Saraiki, Sindhi, and Spicy Gossip. “Do Bhagnaris speak Bhojpuri?” is a question only asked by those who have never eavesdropped on a Kataria Colony bench gossip session. The Bhagnari language, Saraiki, is as fiercely unique as the community itself, spoken mostly by elders and understood by the youth, who, like all youth, respond mainly in English, emojis, and food photos. Their language has no script, but don’t let that fool you, it is rich with proverbs, metaphors, side remarks and abuses like “sagra mua” pepped up for special effects with a “bhuja” that would make a stand-up comic jealous. Young Bhagnaris are valiantly trying to preserve their linguistic heritage. There is even a Bhagnari dictionary app out there because “Preserve and Protect” applies just as much to language as it does to our food recipes.
The Community is United, Educated, and Allergic to Reservation. If you are wondering what makes the Bhagnaris notable, it is not just their delicious food or unique custom made dresses. Through sheer work ethic and a suspicious lack of lobbying for reservations, Bhagnaris have stealthily climbed the ladders of success. Lawyers argue (with skill), doctors heal (with flair), builders construct (with honest measurements), and engineers calculate (without shortcuts, unless the shortcut is actually the long cut).
Where others clamour for benefits, the Bhagnaris simply showed up, threw themselves at work, and quietly became some of the most affluent and educated people in town. The Bhagnari Panchayat and Bhagnari Welfare Society are more about real help. Education and medical support than showy events, and the children are raised not just with stories of Partition, but with tales of Kataria Colony, where the “thala” benches hosted the real parliament, debating recipes and the finer points of community etiquette.
Bhagnaris have inherited a Humorous Legacy where Laughter Is Our Surname. The Bhagnari sense of humour is what sets them apart from self-deprecating jokes about being mistaken for Pakistanis to witty remarks about the trials of legal practice (“Objection, Your Honour because my mother-in-law said so!”), A Bhagnari knows life is best tackled with laughter and a generous helping of dal pakwan particularly on Sundays with Sindhi Mutton made for lunch in most of the houses. Appreciate the spirit; after all, in Mumbai’s chaos, it takes a certain madness, a jolt of jugaad, and a whole lot of community love to survive and stay sane.
Bhagnaris are spread over worldwide. From Mumbai to Fogo Islands. You may find one living in an Igloo with an Eskimo in Alaska. Bhagnaris are now spread far and wide UAE, USA, Canada, Australia but wherever they are found, you will spot the telltale signs: a dictionary app in Saraiki, a cookbook for ancestral recipes (because khatti dal never came with a YouTube tutorial), and a commitment to education. Modern Bhagnaris are digital, dynamic, and just a little bit delightfully nostalgic for Karachi’s Bhagnari Pada and Mumbai’s Kataria Colony.
Bhagnaris are themselves an example and a recipe for Success for all others. So, who are the Bhagnaris? If you Google Bhagnari, you will first come across a Bhagnari bull. Robust, resilient and strong. That is what we are. We are Mumbai’s best-kept secret: a tiny yet influential community, united by language, heritage, and the ability to turn adversity into opportunity and opportunity into laughter. Our history is proof that hard work, unity, and a robust sense of humour are the best reservation policy of all.
Next time you are driving down TH Kataria Marg in Mahim, salute Takandas Hemraj Kataria, other Bhagnari visionaries, and every Bhagnari who quietly made Mumbai their home, their success, and their source of endless laughter.
Good read! Well done!