Jadgal people

The Jadgal (also known as Nummaṛ or az-zighālī) are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group who speak the Jadgali language. They are found in the Balochistan region of Iran and Pakistan, also in Oman. Sindhis and Sindhi language Jadgal people are often connected with the Jats of Balochistan. Anthropologist Henry Field notes that the origin of the Jadgals lies in western India; they subsequently migrated to Kulanch and are still found in Sindh and Balochistan. Many historians believe that the Jadgal were the original natives of Balochistan before the Baloch arrived from eastern Iran. The Arwal and Manjotha tribes of Dera Ghazi Khan are of Jadgal origin. When the Arabs arrived in modern day Sind and Baluchistan, they met the Jadgal at the coast of Makran where the Arab name of az-zighālī comes from. In 1811, Saidi Balochis as well as Jadgal mercenary troops were killed in a battle with the Wahhabis in a battle against the Sultanate of Oman. Around 100,000 Jadgals live in Pakistan according to a 1998 census conducted by Pakistan. In Iran, the Sardarzahi ethnic group is of Jadgal origin, claiming to be from Sindh. The rest of the Jadgals number around 25,000 according to a 2008 census conducted by Iran. All of the Jadgals in Iran live in the Sistan and Baluchistan province. Jadgali language Most Jadgals speak their native Jadgali language. It is one of the Sindhi languages and one of the only two native Indo-Aryan languages spoken in Iran. Many linguists believe that the Lasi language of the Lasi people may be related to Jadgali.