This article possibly contains original research. (May 2014) |
The Chaush or Chaus are a community who are of Hadhrami Arab descent. They are found in the Deccan region of India.[1][2]
The Chaush or Chaus were brought from Yemen to work in the former Hyderabad State as military men for the Nizams. It is said that especially when it came to safe guarding his family, the 7th Nizam had absolute trust on these Arab Soldiers.[3] They are most concentrated in Marathwada, Telangana and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions, and most of their population is concentrated in the neighbourhoods of Barkas in Hyderabad, Shasha Mahallah in Karimnagar, Al-Tamash in Aurangabad. They also live in Adilabad,Asifabad, Kagaznagar, Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar and Warangal.[3]
The founders of both the Qu'aiti and Kathiri states in Hadhramawt had previously served as jemadars in Hyderabad.[4]
Among the cultural contributions of the Chaush to India are Marfa music and dance, and Hyderabadi haleem, both which are culturally important to the Hyderabadi Muslim people, and seen at almost all wedding ceremonies.[5]