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TheKalwar,KalalorKalar are anIndian caste historically found inUttar Pradesh,Rajasthan,Punjab,Haryana,Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of north and central India. The caste is traditionally associated with the distillation and selling ofliquor, but around the start of the 20th century assorted Kalwar caste organisations sought to leave that trade and redefine their community throughSanskritisation process.[1]
Because their hereditary occupation of distilling and selling liquor was considered degrading, the Kalals held a very low status in the traditionalcaste hierarchy ofSouth Asia. This situation changed when the Kalal chiefJassa Singh rose to political power in the 18th century. Jassa Singh styled himself asAhluwalia after the name of his native village, and established the ruling dynasty of theKapurthala State.[2]
Following Jassa Singh's rise, otherSikh Kalals also adopted Ahluwalia as the name of their caste, and started giving up their traditional occupation. The regulations imposed by thecolonial British administration on manufacture and sale of liquor accelerated this process, and by the early 20th century, most Kalals had abandoned their traditional occupation. By this time, they had started claimingKhatri orRajput origins to try and enhance their social status.[2]
Before the advent of the British rule, the Muslim Kalals also attempted to raise their social status by adopting theKakezaiPashtun identity. Some of these Kalal-turned-Kakezais, such as theHoshiarpur family that ruled theJalandhar Doab in the 1840s, further raised their status by claiming to be high-casteShaikhs. Sikh Kalals also claimed Khatri or Rajput origin.[2]
Kalwars inAllahabad were claiming to be of theKshatriya status in the 1890s.[1]
During theBritish rule, the Kalals took up a variety of occupations, including trade, agriculture, army service (especially theAhluwalias), government service, and law.[2]
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