# Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi

The Punjabi Saudagaran-e-Delhi (Urdu: پنجابی سوداگران دہلی), sometimes referred to as the Qaum-e-Punjabian (Urdu, Persian: قوم پنجابیان), Delhi Walay (Urdu: دہلی والے), Dehlawi (Arabic: الدهلوي), or simply Shamsi Biradari (Urdu: شمسی برادری) are a community of Muslim Khatris that historically came from Sargodha in Punjab and then lived mainly in Old Delhi, India. They also settled in a number of other cities such as towns in western Uttar Pradesh, such as Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur, Kanpur; including areas within western Uttar Pradesh that now falls in the state of Uttarakhand; namely Roorkee, Nainital and Haldwani. After the partition of India, and subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947, many members of the community migrated to Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Lahore, while few chose to migrate to Mecca and Medina.
They are divided into various lineages some also use Multani, Goronwalay, Allahwalay, Namoonay Walay, Taar-Gitti Walay, Lahore Walay, Chanwla, Chandna, Sarwana etc. as a title.
Historically, the Qaum-e-Punjabian played an important role in India's trans-regional trade. They are noted to be amongst the "most important Muslim Merchants.
Jamiyat Education Board, Marrium Batla Hospital, Bilqees Memorial Hospital, Yusuf Salateen Eye Hospital, Haji Fazal Ilahi General Hospital, Ismail Allahwala Boys Campus, Najam Girls School, Delhi Mercantile Society, Shamsi Hospital, Riaz Masjid, Saudagran Cooperative Housing Society, Alamgir Road, Jamiyat Taalim Al Quran, Ameeniya Muslim Girls School, Yahya Sootwalay Hospital, Jamiyat Sabira Clinic and Diabetic Centre, M.Y. Chandiwala Clinic, Abdul Khaliq Abdul Razzaq Hospital, B.H.Y.Hospital. Abdul Khaliq Allah wala town, Shamsi Education Foundation etc.
The Jamiyat also give monthly pension, houses, daily household things to widows, unmarried, orphans and other poor people of their Biradri.

## History

According to tradition, the clan belonged to the Muslim Khatris community, some of whom were converted to Islam by Shamsuddin Sabzwari. Some subgroups use the surname Shamsi (a disciple of Shams), in his honor. The families moved from either Sargodha, Bhera, Khushab, or Pind Dadan Khan in what is now Pakistan in the 17th century, in search of business opportunities to Uttar Pradesh and especially in Delhi on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

## Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla

The Quam-e-Punjabian Aonla, is a separate sub-group of the Punjabi Saudagars. They are said to have settled in the town of Aonla in Rohilkhand in the early 17th Century. The Aonla Punjabi Saudagar are now found scattered all over Rohilkhand, in particular, the city of Bareilly, where the settlement of Saudagar Tola is particularly ancient. In spite of their common ethnic origin with Qaum -e -Punjabian Delhi, they form a distinct community, with their own communal organizations. A significant number have immigrated to Kolkata and Mumbai. Their main Biradaris are the Soleja, Mahindarata, Chhabra, and Khera. A much smaller number have also settled in Karachi.

## Current position

The independence in 1947 was a traumatic event, and a significant portion of this community had to leave India. After the independence of Pakistan, a large number of these traders migrated to Lahore and Karachi. A few numbers of these traders migrated to Mecca and Medina and are usually referred to by the surname, “Aldehlawi”. Some still continue to live in Delhi.

## Notable People

* Imran Ismail, former Governor of Sindh
* Sadia Dehlvi, Indian columnist and writer
* Tahir Shamsi, Pakistani professor of medicine
* Shamoon Sultan, founder of Khaadi