The Qassab (Urdu: قصاب; from the Arabic: قصاب, romanized: qaṣāb, meaning butcher), are members of a north Indian community or biradari. Occasionally most Quresh caste members are referred to as the Qassab. At present, Qassab who are engaged in meat cutting and selling business are referred to as Qureshi.

History and origin

For their participation in Indian Rebellion of 1857, fine Rs. 63,000 was imposed on the people of Rohtak who were mostly Ranghars, Shaikhs and Muslim Qassab.^[1]

The All India Jamiatul Quresh

Like many Muslim communities in India, the Qassab have set up the All India Jamiatil Quresh, which was established in Meerut in 1927. The Jamiat was set up by Bhaiyya Rasheeduddin Ahmed, MLC, Landlord, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist. He has established under 3700 schools . It has a federal structure, with each state having its own chapter. Its headquarters are in Kothi Khan Bahadur, Meerut Uttar Pradesh. Any male member of the community can take up membership. As a caste association, the Jamait campaigns on behalf of the community as well as acting as a welfare organization, and running schools and hospitals.^[2]

Bawarchi of Uttar Pradesh

The Bawarchi and Rakabdars of Awadh gave birth to the dum style of cooking or the art of cooking over a slow fire, which has become synonymous with Lucknow today.^[3]

References