CHAPTER IV

MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS

The term morphology conceives two-fold expression- as

"generic quality it views the non-existent processes, and as

visual imprints it shows the man's achievement along with the

orgnization system1." The former is expressed through the

time-series, while the latter aspect finds its association

with the structural stability in spatial context.

Morphological analysis in spatial context was first worked

upon by Goethe, who applied the concept of biological

organism to the social phenomena2. The biological expression

of morphology represents the 'outer form' and 'internal

structure' of the total organism. However, in the context of

rural settlement geography, morphology involves the study of

village pattern on the one hand and ground plan and build or

settlements on the other. The village pattern is the outer-

form of rural settlements resulted from the natural growth in

their physical and cultural setting. The build of the

settlements is subject to steady temporal changes expect for

their ancient public buildings which may be retained for

their aesthetic, monumental or architectural style and

grandeur, as epitomes of different ages. While, the ground

plan is relatively permanent, as regards the layout of its

street pattern, the arrangement of building and property

 200

lots, and the location of the main cultural dominants,

temple, fort, chief's residence, market place and walls,etc3.

Morphological form and structure of any rural settlement are

the products of several natural, socio-economic and

religio ritual forces. Thus, such studies analyse the socio­

cultural aspects through "identification, classification,

regionalization as well as the description and analysis of

the structure of settlements and their associated

components"4. Settlement is the most intensively used part of

village? its structural system and arrangement give a

distinctive identification to the landscape within various

dimensions. Therefore, it present the process, function and

mechanism in corroboration with differnt natural and socio­

cultural interactions5.

In the present study, morphological analysis of

rural settlements of Hisar district has been visualised in

two ways, i.e., pattern and structure of villages within

traditional and modern context. Local as well as the regional

levels have been taken into condsideration for the above

analysis.

A. VILLAGE PATTERNS :

In geographical literature, village pattern signifies to the

shape layout or form characteristics of the inhabited sites,

resulting from the arrangement of houses and village streets
or lanes. Hall (193 2)6,e.g, in his study of Yamato Basin,

used the external form of the area of human habitation for

the classification of village-patterns. Subsequently, his

ideas have been followed by the geographers of Europe. In

Indian context, the above approach has been applied by singh

(1955)7 while describing the layout of villages in Middle

Ganga Valley. In his views "the entire village is divided

into number of squares or rectangles, each forming separate

strips of cultivated or other lands with definite field

boundaries just like the fixed village limits." Normally, it

is one of these rectangles or squares, that forms the main

dwelling site. The hamlets representing recent growth occupy

the margins of the strips of the waste lands in the village.

In deciphering the village pattern, main inhabited site and

hamleted sites are the two basic elements of consideration.

The inhabited sites conform to the structural arrangement of

the houses developed under the influence of historical and

cultural factors, and also the physical characteristics of

the site of habitation.

It may be observed that the villages are not

the planned rural settlements. In fact, the villages

represent a kind of natural growth within the existing set of

physical and cultural elements of the landscape. Although,

they do not express well-defined shapes and a distinct

 202

internal plan, there is a considerable arrangement both in

the internal system and external outline of the villages. The

patterns of settlements find close association with the

configuration of the site, surface water, well, the nature of

the soil, cultivation grooves, and the shape of the fields8.

Some other factors which influence the emergence of village

form are like layout of cart tracks, location of mosques and

temples, streets and roads.According to Jones (1964)9,

however, village pattern may be recognised by mere assessing

the contiguity of one house with the other house. But the

importance of the combined effect of different variables can

not be ruled out as a pattern is not simple outcome of house

clustering.

In the present study,the indetification of village

patterns is based on the 1:50,000 topographical maps and

1.600 cadastral maps of the study area. Following are the

commonly observed village patterns in Hisar district.

1. Rectangular

2. Square

3. Circular

4. Triangular
5. Polygonal

6. L and T shape

7. Amorphous
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8. Linear

9. Oval

10. Double-Village

11. Checker-Board
12. Semi-Circular

13. Irregular Cluster

1. Rectangular Pattern :

The rectangular pattern is the most commonly found village

form in the Hisar district. One of the main causative factors

for this pattern is the rectangular shape of the cultivated

fields in the 'bigha' system of land division. Comparable to

that of Jori system of Japan, Han-den of China, Jugerium

system of Italy, etc10. The village paths and 'Ghors' (wider

tracks for the movement of carts and animals) closely follow

the alignment of fields. Plan and orientation of buildings

also help in giving rectangular shape to the village. The

clustering of rectangular buildings in plots of the similar-

shape leads to the rectangular growth of the settlement.

Also, next to the circular shape, the rectangle provides the

most convenient form to the people in which a maximum

aggregation of dwellings may be effected. Conventinally,

villagers while building their house try to keep the axis of

the dwelling units in accordance with the north south and

east west line11."
 204

In the study region village Satrod Khurd (Fig.

4.1/1) is the best example of the rectangular pattern. The

village area extends between the 29° 7' 8" and 29° 8'3" north

latitudes, and 75° 47'12”and 75° 47' 31” east longitudes. The

axis of the settlement is due north and south. The southern

boundary of the village is formed by the National Highway No.

10 which has restricted its further growth towards the south.

The village is an old settlement the growth of which has

largely been influenced by the alignment of fields and

Balsaraand Sub branch of the Bhakra Canal. Some of the other

examples of rectangular pattern are like Kharar, Khokha and

Kheri Jaleb etc.

2. Square pattern :

The square pattern has the great similarity with the

rectangular pattern. The alignment of dwelling makes the

difference between the two. A rectangular village in the

process of growth sometimes assumes the square shape. Thus,

the factors controlling the rectangular shape of villages are

equally relevant in the case of square villages. However, the

square pattern is commonly associated with villages lying at

the crossing of cart-tracks or roads. The pattern is also

influenced by the factors which restrict the growth of

village outside the space of square shape. Such factors may

be the presence of ponds or roads on all or some sides of the

 206

setrlement.

Among the square shape villages of the region,

Gorchhi (Fig. 4.1/2) makes the perfect square pattern. The

area lies between the 29° 1' 42” and 29° 2' 2" north

latitudes, and 75° 33' 33” and 75° 33' 53" east longitudes.

The sides of the square colsely follow the north-south and

east-west lines on the topographical map. The growth of the

village in square shape has largely been influenced by the

location of big ponds, one on the northern side and the other

on the southern side of the village, on the one hand, and

presence of the sand-dunes on eastern and western sides, on

the other. The other factors which seem to have played role

for this pattern are the field pattern and square shape of

the 'phirni' (Cart-track around the build up area of the

village). Other important villages forming square shape are

like Sarsana, Gian Pura and Rata Khera etc.

3. Circular Pattern :

Large and compact villages often assume the circular shape in

the plain toporgraphy due to maximum concentration of

dwellings around the main inhabited site. As described

earlier, the circular shape is the most effective and

convenient space for the maximum aggregation from the point

of view of proximity to the centre of the village. This

 2n7

shape is also advantageous to serve the purpose of defence.

This form is thus the heritage of the past centuries when the

security of the villages was uncertain. The outer walls of

fortified settlements in circular shape results to such a

growth.

The village Kirmara has assumed the circular

shape in the process of horizontal expansion through time.

Field observation reveals that the older dwellings were

making the rectangular form. But later the new houses

occupied such space which led to circular layout of the

village. Mainly two factors are responsible for shaping the

village form. One, the recent growth of the village has

been along or near the cart-tracks and paths radiating out of

the built area. Second, the position of ponds has acted as

controlling force so that the growth results to circular lay­

out. The area of the village Kirmara (Fig.4.1/3) extends

from 29° 22' 37" to 29° 22' 58" north latitude, and 75° 41'

58" to 75° 42' 23" east longitude. The other examples of

this shape are Jandli Kalan, Ayalki and Balsamand etc.

4. Triangular Pattern :

Some situations allow the growth of village to take

triangular shape. The main dwelling strip forms the base and

on one side it grows towards the apex. Such villages are

usually located along the main roads with a shorter road

branching off in another direction. This latter road leads

to the interior of a village. Triangular pattern is also

marked in villages which are in between the junction of a

main road and a small road. In between the triangular space

thus available, dwellings naturally form a triangular pattern

as in the case of Dharsul village. This village has grown

between the Jakhal Mandi main road and Rupanwali small road.

Besides, the location of Bhakra canal in the south and ponds

on the south-east and north of the village have also helped

in shaping the village. The area of Dharsul village (Fig.

4.1/4) extend between 29° 40' 32" and 29° 40' 57" north

latitudes and 75° 43' 18" and 75° 43' 43" east longitudes.

Similar patterns are located in case of Nakta, Rata Khera and

Umra etc.

5. Polygonal Pattern :

The unplanned growth of rural settlements leads to some

irregularities in the outer form of villages. The village may

attain the polygonal shape. This is the form intermediate

between the circular and rectangular. The shape appears to

be the later stage of the circular pattern. Village Chamar

khera (Fig. 4.1/5) is a typical example of the polygonal

pattern. It lies between 29° 30' 34" and 29° 30' 56" north
latitudes and 75° 48' 32" and 75° 48' 53" east longitudes.

The village appears to have assumed polygonal shape due to

 20!)

growth of the village along the four cart-tracks and one

metalled road radiating out of the settlement in five

directions like a spoke. The ponds situated on the south

east, north-west and north-east sides of the village have

also helped in assuming such shape. In the study area, other

villages having polygonal shape are like Malwala, Panihari

and Bhaini etc.

6. L and T Pattern :

L-shaped pattern is the outcome of the extension of two

rectangular dwelling strips meeting each other at right

angle. In the process of further growth L-shape is

transformed into T shape . The village Mayar, lying between

29° 6' 8" and 29° 6' 28" north latitudes, and 75° 51' 38" and

75° 52' 2" east longitudes , has the peculiar L shape (Fig.

4.1/6A). The east-west axis of the village has developed

along the northern side of National Highway No. 10, while the

south east extension of the village has been along the

western side of the apporach road to village Kharar. The

location of large ponds in the north-western part of the

village seems to have stopped the settlement to assume the

rectangular or square shape. The other examples of L-shape

villages are like Haibitpur, Babanpur and Sukhmanpur etc. The

village Bhodiakhera extending between 29° 29' 9" and 29° 29'
38" north latitudes, and 75° 25' 14" and 75° 25' 43" east
 210

longitudes, forms the T-shape (Fig.4.1/6B). The growth of

this village has been conforming to the alignment of two

roads connecting this with the Fatehabad and Bighar

settlements. The other notable examples of T-shaped villages

are like Manawali, Jhalnia and Mothsra etc.

7. Amorphous Pattern :

When the structural arrangement of the houses is so irregular

that no pattern emerges then such villages are termed as

amorphous. The irregularity in the growth of built up area of

the village is caused by some natural and cultural elements

of the landscape. Transport lines may also sometimes lead to

generate amorphous village form. A typical examples of this

pattern is Ladwa (Fig. 4.1/7) which extends from 29° 3' 55"

to 29° 4' 22" north latitudes and 75° 47' 43" to 75° 48' 27"

east longitudes . The shape of the village is the outcome of

two forces. One is the linear force generated by the metalled

roads which connect Ladwa with the Dabra, Sultanpur and

Dahima villages. The other is restricting force caused by the

large ponds scattered around the main settlement site. The

other villages of the amorphous pattern are like Ghirai, Ban

Mandhauri and Bhattu Kalan etc.

 21 1

8. Linear Pattern :

The linear pattern is the extended form of rectangular

village-shape. In this pattern, one of the axis of the

village is significantly longer than the other under the

influence of linio-petal and linio-fugal forces. Physical or

cultural factors are such as have either controlled the

growth of the village in some directions or fostered its

extension in others. In the study area, linear-shaped

villages are mostly found alongside the roads. The advantages

offered by the proximity of road lead to the elongation of

the village. One peculiar examples of this pattern is

village Raipur (fig 4.1/8) which lies between 29° 8' 45" and

29® 8' 55" north latitudes and 75® 49' 19" and 75® 49" 38"

east longitudes. This village has developed along the

northern side of the road which connects it with the village

Kharar in the east and town Hisar in the west.

9. Oval Pattern :

The oval pattern is near to the circular village form. In

some situations, restrictive forces determine the growth of

villages in an oval shape with dwellings spaced together to

occupy maximum available habitable land. Bawan has assumed

the oval form as the growth of the village has taken place in

all the directions except on the south western side where the

presence of ponds have restricted its extension (Fig. 4.1/9).

 212

The village area lies between 29® 35' 37" and 29® 35' 56"

north latitudes and 75° 47' 3" and 75° 47' 23" east

longitudes.

10. Double Village Pattern :

Double village pattern is the location of two settlement

sites so near together that it appears that one has grown up

by colonisation upon the edge of the other. For the purpose

of revenue and administration each nucleation may be treated

as a separate unit, but geographically both appear as single

unit of habitation. In the process of growth of a village

some obstructions like pond, hilllock, mound, tank, road may

check the coalescing of the two settlements. In the study

region, village Mohabbatpur is the typical example of

double-village pattern. The village is divided into two

parts, known as Mohabbatpur and Mohabbat Ki Dhani by a very

big pond (Fig.4.1/10). The village extends from 29° 13' 14"
to 29° 13' 39" north latitudes and 75° 26' 36" to 75° 27' 2"

east longitudes.

11. Checker Board Pattern :

This pattern denoting a "right angled mesh of streets with or

without a central rectangular market place12," is well marked

in some newly settled area. The checker board is a feature of

 some of the big rectangular or square villages. Village

Nadhauri (Fig. 4.1/11) is a peculiar example of this pattern

which extend between 29® 33' 52" and 29® 34' 12" north

latitudes and 75® 39' 7" and 75® 39' 27" east longitudes.

12 Semi-Circular Pattern :

Sometimes a semi-circular pattern may develop following the

crescent shape of a meander of a stream, bend of a road or

around one side of a pond or mound. Village Sandol presents

the semi-circular shape by growing partly around the mound-

pond land feature (Fig. 4.1/12). The village extends from 29°

21' 1" to 29® 21' 16" north latitudes, and from 75® 43' 41"

to 75® 43' 61" east longitudes.

13. Irregular Cluster Pattern :

In this pattern, the village is an irregular group of houses

placed toghter in such a way that no internal system or

external form is noticeable. Such settlements are mostly of

recent origin. Prevailing peaceful conditions have led the

people to live in their agricultural farms. For example,

Ganga Ram Ki Dhani provides the irregular cluster pattern in

which the houses appear as scattered dots on the

topographical sheet (Fia 4 i \

Uig. 4.1/13). The extension of the
village ranges from 29® 24' 58" to 29® —'
24 ' 58" 25 18" north
 o /
1

latitudes, and from 75° 28' 48" to 75° 29' 36" east

longitudes.

B. REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF VILLAGE PATTERNS :

The village patterns identified in the study region are

represented on the map of Hisar district with the help of

choropleth method (Fig. 4.2A). The Table 4.1 presents the

absolute and per cent number of villages falling against each

pattern in each of the four physiographic zones, viz. Ghaggar

flood plain, Hisar plain, Hisar bagar and Balsamand

undulating plain with sand dunes. An examination of the above

referred map and Table shows that the emergence of particular

types of village patterns into various physiographic zones is

difficult to ascertain for the village forms are the outcome

of the combinatorial effect of various physico-cultural

factors. However, the following points could be made about

the general regional distribution of the village patterns in

the study area.

The most common village patterns in the study area

are rectangular and square. Out of the total 510 villages,

30.39 per cent villages have assumed rectangular shape. The

maximum concentration of this type of pattern is in the

Balsamand Undulating Plain with Sand dunes where 39.13 per

cent of the villages are of rectangular shape. The second

 215

Table 4.1 : VILLAGE PATTERNS, HISAR DISTRICT

GHAGGAR FLOOD PLAIN HISAR PLAIN HISAR BAGAR BALSAND UNDULATING

PLAIN WITH SAND DUNES TOTAL
PATTERNS
Nuaber of h age Nuaber of 1 age Nuaber of \ age Nuaber of 1 age Nuaber of \ age
Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent

RECTANGULAR 27 29.35 103 31.89 16 22.22 09 39.13 155 30.39

SQUARE 24 26.09 75 23.22 17 23.61 05 21.73 121 23.73
CIRCULAR 09 09.78 32 09.91 09 12,50 03 13.04 53 10.39
TRIANGULAR 08 08.70 25 07.74 05 06.94 01 04.35 39 07.65
POLYGONAL 07 07.61 17 05.26 05 06.94 02 08.70 31 06.08
L S T SHAPE 08 08.70 19 05.88 04 05.56 - - 31 06.08
AMORPHOUS - - 19 05.88 04 05.56 - - 23 04.51
OVAL 01 01.08 13 04.03 02 02.78 02 08.70 18 03.52
LINEAR 03 03.26 11 03.41 01 01.39 - -
i K
02.94
DOUBLE-VILLAGE 03 03.26 04 01.24 04 05.56 - - 11 02.16
CHECKER-BOARD - - 03 00.93 03 04.16 01 04.35 07 01.37
SEMI-CIRCULAR 01 01.08 01 00.30 01 01.39 - - 03 00.59
IRR.-CLUSTER 01 01.08 01 00.30 01 01.39 - - 03 00.59

TOTAL 92 100.00 323 100.00 72 100.00 23 100.00 510 100.00

216
 217

dominant shape squre is found to be in the case of 23.73 per

cent of the total villages with maximum occurence in Ghaggar

flood plain (26.09 per cent). Both the rectangular and

square shapes emerge almost in the similar conditions and in

the further growth one of these two could turn into other.

Square-cum-rectangular pattern amounts to 54.12 per cent in

the study region. The predominance of the above shapes is

observed in well marked two belts (Fig. 4.2B). The first belt
covers the south eastern, southern and south-western parts of

the study area. While the second belt is spread over the

northern parts of the study region.

In the second category of village patterns, the

circular, polygonal, amorphous and oval shapes may be clubbed

togther. All of these shapes are the various stages of growth

between the rectangular or square and circular village forms.

Maximum agglomeration of dwellings around the main site leads

to compactness in the shape and proceeds towards the

circularity. However, during this process of growth the

constraint factors like ponds, mounds, roads, disturb the

perfect circular shape and other related shapes viz.

ploygonal, amorphous and oval shapes are resulted. All of the

above shapes amount to 24.5 per cent of the total number of

villages. Each of the patterns individually accounts for

10.39,6.08,4.51 and 3.52 per cent of the total villages
 218

respectively for the circular, polygonal, amorphous and oval

forms. The village patterns of this category are found to be

distributed in form of belts. The main belt spreads over the

central part of the study region in east-west direction. The

other three smaller belts cover south-western and south­

eastern parts of the study area.

The other village patterns evolved in the study

region are triangular, linear, double village, L and T,

Checker board, semi-circular and irregular cluster which

amount to respectively 7.65, 2.94, 2.16, 6.08, 1.37, 0.59 and

0.59 per cent of the total villages. These patterns are not

distributed in the form a belt, rather, such settlements are

found to be scattered in whole of the region as each of them

has its own specific factor of siting and growth.

C. VILLAGE PATTERN AND POPULATION SIZE :

Village patterns find significant relationship with the size

of population of the rural settlements. To examine the nature

of relationship between the above two elements, the absolute

and per cent number of rural settlements falling under the

five selected population sizes have been presented in Table

4.2.

The rectangular and square patterns are the

dominant village forms in all the population sizes of

Table 4.2 : PATTERNS AND SIZE OF RURAL SETHMNTS, HISAR DISTRICT

POPULATION SIZE

< 500 501 - 1000 1001 - 2000 2001 - 5000 > 5000 TOTAL
PATTERNS
Nuaber of lage Nuaber of lage Nuaber of lage Nuaber of lage Nuaber of lage Nuaber of lage
Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent Settleaent

RECTANGULAR 28 34.56 23 27.38 56 32.36 41 28.66 07 24.13 155 30.39

SQUARE 25 30.86 30 35.71 38 21.96 26 18.18 02 06.89 121 ■ 23.73
CIRCULAR 05 06.17 03 03.57 21 12.13 19 13.28 05 17.24 53 10.39
TRIANGULAR 06 07.40 06 07.14 16 09.24 10 06.99 01 03.44 39 07.65
POLYGONAL 03 03,70 06 07.14 09 05.20 09 06.29 04 13.79 31 06.08
L 4 T SHAPE 05 06.17 09 10.71 11 06.35 06 04.19 - - 31 06.08
AMORPHOUS - - - - 05 02.89 14 09.79 04 13.79 23 04.51
OVAL 01 01.23 - - 06 03.46 09 02.28 02 06.83 18 03.53
LINEAR 04 04.93 04 04.76 02 01.15 03 02.09 02 06.88 15 02.94
DOUBLE-VILLAGE - - 03 03.57 04 02.31 02 01.39 02 06.88 11 02.16
CHECKER-BOARD 01 01.23 - - 04 02.31 02 01.39 - - 07 01.37
SEMI-CIRCULAR 01 01.23 - - - - 02 01.39 - - 03 00.59
IRR.-CLUSTER 02 02.46 - 01 00.57 * - “ - 03 00.59

TOTAL 81 |100.00| 84 JlOO.OOj 173 |l00.00| 143 |l00.00[ 29 |l00.00j 510 |lOfl.OO
 220

settlements. However, the maximum concentration (34.56 per

cent) of rectangular pattern is observed in the case of very

small size settlements (<500 population). There is decrease

in the number of such a pattern with the increase in the

population size of the villages. Among the largest villages

(>5000 population) 24.13 per cent have assumed the

rectangular shape. Almost similar trend is noticed in case of

square shape villages with regards to population. The maximum

occurrence (35.71 per cent) of square villages is in the

class of small population (501-1000 population).

The second group of village patterns which

includes circular, polygonal, amorphous and oval are found to

be predominantly distributed in the larger population sized

rural settlements. For example, of the villages having

population more the 5000, the above referred settlements

constitute 17.24 (circular), 13.79 (ploygonal), 13.79

(amorphous) and 6.88 (oval) per cent villages. Thus, 51.7 per

cent of the total number of villages having more then 5000

population have acquired the patterns of this group.

The remaining village patterns viz. L and T,

linear, double village, checker board, semi-circular and

irregular cluster, however, do not have much relationship

with the size of population of rural settlements.

D. MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE :
 221

Morphological structure refers to the internal system of a

rural settlement. The structural analysis of rural

settlements reveals the arrangement of houses with all

characteristics attached with them. According to Ahmed

( 1962 ) 13 , the term village denotes a cluster of houses

including the surrounding land, almost self-sufficient, and

usually grouped at a convenient site. Every village

represents its own characteristics and also represents a

settlement unit as well as a distinctive entity of larger

socio-political, religio-ritual and economic system in

territorial form14. The field observations indicate that

village represents a natural growth, to generalise in terms

2
of physical aspects, and the farm houses are huddled togther

without any conspicuous planning.

According to Doxiadis15, settlements are one of

the basic parts of the system between man and society, as in

his words "the space, natural or man-made, used by man, is a

part of the settlement... (and) the space of a settlement

accomodates all function of man, and can be recognised by his

imprints on nature." With regards to a settlement, the built-

up area is the most intensively used part where dense

expression of various functions of physical and cultural

attributes can be seen. Thus, the built-up area becomes the

central core for a functioning community which covers the

 O'JO

surrounding space. Hypothetically, morphology of settlement

can be divided into four basic parts : (a) the homogeneous

part, (b) the central part, (c) the circulatory part, and (d)

the special part. These parts are closely associated with

four dimensions viz. height, length, width and time. The

concept of structure, process and stage is also applicable in

the study of cultural landscape including rural settlements.

In the present study, the morphological structure of rural

settlements has been discussed with respect to house types,

economic structure and field patterns. Religio-ritual model

has also been used to analyse the socio-spatial structure of

villages.

SAMPLING :

To study the morphological structure of rural settlements of

Hisar district, some sample villages have been selected by

adopting the method of stratified random sampling. Out of 510

total number of villages in the area 10 are selected as

sample villages ( Table 4.3). The sample villages are

representative of the four physiographic zones viz. Flood

Plain, Hisar Plain, Hisar Bagar and Balsamand Undulating

Plain with Sand dunes (Fig.4.3). Number of samples for each

zones has been determined in proportionate to the total

number of villages in respective zones.
 O 0
w t. 3

HISAR DISTRICT
SELECTED SAMPLE VILLAGES

b,---------H
Fig. 4.3 DALBIR SING H
 0 OA
M • *

Table 4.3 : Humber of samples is each Physiographic Zone.

Sr. Physiographic Zones No. of villages per cent No. of

No. Villages Samples

1. Flood Plain 92 18.04 2

2. Hisar Plain 323 63.33 6
3. Hisar Baggar 72 14.12 1
4. Balsamand 23 4.51 1
Undulating with
Sand dunes

Total 510 100.00 10

After selecting the sample villages, a few set of

questionnaires were prepared, one for socio-economic survey

of villages and another for house plan and building material.

These questionnaries are included in the appendix as

annexure-II and III. In all, 180 questionnaires were filled

up for socio-economic survey and the same number for house

plans and building materials. For socio economic survey, each

village was covered by about 10-25 questionnaires depending

upon the number of house holds in the settlements. The

required informations have been gathered through interview,

observation and enquiries. To investigate the field pattern,

Sajra Kishtwar and Jamabandi (after consolidation) are used.

Religio-ritual model has been applied to the selected

villages by using maps of built up area called as Abadi Deh

Nakshe on the scale 1":50'
 2.° 5
1. Characteristics of Rural Dwellings :

An attempt has been made to study the rural dwellings and

their types in the context of the physical as well as

cultural environments of the study area.

A rural house, a predominant element in the

cultural landscape, provides evidence of the complex

relations between man and his enviornment. House is a social

concept, its nature and cognition varying with caste, class,

religion and region 1 . According to 1961 census, a house was

"a structure or part of a structure inhabited or vacant, or a

dwelling, a shop-cum-dwelling or a place of business,

* 17
workshop, school, etc. with a separate entrance" . A rural

dwelling shows vivid index of complex relationship of

people's traditional as well as modern achievments pertaining

to the changing scene. Brunches (1920)18 has also advocated

that the houses are the product of cultural traditions and

natural conditions. Finch and Triwartha (1946)19 observed

that, "as a geographic element 'house' is meant to include

not only the dwelling house, ranging from the humblest huts

of the poor to the most elaborate and massive city mansion,

but all other human structure as well, where people

congregate or where their grains are stored, such as schools,

factories, warehouses, churches and stores, etc." In a

micro-region, "the house is the symbol of its

 (M »

regionalism"'expressing both distinctive social organisation

of its inhabitants and also their rural economy . In

addition," the house represents the cultural heritage of the

past and the survival of tradition." Their imprints are

reflected through the shape, size, roof, wall, doorway and

other architectural styles of a house 21

(i) Size and Shape of Dwellings :

The size and shape characteristics of dwellings reflect the

social status and economic level of the inhabitants. On the

basis of number of rooms in a house, the houses have been

grouped into six categories as is shown in table.

Table 4.4 refelects that in the study region 33.46

per cent of houses have one or two rooms. The small

cultivators cum agricultural labourers and scheduled castes

like Balmiki, Dhanak, Charaar, etc. occupy such types of

dwellings. The lower middle and slightly better off people

reside in the three room dwellings which cover 20.58 per cent

of the total houses. The dwellings with four rooms are 16.85

per cent of the total dwellings. Such type of houses are

generally occupied by middle class cultivators belonging to

higher castes. The service class people also posses this

category of dwellings. The houses with five or more than five

rooms belong to rich people, mostly cultivators of large size

farm holdings. This category of houses are found to be

 constituting 29.05 per cent of the total number of dwellings

in the region.
Table 4.4 : DISTRIBUTION OF DWELLING (PER CENT), HISAR DISTRICT

House Ghaggar Hisar Hisar Balsamd Undulating Total(%)

types flood plain plain Bagar Plain with Sand dunes

one room 25.92 12.28 10.52 10.52 14.81

Two rooms 18.51 8.77 31.57 15.78 18.65
Three rooms 14.81 25.43 15.78 26.31 20.58
Four rooms 14.81 21.05 10.52 21.05 16.85
Five rooms 11.11 7.89 15.78 10.52 11.32
> Five rooms 14.81 24.56 15.78 15.78 17.73

Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Table 4.4 also gives the information about the

distribution of dwellings in the four physiographic zones. In

the Ghaggar Flood Plain, houses having one to two rooms are

44.43 per cent, three to four rooms 29.62 per cent and 25.92

per cent dwellings have five or more than five rooms. In the

Hisar plain, the figures are 21.05 per cent ,46.48 per cent,

32.45 per cent respectively. In Hisar Bagar, 42.09 per cent

houses cover less than three rooms, 26.3 per cent houses have

one to two rooms, 47.36 per cent three to four rooms and

31.56 per cent dwellings have five or more than five rooms.

In the Balsamand Undulating Plain with Sand dunes, 26.3 per

cent three to four rooms and 26.30 per cent houses have five
or more than five rooms.
 In the study area, the shape of the dwellings is

predominantly rectangular or square of varying size.

Generally, the arrangement of rooms bring about the shape of

houses. One or two rooms dwellings primarily represent I-

shape, while L-shape is commonly found in the case of three-

room houses. The lower and lower-middle class people

generally build I and L-shape houses. The houses of the high

economic group having 4 or 5 or more than 5 rooms are

generally of the U- shape.

(ii) Building Material :

The local materials are generally used by the villagers for

their houses. Soil and natural vegetation are the chief

building materials for house construction. The rich and well

to do people normally build their houses of burnt bricks or

stone while the poor class live in mud walled and tiled or

thatched roof houses. Thus, the enviornmental conditions like

climate and finanancial strategy of the people are obiviously

reflected in the constructional features and materials used

in the houses.

In the study area, the building materials used for

house construction may be grouped into the following three

categories :

(a) Wall materials : mud, mud bricks, burnt bricks, etc.

 o n fj
w • ^

(b) Roof materials : timber, burnt bricks, tiles, cement,

concrete, etc.

(c) Floor materials : mud, burnt bricks, tiles, cement,

concrete etc.

It is evident from the Table 4.5 that most of the

houses (69.33 per cent) are built of burnt bricks and

comparatively smaller number of houses (30.65 per cent) have

mud walls. House roofs are largely ( 75.36 per cent) built of

timber and burnt bricks, followed by cement - R.B.C & R.C.C

(18.44 per cent) and thatch (6.16 per cent). In the case of

house floors, 69.91 per cent are made out of mud, 16.02 per

cent out of burnt bricks and 14.06 per cent out of cement

concrete.

Table 4.5 : BUILDING MATERIAL OF THE RURAL HOUSES (%),

HISAR DISTRICT

Building materials Wall Roof Floor

Mud or Mud bricks 30.65 —

69.91
Burnt bricks 69.33 - 16.02
Timber & Burnt bricks - 75.36 -

Thatch - 6.16 -
Cement, R.B.C., R.C.C — 18.44 14.06

Total 100.00 100.00 100.00

Table 4.6 gives the figures of different types of

building material used for constructing wall, roof and floor

of the houses in each of the four physiographic zones of the

 Table 4.6 : DISTRIBOTIOH OF BUILDING MATERIALS (1), HISAR DISTRICT

Physiographic Wall Hateaials Roof Matearials Floor Materials

zones
Hud Burnt Burn Thatch/ Tiaber 6 Burn Hud Burn Coaent/ Rank
bricks Bricks bricks with baaboo bricks bricks bricks aarble/
ceaent with ceaent titles
or iron
(1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (I) (2) (3)
GHAGGAR FLOOD 18.51 37.03 44.44 7.40 77.7 14.81 77.7 14.81 7.40
PLAIN
(W. Score) 18.51 74.06 133.32 7.40 155.4 44.43 77.7 29.62 22.2 562.64

Hisar Plain 7.01 53.50 39.49 7.01 79.82 13.17 63.15 8.77 28.07
(W.Score) 7.01 107.00 118.47 7.01 159.64 39.51 63.15 17.54 84.21 603.54

Hisar Bagar 42.10 47.36 10.52 5.26 78.94 15.78 73.79 10.52 15.78
(W.Score) 42.10 94.72 31.56 5.26 157.88 47.34 73.79 21.04 47.34 521.03

Balsaad Und- 55.00 25.00 20.00 5.00 65.00 30.00 65.00 30.00 5.00
ulating Plain
with Sand-
dunes
(W. Score) 55.00 50.00 '60.00 5.00 130.00 90.00 65.00 60.00 15.00 530.00
Average (\) 30.65 40.72 28.61 6.16 75.36 18.44 69.91 16.02 14.06

Source : Based on Personal Survey Through Questionnaire.

 2 31

study region. Also, the comparative index of living standard

and the economic status of the people of different zones have

been derived by using the weightage method. The weighted

scores were assigned to different building materials ranging

from 1 to 3. In wall materials the weighted scores were given

1 for mud and mud bricks, 2 for burnt bricks and 3 for burnt

bricks with cement. For the roof materials weighted scores of

1,2 and 3 were assigned respectively to thatch, timber and

bricks and burnt bricks with cement. The floor materials i.e.

mud, burnt bricks and cement or marbles were respectively

given the scores 1,2 and 3. The weighted scores of each

category of building materials were than multiplied by the

percentage values and a total weighted score was obtained.

All weighted scores for walls, roofs and floors were then

added together to find a general weighted score for each

zone. It has been found that the Hisar Plain has the highest

score of 603 so ranked first. It is followed by Hisar Flood

Plain, Balsamand Undulating with Sand dunes and Hisar Bagar.

Obiviously, Hisar Bagar zone has the lowest standard of

houses and can be classified as the zone of lowest economic

standard as well. On the other hand, the highest standard of

houses is found in the Hisar Plain which perfectly fits into

the agricultural potentiality of the area.

The following types of houses are observed in the

study area on the basis of building materials used in their

construction.

(a) Kutcha Houses

(b) Pucca houses, and

(c) Mixed houses.

(a) Kutcha Houses :

Kutcha houses are made out of mud and vegetation. Such houses

have mud walls, thatched roof and mud floors. Kutcha houses

are occupied by low income group people in the region because

of their simple and cheap construction. This type of houses

have the occurrence of 30.65 per cent of the total rural

dwellings. Normally, these houses are belonging to the

Balmikis, Dhanaks, Dooms, Chamars, Dhobis and Kumhars, etc.

The poor class people use the building material which is

available locally. The vegetation in the surrounding area

provides wood and other materials. Reeds, locally called

'sarkanda', are commonly used for thatching. The mud wall is

plastered with a mixture of mud, cow dung and straw to ensure

safety from rains (plate no.l).

(b) Pucca Houses :

The houses of this category are about 30.8 per cent of the
 KUTCHA HOUSE, V II LAGE BHANA
PLATE! NO X
total rural houses. The high income class of people use the

burnt bricks for walls, iron gaurders, wooden beans, cement

concrete, etc. for roof and cement, tiles and marble chips

for floor. The higher caste pepole like Rajputs, Jats and

Ahirs, Bishnois are generally the owner of such dwellings

(plate no.2).

(c) Mixed Houses :

The mixed houses have burnt bricks walls, timber roofs and

mud floors. Such houses are mostly occupied by medium class

people . About 39.35 per cent of the total rural houses fall

in this category. Most of the people of service class or some

low caste who have economically better standard own such

houses. Among the Scheduled Castes, people of the Chamar

caste have achieved the better economic progress in recent

years, thus occupying better standard of houses in relation

to other castes of the group. Some of the people belonging

to higher castes like Rajput, Jat, Bishnoi, Ahir also possess

the dwellings made out of mixed building material {plate

no.3).

2. HOUSE PLAN

The single rectangular room, *#hich forms the full dwelling

place of several poor families, is the basic unit of the

rural house. The 'Verandah', 'angan' or more rooms are

PLATE NO 2; PUCCA HOUSE, VILLAGE SATROD KHAS
 2:*6

PLATE NO 3 MIXED HOUSE, VILLAGE SATROD KHURD

u
subsequent extension of the one room house. In the rural

dwelling, courtyard (angan) occupies the central position.

The "courtyard is where most of a family's life is lived and

the house is where property is secured and shelter sought

from the regours of the weather22."

The inner 'verandah' surrounds the courtyard,

where women perform their domestic works, while the outer

verandah is generally used as a resting place for guests and

male members. Kitchen is located in the house in such a way

that it remains easily accessible to the ladies. The open

space in the rural dwelling is oftenly used for cattles,

storage of fuel wood, etc.

The plan of rural dwellings is primarily

determined by the commanding position occupied by the

courtyard, and the need to safeguard livestock and draft

cattle, the harvest, the household goods and the kitchen.

Many scholars have tried to analyse the role of these

factors in the formation of different house plans. In his

study of the typical rural dwellings of the Umland of

Varanasi, R.L. Singh (1957)23 has analysed the role of

different cultural factors like architectural style,

traditional belief, rituals and caste system, etc. in the

plan formation of different type of houses. The magnitude,

the level of use and the structural formation of these

 23$

components are the subject of socio-economic values and the

traditional bonds, which can be clearly represented through

the house plan of different communties or income groups.

The houses occupied by the high income group

people in the study region are of big size having complex

ground plan. Immediately after the enterance to a house,

there is usually a room called 'dahliz' or a big hall called

'darwaza'. There follows an open space known as 'angan'

(courtyard) and at the rear of this or on either side is a

'verandah' called 'dallan' and behind this again are 4 to 5

rooms for sleeping and living called 'kotha' or

'obra'(Fig.4.4C). The people of such house have separate land

called 'gher' for keeping cattles and agricultural

implements. These houses generally belong to higher and

economically better castes like Rajput, Jat, Brahmin,

Bishnoi, Ahir etc.

The houses of the people of middle income group

consist of three to four rooms and a courtyard ( Fig.4.4B ).

The front room is used as the sitting room for guests called

'baithak'. One or two rooms at the back of the'baithak' are

used for living. A portion in front of the living room is

used for kicthen called 'rasoi'. One smaller room is used for

keeping household goods and fodder for the cattle.

The houses of the low income group people have one

 2:i u

or two rooms of varying size (Fig. 4.4A). A relatively high

degree of congestion is noticed in such houses where room is

used for various purposes, showing low economic condition of

the household. In one room houses, some open space is found

in front of the room. While, on the other hand, in two-room

houses open space is found in middle of two rooms as

courtyard.

Table 4.7 shows the characteristics of various

house components like kitchen, verandah, courtyard, toilet,

etc. in the four physiographic zones of the study area. The

kitchens are of the types of attached, separate and open. In

the whole region, the attached, separate and open kitchens

are respectively 38.38, 18.78 and 42.82 per cent. The 68 per

cent houses do not have verandah. And, in the remaining

houses, 7.87 per cent are the open and 19.10 per cent are the

covered verandahs. Ninety per cent of the houses are found

to be having courtyard. Only 13.82 per cent of the total

houses have the provison of toilet/latrines. The sanitary

conditions are not also good. Of the total 88.48 per cent

houses have open sanitary disposal. The situation of the

electrification of rural dwellings in the study area may be

considered to be good as 82.70 per cent of the houses receive

the electric supply. With the availability of electricity and

growing demand for better sanitary and health facilities, the

 240
Table 4.7 : Features of different house coiponents in four physiographic zones (l), HISAR DISMCT

Kitchen Varandah Courtyard Toilet/Laterine Sanitation Electricity

Physiographic
zones Attached Separate Open Open Covered No Yes Yes No Open Covered Yes No

l.Ghaggar Flood 25.92 14.81 59.26 3.70 40.74 55.55 85.18 22.22 77.78 81.49 18.51 81.48 18.52
Plain

2.8isar Plain 41.22 8.77 50.00 12.28 20.17 67.54 90.35 17.54 82.46 92.98 7.01 85.08 14.92

3-Hisar Bagar 26.38 31.57 42.04 10.52 10.52 78.94 89.47 10.52 89.48 89.47 10,53 84.21 15.78

4.Balsand undul 60.00 20.00 20.00 5.00 25.00 70.00 95.00 5.00 95.00 90.00 10.00 80.00 20.00
ating plain
with sand
deshes

(Average I ) 38.38 18.78 42.82 7.87 19.10 68.00 90.00 13.82 86.18 88.48 11.51 82.70 17.33

Source : Based on personal survey through questionnaire .

 241

hisar district

GROUND PLAN OF HOUSES

LOWER INCOME GROUP ®

MIDDLE INCOME GROUP

INDEX
HALL | BED ROOM
BR BR BR | BR BAITHAK

K
c 1 BR
V S KITCHEN

BA K BATH ROOM
C
BA COURTYARD
OS B < VERANDAH
B
os
OPEN SPACE
_____ ___
CATTLE SHED

HIGHER INCOME GROUP

BR/S BR

BR BR
BR
K
C i
BA

B j HALL j B

(SKETCHES NOT TO SCALE)

Fig. 4. 4 0 Al 81 ft SINGH
house plan has undergone a certain change.

3. ARCHITECTURE :

The area under investigation has a long human history as is

highlighted in chapter II. Different races invaded and

settled in this region during different historical periods,

thus leaving imprints on the social structure and landscape.

Such imprints could be seen in the form of architectural

design of the buildings in rural areas. The rural buildings

predominantly show the influences of Hindu and Mughal

architecture.

The old Hindu buildings have the combined

expressions of both Hindu and Mughal periods. Some of such

buildings have Mughal impact in the arcuate form of doors in

the lower storeys and typical domal structure on the upper

storeys, which is typically Hindu architecture. Specially,

Mandirs (plate no. 4), wells (plate no. 5), old schools

(plate no.6), chopals (plate no. 7) very clearly exhibit the

mixed architectural style.

The Muslim buildings, which were occupied by the

Muslim population before the. partition of the country is

1947, are presently in a ruined and dilapidated condition.

 43

PLATE NO 4 HANUMAN MANDIR, VILLAGE CHIKANWAS

 ') / /
*- f '«

PLATE HO 5 DRY WELL, VILLAGE SATROD KHURD

 OLD SCHOOL, VILLAGE SATROD KHURD
PLATE NO 6
PLATE NO 7 CHOPAL , VILLAGE SATROD KHAS
 o /
u *?

After the partition these buildings were mostly alloted to

the Hindu refugees who had come from Pakistan at that time.

The buildings are made of laukharia bricks, lime stone, stone

with ornamental designs, arc type gates and chhajjas

(projected roof on fornt of a house) showing the impact of

typical Mughal architecture.

E. ECONOMIC STRUCTURE :

The average monthly per capita income in the four

physiographic zones are shown in Table 4.8. The information

regrading the amount of primary and secondary types of income

are obtained through the personal interviews and refers to

the income through agricultural' and non-agricultural

activities repectively.

Table 4.8 : MONTHLY PER CAPITA INCOME, HISAR DISTRICT

Physiographic Primary Income Secondary Income Total Income Rank

regions Rs. % Rs. % Rs. %
1. Ghaggar Flood 217 70 93 30 310 100 II
Plain
2. Hisar Plain 263 68 127 32 390 100 I
3. Hisar Bagar 229 77 69 23 298 100 III
4. Balsamand Und- 196 69 89 31 285 100 IV
lating Plain
with Sand dunes
Average 226 70 95 30 321 100
Source : Based on personal survey through questionnaire.
 248

In Hisar Plain zone, 68 per cent income comes from

primary activites and 32 per cent from secondary activites,

while it has the highest economic status having income of Rs.

390 per perosn per month. In the Ghaggar Flood Plain zone, 70

per cent income comes from primary activities and remaining

30 per cent from secondary activities, while the total per

capita income is Rs. 310. It is followed by the Hisar Bagar

zone where 77 per cent income is from primary economic

activities and the rest 23 per cent from the secondary

activities. The Balsamand Undulating Plain with Sand dunes

zone of the region has lowest economic status with an earning

of 69 per cent income from primary activities and 31 per cent

from secondary activities. The monthly per capita income from

this zone is Rs. 285 which is lowest among the four zones of

the study area. The district has an average rural income of

Rs. 321 per perosn per month in which Rs. 226 comes from

primary activities and Rs. 95 from secondary economic

activities.

The per capita income in the four zones appears to

be in proportion to the agricultural potentiality the

concerned zone. For example, in the Hisar Plain, where the

possibilites of good agricultural activites prevail, the

total income per person per month is fairly high that is Rs.
390. On the contrary, in the Balsamand Undulating Plain with
Sand dunes, where the sandy tracts limit the scope of

agricultural practices, per capita income is observed lowest

that is Rs. 285.

Table 4.9 shows the expenditure structure per

family towards different purpose in each of the physiographic

zones. The expenditure has been assessed in the items food,

clothing, fuel, education, lighting, luxuries and other.

Amongest the above listed item, food takes the largest share

that is 51.42 per cent. Clothing claims the 19.73 per cent

share of the total expenditure. Thus, 71.15 per cent of the

total expenditure in all the four zones is used on food and

clothing.

In Ghaggar Flood Plain, 53.51 per cent expenditure

is used on food and 21.50 per cent on clothing whereas in

Hisar Plain 47.30 per cent on food and 19.20 per cent on

food. In the Hisar Bagar zone 49.5 per cent on food and 20.26

per cent on clothing. In Blasamand Undulating Plain with Sand

dunes zone, 55.4 per cent of the total expenditure amount

account to food and 19.73 per cent clothing. The expendture

on remaining items is found to be almost similarity

distributed in all the zones. About 27.95 per cent of the

total income is incurred on other items like education,

lighting, fuel and luxuries, etc.

 Table 4.9 DISTRIBUTER OF EXPENDITURE PER FAMILY (t), HISAR DISTRICT

Physiographic Food Clothing Fuel Education Lighting Luxuries Others Total

regions
1. Ghaggar Flood 53.51 21.50 6.33 3,30 7.70 1.66 6.00 100
Plain
2. Hisar Plain 47.30 19.20 7.30 7.20 8.20 2.90 7,90 100
3. Hisar Bagar 49.5 20.26 6.89 5.26 9.00 2.73 6.36 100
4. Balsaaand Und- 55.4 17.95 4.75 5.10 7.05 2.00 7.75 100
lating Plain
with Sand dunes |
51.42 ^
Average I 19.73 6.32 5.22 7.99 2.32 7.00 1GC

Source : Based on personal survey through questionnaire.

F. FIELD STRUCTURE :

Field structure is interesting and worthy of examination as

it reflects the way of life and also of physical enviornment.

Variations in size of fields is largely the result of

drainage condition, irrigation facilities, nearness to the

core of village, etc. Besides the size and shape of a

particular unit of farm-land is determined by the gowth of

population, fertility of soil as well as the economic status

of the people. All village area is under private ownership

and arable land is largley under cultivation. Field pattern

of the villages reflect the pressure of population, frequent

fragmentation of parental property and transaction of land.

The problem of fragmentation of fields has now been reduced

by the process of consolidation of land holding's size. And,

character of farm units also vary in accordance with the

fertility of soil. Smaller size of plots are noticed in the

more fertile areas.

In order to study the distribution of fields in

the area of investigation , five sample villages have been

selected. The selected villages are representative of the

four physiographic zones of the region. The villages Karnauli

and Dehman represent the Hisar Plain, while Teliwara, Bhana

and Gawar represent respectively to the Ghaggar Flood Plain,

Hisar Bagar and Balsamand Undulating Plain with Sand

dunes.The table 4.10 to 4.14 and figures 4.5 to 4.9 show the

caste wise distribution of land after the consolidation of

fields.

In the village Karnauli (Table 4.10 and Fig. 4.5),

the dominated caste Jat Sikh occupies the 41.92 per cent of

the total cultivated land. Jats, the second largest social

group, cover 15.02 per cent of the cultivated land. This is

closely followed by Rajputs, kambjos and Punjabis occupying

12.11, 10.76 and 7.01 per cent of the cultivated land. The

each of the remaining castes like Jargar, Gujar, Mahajan,

Khati, Rai Sikh, Mali have relatively small size of

cultivated land which accounts to below 2.35 per cent.

The village settlements and farms both are

intimately related23. Accordingly, the arrangment of any crop
Table 4.10 : DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, VILLAGE KARNAULI, HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Total Acres % age Rank Distance from core Average

of the village (km) distance

JAT SIKH 1052 41.92 I 0.64 - 1.26 0.95

JAT BAGRI 377 15.02 II 0.46 - 1.36 0.91
RAJPUT 304 12.11 III 0.90 - 1.10 1.80
KAMBOJ 270 10.76 IV 1.03 - 1.40 1.21
PUNJABI 176 7.01 V 0.38 - 0.97 0.67
JARGAR 59 2.35 VI 1.24 - 1.67 1.44
GUJAR 40 1.59 VII 0.83 - 1.10 0.96
MAHAJAN 18 0.71 VIII 0.63 - 1.63 1.13
KHATI 18 0.71 IX 0.58 - 0.64 0.61
RAI SIKH 07 0.27 X 1.07 - 1.34 1.20
MALI 04 0.15 XI 1.84 - 2.01 1.92
PANCHAYAT LAND 126 5.02 - - -

ABADI DEH 32 1.27 - - -

SAMLAT 02 0.07 - - -

HRY. Govt. 20 0.79 - - -

Central Govt. 04 0.15 - - -

Total 2509 100.00 - - _

Source : Based on village Karnauli Jamabandi 1984-85

r ^

co
or land use patterns are determined by the relative distance
of the farm from the settlements24. Similarly, the dominating

caste affect the distance of farms from the core of the

village. In village Karnauli, Sikh Jats occupy the land near

the core of the village with 0.64 to 1.26 km from the core of

the settlement and Jats cover the distance from 0.46 to 1.36

km. The Rajputs and Kambojs occupy the land within as average

distance of 0.90-1.10 km and 1.03-1.40 km respectively from

the centre of the village. The people belonging to the caste

of Mali occupy the land near the peripheries, the field

distance for which ranges from 1.84 to 2.01 km. It may thus

be broadly said that higher the caste rank closer is the

arrangement of fields from the centre of the village.

However, there are some castes like Punjabi, Gujar, Mahajan

and Khati which make some exception to the above rule. All

these castes are of lower ranks because of having smaller

sizes of agricultural land. Nevertheless, the field

distances are relatively low. This may be probably because of

the fact that the referred castes have only attained or

purchased the agricultural land latter as these are not the

traditional farming communities.

The village Dehman (Table 4,11 & Fig. 4.6) is a

Jat dominated village. Of the total cultivated area 56.53 per

cent is occupied by the Jats followed by the Ahirs who occupy

Table 4.11 : DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, VILLAGE DEHMAN, HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Total Acres Percentage Rank Distance from core Average

of the village (km) distance

JAT 1566 56.53 I 0.57 - 1.31 0.94

AHIR 574 20.72 II 0.45 - 1.75 1.1
CHAMAR 84 3.03 III 1.05 - 1.20 1.12
MAHAJAN 69 2.49 IV 0.91 - 1.70 1.30
GOSAIN 38 1.37 V 0.40 - 1.42 0.91
KHATI 38 1.37 V 0.87 - 1.13 1.00
BRAMAN 31 1.11 VI 0.50 - 0.63 0.56
SAYAMI 20 0.72 VII 1.84 - 2.17 2.02
DHANAK 18 0.64 VIII 0.95 - 1.01 0.98
KUMHAR 10 0.36 IX 0.68 - 1.32 1.00
MUSTARKA MAKAN 40 1.44 - - -

PANCHAYATI 207 7.47 - _ _

SAMLAT 06 0.21 - _

ABADI DEH 32 1.51 - _ _

PRANTIYA Govt. 27 0.97 - _ _

PROVINCIAL Govt. 10 0.36 - - -

Total 2770 100.00 -

Source : Based on village Dehman Jamabandi 1983-84

 VILLAGE DEHMAN
DISTRIBUTION OF LAND

Fig.4.6 OAIB1R Singh

20.72 per cent of the total cultivated land. The remaining

22.75 per cent agricultural land is occupied by the other

lower rank castes like Chamar (3.03 per cent ), Mahajan (2.49

per cent), Gosain (1.37 per cent ). The Dhanaks, Sayamis and

Kumhars have very low share in the cultivated land. In

Dehman, the Jats occupy the land near the core of the village

with 0.57 to 1.31 km from the core of the settlement, while

the second rank caste Ahir covers the distance from 0.45-1.75

km. The third and forth rank castes chamar and Mahajan occupy

the land within a distance of 1.05-1.20 km and 0.91-1.70 km

from the centre of the village. The Sayamis occupy the land

near the peripheries, the field distance for which ranges

from 1.84 to 2.17 km. Thus , in this case also, the field

distance increases with a discrease of the rank order. In

other words, higher the land holdings of a caste closer is

its proximity to the core of the settlement.

The village Teliwara (Table 4.12 & Fig. 4.7) is

dominated by Jat Sikhs who occupy 88. 35 per cent of the

total cultivated land. The quality of the agricultural land

of the village is very good for being lying in the Ghaggar

Flood Plain. The large concentration of Sikh population is

becuase of close proximity to the state of Punjab. The people

of other castes like Brahman, Kamboj, Rajput Bhatti and

Punjabi are in very small number occupying 1.34, 1.04, 0.67

and 0.22 per cent of the total cultivated land respectively.

Table 4.12 : DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, VILLAGE TELIMARA H1SAR DISTRICT

Caste Total Acres Percentage Rank Distance from core Average

of the village (km) distance

JAT SIKH 1184 88.35 I 0.63 - 1.03 0.83

BRAHMAN 18 1.34 II 0.63 - 1.03 0.83
KAMBOJ 14 1.04 III 0.63 - 1.03 0.83
RAJPUT BHATI 09 0.67 IV 0.63 - 1.03 0.83
PUNJABI 03 0.22 V 1.37 - 1.54 1.45
PANCHAYAT LAND 88 6.56 - - -

ABADI DEH 15 1.11 - - -

SAMSAN 02 0.14 - - -

Govt. HRY. 07 0.52 - - -

1340 100.00 _ -

Source : Based on village Teliwara Jamabandi 1986-87

 VILLAGE TELIWARA
DISTRIBUTION OF LAND

Fig.4.7 DAIBIR SINGm

 260

The Jat Sikh covers the field distance from 0.63 to 1.03 km.

from core of the settlement. The Punjabis occupy the land at

a distance from 1.37 to 1.54 km from the core of the

settlement.

The village Bhana (Table 4.13 & Fig. 4.8) is

predominantly inhabited by Bishnois who occupy the 80.08 per

cent of the total cultivated land followed by Suthars who

occupy 7.45 per cent of the land. The remaining 14.57 per

cent land is occupied by other castes like Chamar, Rajput,

Dhanak, Brahmin, Doom, Balmiki, Naik, Chippi, Nai, Mahajan

and Punjabi regugee who are in small number. Each of these

castes possess less than 2.20 per cent of the cultivated

land. The agricultural fields of the castes other than the

Bishnoi are scattered in patches around the settlement at

different distances. The land of the Bishnois are found to be

located at distances ranging from 0.53 to 1.92 km from the

core of the settlement. The people of the castes of Chippi

and Naik have their fields near the peripheries the average

field distances for which are 1.95 km and 1.92 km from the
core of the village.

The village Gawar (Table 4.14 & Fig 4.9) is

largely inhabited by the Jats who occupy the 66.60 per cent

of the total cultivated land. The Jats are followed by the

Mahajans and Bishnois who contribute respectively 7.61 and
 261

Table 4.13 : DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, VILLAGE BHANA, HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Total Acres Percentage Rank Distance from core Average

of the village (km) distance

BISHNOI 2976 80.08 I 0.53 - 1.92 1.22

SUTHAR 277 7.45 II 0.69 - 1.17 0.93
CHAMAR 82 2.20 III 0.83 - 1.10 0.96
RAJPUT 79 2.12 IV 0.80 - 1.67 1.23
DHANAK 25 0.67 V 1.58 - 1.70 1.64
BRAHMAN 23 0.61 VI 0.60 - 1.42 1.01
SADH (DOOM) 19 0.51 VII 0.20 - 0.43 0.86
BALMIKI 10 0.26 VIII 0.73 - 1.00 1.92
NAIK 08 0.21 IX 1.84 - 2.01 1.95
CHHIPPI 07 0.18 X 1.84 - 2.07 0.81
NAI 05 0.13 XI 0.73 - 0.90 1.25
MAHJAN 03 0.08 XII 1.17 - 1.34 0.96
PUNJABI 02 0.05 XIII 0.93 - 1.00 -
ABADI DEH 39 1.04 - - -
MUTRKA RAKBA 150 4.03 - - -
SAMSHAN 04 0.10 - - -

PROVINCIAL Govt. 07 0.18 - - -

Total 3716 100.00 - -

Source : Based on village Bhana Jamabandi 1986-87

 2B2

VILLAGE BHANA
DISTRIBUTION OF LAND

INDEX
BISHNOI
SUTHAR
CHAMAR
RAJPUT
DHANAK
BRAHMAN
SADH
BALM1K!
NAIK
CHHIPt
N Al

MAHAJAN
PUNJABI
S500
 283

Table 4.14 : DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, VILLAGE GAWAR, HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Total Acres Percentage Rank Distance from core Avera

of the village (km) dista
JAT 3052 66.60 I 0.58 - 2.43 1.50
MAHAJAN 349 7.61 II 0.41 - 2.24 1.32
BISHNOI 285 6.21 III 0.95 - 1.84 1.39
CHAMAR 103 2.24 IV 1.94 - 2.14 2.04
KUMHAR 99 2.16 V 1.50 - 2.10 1.80
NAI 67 1.46 VI 1.79 - 2.11 1.95
KHATI 50 1.09 VII 1.70 - 2.17 1.93
BRAHMAN 49 1.06 VIII 1.60 - 2.07 1.83
AHIR 30 0.65 IX 3.18 - 3.52 3.35
SYAMI 19 0.41 X 0.64 - 2.35 1.94
CHHIPI 16 0.34 XI 0.77 - 1.00 0.88
MALI 12 0.26 XII 0.83 - 1.13 0.98
DHANAK 10 0.21 XIII 1.50 - 1.67 1.58
RAJPUT 6 0.13 XIV 2.81 - 3.01 2.91
Govt. HARYANA 46 1.00 _ _

ABADI DEH 25 0.54 _ _

PANCHAYAT DEH 364 7.94

Total 4582 | 100.00 | - 1 1 -

Source : Based on village Gawar Jamabandi 1988-89

 village gawar
DISTRIBUTION OF LAND N

fig (‘ 'J OA l B i R SINOH

.. —— . —..... . ... . .. ...................... . .............. .. . ....... . .. - . k
6.21 per cent of the agricultural land occupancy scene. The

remaining 10.1 per cent cultivated land is possessed by other

castes like Chamar (2.24 per cent), Kumhar (2.16 per cent),

Nai (1.46 per cent), Khati (1.09 per cent), Brahman (1.06 per
cent), Ahir (o.65 per cent), Syami (0.41 per cent), Chippi

(0.34 per cent), Mali (0.26 per cent), Dhanak (0.21 per cent)

and Rajput (0.13 per cent). The Jats cover their land from

0.58 to 2.43 km average distance from the core of the

village, while Mahajans and Bishnois occupy their land at

0.41-2.24 km and 0.95-1.84 average distance from the core of

the settlement. The Ahirs have their land in the peripheral

area of the village. The average field distance for which is

computed 3.18-3.52 km from the core of the settlement. The

cultivated land of belonging to other castes are found to

distributed in patches scattered around the settlement at

different distances.

The distributional pattern of fields in the

village discussed above reveals that the cultivated lands

belonging to dominant castes in terms of land ownership find

closer proximty to the core of the settlement. Besides

social position of a caste also has bearing in the distance

factor of agricultural fields. The lower social status of the

caste (represented by higher rank) has the further location

of fields from the centre of the village.

 2RH

G. RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE :

It is oftenly observed that the residential grouping of caste

is operationally convenient since caste system as the

dominant social institution, governs the direction and flow

of social relationship25. The concept of social space is very

relevant in the study, Indian villages which is governed by

many component of socio-behavioural trends. These trends are

expressed in the layout of residential units.

The Hindu social fabric primarily reflects the

caste system with all its myriad of hierarchy and ranking of

'Jatis' based on what has been called as the Religio Ritual

Model. There are differential patterns of religio-ritual

distances among various castes in villages of different

localities and regions26. The four'Varnas', the untouchable,

the cast and the 'jajmani' systems and the notion of

pollution all these connote a series of ritual distances and

determine the socio-spatial structure of villages.

Traditionally there is a Brahman-untourchable continuam in

which all other verious castes occupy different niches; these

placements, however, in middle rugs of ritually determined

social scale, vary in different regional and local structure

models27. The ritual distance involves the stigma of

pollution which may be incurred by contact through food and

 2fw

drink or also as in southern India by distance, which is

called "distance pollution28." Thus, the morphological

patterns of the Indian villages have been profoundly governed

by the course and conjuction of our social, cultural,

29
economic and political structure and behaviour

To understand the socio-spatial structure of

rural settlements in the study area, five villages have been

selected as sample of typical physiographic conditions. The

villages are Karnauli, Dehman, Teliwara, Bhana and Gawar.

1. Village Karnauli :

The village Karnauli (Fig 4.10) is situated about 11

kilometers in the west of Fatehabad city on Sirsa - Fatehabad

road. The village is dominated by the Jat Sikhs in terms of

land ownership in the built up area. It has a population of

1884 persons ( as per census, 1991) having a total area of

2509 acres. The village 'abadi' (settlement) is confined in

the area of 32 acres within the 'phirni'. There are total 14

castes living toghter, the dominance of Jat Sikhs is clear

from the table 4.15

The village was originally inhabited by some

Rajput Pachadan families in the year 1851 as per the

informations available in the Punjab Revenue Record, Hisar,

Bandobast 1909-10.
 2 BS

Table 4.15 : DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, VILLAGE KARNAULI,

HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Number of Percenta Rank,Percentage Rank, land Rank,

houses of total share of total ownership differenc
JAT SIKH 90 27.35 I I 0
DHANAK 85 25.83 II - -2
RAJPUT OUD 26 7.90 III - -3
JAT BAGRI 25 7.59 IV II +2
SUNAR 20 6.07 V - -5
GUJAR 18 5.47 VI VII -1
KAMBOJ 17 5.16 VII IV +3
CHAMAR 12 3.64 VIII - -8
RAJPUT THAKUR 11 3.34 IX Ill +6
BALMIKI 08 2.43 X X 0
MAHAJAN 07 2.12 XI - -11
BRAHMAN 04 1.21 XII - -12
KHATI 04 1.21 XII IX +4
NAI 02 0.60 XIII - -13
Total 1 329 1 100.00
Source : Based on field study.
 VILLAGE KARNAULI
SOCIO-SPATIAL STRUCTURE

Oi 7
O A tB 'P
 An un-inhabited 'Khera' called Karnauli at that

time was selected as the site of settlement. Hence, the name

of the village has been derived from the name of the Khera.

In the subsquent periods of village history other people

belonging to various castes like Jat Sikh, Jat Bagri, Sunar

occupied the land by purchasing from the initial inhabitors.

At present there are 329 residential houses and

the Jat Sikhs occupy 27.31 per cent (75 houses) of the total

residential houses. A large portion of the core of the

village is occupied by the Jat Sikhs. The other castes having

their positions near the core of the village are Jat Bagari,

Sunar, Rajputs Thakur and Mahajans who occupy respectively

7.59, 6.07, 3.34 and 2.12 per cent of the total residential

houses in the village. The Dhanaks occupy the north and

north-west parts of the village having 25.83 per cent houses.

The Balmikis are settled in the north and north-eastern parts

of the village having 2.43 per cent houses. The Chamars

occupy the western and esatern peripheral parts of the

village having 12 number of houses. The castes like Gujar,

Kamboj, Rajput Aud (migrated from Pakistan), Brahman, Khati

and Nai have small number of houses found to be scattered in

the peripheral and middle parts of the village.

The Table 4.15 also shows that Jat Bagri, Kamboj, Rajput

(Thakur) and Khati find positive deviation of +2,+3,+6 and +4

 271

in the ranks of percentage share of houses and percentage

share of total land. This positive deviation suggests that

the reffered communities, although, have lower share in the

total number of houses, possess significant share in the

agricultural fields. The trading caste Bania, the priests and

service castes like Chamar, Nai show negative deviation

because they posses little agricultural land but have their

shares in the built up area of the settlement.

2. Village Dehjman :

The village Dehiman (Fig. 4.11) is situated about 10

kilometers from Bhuna in the south of Bhuna on Bhuna-Hisar

road. It has a population of 3211 persons (as per ceusus,

1991) having a total area of 2770 acres. The village 'abadi'

(settlement) is confined to a small area of 32 acres within

the village 'phirni' (the boundary of area marked for

residential purposes which also included some fallow and

common lands or 'shamlat'). There are total 11 castes living

togather the dominant caste of which is Jat Dahia.

The village was originally inhabited by Blouch

caste in the year 1677 (Punjab Revenue Recored - Hisar,

Bandobast 1909-10). But the village remained un-inhabited

untill 1717 when it was re-inhabited by the Jat Dahias. The

village Dehman derives its name from the name of the

 VILLAGE DEHMAN
SOCIO-SPATIAL STRUCTURE N

t ^

to
F ig A. O A L B fR S IN ft H
L
dominant caste Dhaia (Jat). With the passage of time the

other castes like Brahman, Bania, Ahir, Chamar, Dhanak,

Khati, Luhar, Nai, etc. settled in the village to make the

village a self sufficient functional unit.

The dominant caste Jat occupy 32.41 per cent of

the total residential houses. They are settled in the core of

the village. The Brahmins, Ahirs and Banias are also settled

near the central nucleus of the village having 2.43, 28.36

and 2.36 per cent of houses respectively. Chamars occupying

16.2 per cent houses are settled in the south-western part of

the village. The other service castes like Dhanak, Khati,

Luhar, Kumahar, Nai and Heri are found to be scattered in the

peripheral areas of the settlement.

Table 4.16 also shows the ranks of castes as

determind by the percentage of occupied houses and as

percentage land share in agricultural fields. It is found

that the correspondence is restricted to first two ranks. In

the subsequent ranks, there are deviation. Bania & Khati show

positive deviation of the values +2 and +1. On the other

hand rest of the rank castes show a negative deviation

suggesting that they own lesser share of land as compared to

their share in the houses.
Table 4.16 : DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, VILLAGE DEHMAN,
HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Number of Percentage Rank,Percentage Rank, land Rank,

houses of total share of total ownership differnt

JAT 200 32.41 I I 0

AHIR 175 28.36 II II 0
CHAMAR 100 16.20 III III 0
DHANAK 70 11.34 IV IX -5
BRAHMAN 15 2.43 V VI -1
MAHAJAN 14 2.26 VI IV +2
KHATI 14 2.26 VI V +1
LUHAR 10 1.62 VII - -7
KUMHAR 07 1.13 VIII IX -1
NAI 07 1.13 VIII - -8
HERI 05 0.81 IX - -9

Total 617 100.00 _ _

Source : Based on field study

3. Village Teliwara :

The village Teliwara (Fig 4.12) is situated about 8

kilometers in the west of Ratia on Ratia -Tohana road. It has

a population of 577 persons (as per census, 1991) with a

total area of 1340 acres. The village 'abadi' covered the

area about 15 acres within the village phirni. The dominant

social group is Jat Sikhs although total number of castes

living togther is 10. At the time of survey 104 residential

houses were found.

The village was originaly inhabited by a person

named Wariam Singh son of Shri Vir Singh (Jat Chahal) with

the permission of king of Patiala in the year 1824 (Punjab

Revenue Record - Hisar, Bandobast 1909-10). After living

alone for some years a few other people were asked to settle

by him around 1848 A.D. These people included Gandhu Mai,

Vaisakhi Mai and Mahra. In the subsequent period other castes

also settled in the village. The village name comes from the

joining of two words i.e Teli (person who came along with

Warian Singh) and 'wara/(a place where cattles are kept). The

village had been named after the 'wara' constructed by Teli.

In Teliwara, the dominant caste is Jat Sikh who occupy 40.38

per cent of the total residential houses. They occupy the

core of the village and other best parts in the southern and

northen direction. The Balmikis and Boria castes having 18.26

276
and 4.80 per cent of residential houses are settled in the

north-western part of the village. Chamars find their

location in the western and south-western portion of the

settlement. The Auds, Naiks, Luhars, Bania and Chimbi are

found to scattered in different section of the perphery.

As is evident from the Table 4.11 Jat Sikhs are

dominant both in terms of size of agrictural fields and

number of houses in the village. Rest of the castes show

negative deviation ranging from -2 in case of Balmiki to -

10 in case of Chimbies there is no agricultural land in the

name of these castes.

4. Village Bhana :

The village Bhana (Fig. 4.13) is situated 21 kilometers in

the south-east of Fatehabad on the Agroha- Fatehabad link

road. It has a population of 3177 persons (as per census,

1991) having a total area of 3716 acres. The village 'abadi'

is confined to 39 acres of land within phirni. There are 11

castes living togther with Bishnoi the dominant caste in the

village. In 1834 A.D., the village land was given to Daulat

Singh of Rajput caste by the British Government (Punjab

Revenue Record, Hisar, Bandobast 1909-10). At that time it

was uninhabited land which was inhabited by the Bishnois who

came here as tenants. With the course time the Bishnois

 278

Table 4.17 : DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, VILLAGE TELIWARA,

HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Number of Percentage Rank,Percentage Rank, land Rank,

houses of total share of total ownership difference

JAT SIKH 42 40.38 I I

o
MAJBHI (BALMIKI) 19 18.26 II

ro
-

BAJIGAR 17 16.34 III

w
-

■c»
CHAMAR 07 6.73 IV -

AUD 06 5.76 V -

BOR IA 05 4.80 VI -

NAIK 04 3.84 VII -

LUHAR 02 1.92 VIII -

MAHAJAN 01 0.96 IX -

CHHIMBI 01 0.96 IX -

Total I 104 | 100.00

Source : Based on field study

27'J
became the owners of the land.

At present there are 419 residential houses in the

village . The Bishnois occupy 56.56 per cent of the total

residential houses. They are settled near the core of the

village. The Brahman who occupy 0.71 per cent houses and

Rajputs having 1.67 per cent houses also find their positions

near the core of the settlement. The castes Balmikis and

Chamars occupying 8.35 and 14.55 per cent residential houses

are settled in the north-western part of the settlement.

Dhanaks are settled in west, Doom in the North Khati, Kumhar

and Punjabi have their residential houses scattered around

the core of the village.

The Table 4.18 shows that the Bishnois and Dhanaks

are placed in the same rank order in the case of agricultural

land and number of residential houses. Suthars, Rajputs,

Dooms and Brahman show positive daviation of the value +1,

+3, +1 & +3 respectively. The remaining castes show negative

deviation in case of Chamar -1, Balmiki -4, Nai -2 & Kumhar

-3. This suggests that the share in the agricultural land of

these communities less as compare to their higher share in

the number of residential houses in the village.

5. Village Gawar :

The village Gawar (Fig. 4.14) is situated about 11 kilometers

 281
Table 4.18 : DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, VILLAGE BHANA,
HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Number of Percentage Rank,Percentage Rank, land Rank

houses of total share of total ownership diff
BISHNOI 237 56.56 I I 0
CHAMAR 61 14.55 II III -1
SUNAR 40 09.54 III II 1
BALMIKI 35 8.35 IV VIII -4
DHANAK 16 3.81 V V 0
SYAMI 10 2.38 VI
RAJPUT 07 1.67 VII IV 3
DOOM 06 1.43 VIII VII 1
BRAHAMAN 03 0.71 IX VI 3
NAI 03 0.71 IX XI -2
KUMHAR 01 0.23 X XIII -3
Total 419 100.00 - _

Source : Based on field study

 0 0')
u nw

from Siwani and 25 kilometers from Hisar in the sout-west of

Hisar city on Siwani-Hisar link road. It has a population of

2188 persons (as per census,1991) having a total area of 4582

acres. The village 'abadi' is confined in the area of 25

acres within the phirni. There are 14 castes living togther

witn Jat as a dominant caste in the village.

The origin of the village is related to the

Gawaria sub-caste of Jat. In 1813 A.D. a person named Misri

Gawaria occupied the village land and settled there (Punjab

Revenue Record, Hisar, Bandobast 1909-19). After some time,

his relatives belonging to other sub-castes like Beniwal were

asked to settle there. Subseguently the arrival of other

castes was followed . The village has been named Gawar

because it was settled by the Gawarias.

At present there are 359 residential houses. The

dominant Jats occupy 52.64 per cent of the total residential

houses. A large portion of the core area is occupied by the

Jats. Another castes Bania, a trading community, finds its

residential position very near to the nucleus of the

settlement. The Banias occupy 2.78 per cent of the houses.

One more caste of the highest social status in the religio-

ritual hierarchy, Brahmin, finds advantageous location around

the nucleus of the village. The communities living adjacent

to the core area are Bishnoi with 5.01 per cent houses, Khati
with 3.62 per cent houses, Nai with 2.78 per cent houses,

Syami with 0.83 per cent houses and Ahir with 0.55 per cent

of the total residential houses of the village. The other

service castes like chamar, Kumhar, Chimbi, Luhar and Dhanak

are found to be occupying their houses in the peripheral

areas of the village. Chamars having 13.92 per cent houses

are settled in the north-east and eastern parts of the

village. The Kumhars and Chimbis are found to be located in

the form of patches in the south eastern parts of the

village. Dhanaks have their residential houses towards the

west and north-west from the core of the settlement. The

remaining castes of the lower social order are scattered on

the peripheries of the village (Fig. 4.14). Thus, the socio-

spatial structure of the village Gawar perfectly fits into

the Religio - Ritual Model.

The Table 4.19 shows that the Jats and Syami

possess the agricultural land according to their share in the

residential houses. The castes indicating positive deviation

are Bishnoi (+1), Kumhar (+1), Nai (+1), Bania (+5), Brahmin

(+1), and Ahir (+2). The remaining castes like Chamar,

Dhanak, Khati and Chimbi show negative deviation ranging from

-2 in case of Chamar and Khati to -10 in the case of Dhanak.

This suggest to their lower share in agricultural land in

relation to the number of houses they occupy in the village.

Table 4.19 : DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, VILLAGE GAWAR,
HISAR DISTRICT

Caste Number of Percentage Rank,Percentage Rank, land Rank,

houses of total share of total ownership difference
JAT 189 52.64 I I 0
CHAMAR 50 13.92 II IV -2
DHANAK 23 6.40 III XIII -10
BISHNOI 18 5.01 IV III +1
KHATI 13 3.62 V VII -2
KUMHAR 12 3.34 VI V +1
NAI 10 2.78 VII VI +1
BERAGI 10 2.78 VII - -7
MAHAJAN 10 2.78 VII II +5
CHHIMBI 07 1.94 VIII XI -3
BRAHMAN 06 1.67 IX VIII +1
LUHAR 06 1.67 IX -
-9
SYAMI 03 0.83 X X 0
AHIR 02 0.55 XI IX +2
Total 359 100.00 .

Source : Based on field study

 VILLAG E GAWAR

SOCIO-SPATIAL STRUCTURE N

I
INDEX
JAT

CHAMAR

BiSHNOI

MAHAJAN

KHATI

i ' dhanak
ill
kumhar

NAI

BRAHMAN

S YAM I

AHIR
-v * t
* + -H
CHHIMBI
INCHES 6 ?° LUHAR
CHOPAL

F i cj 4 14 O A L » i* S i MO H
RESUME :

Morphology of rural settlements in the study area has been

studied in terms of village form or pattern and structure.

On the basis of layout characteristics, various

village patterns have been identified in the study region.The

most commonly found village patterns are like rectangular,

square, circular, triangular, polygonal, L and T, amorphous,

linear, oval, double village,checker board,semi-circular and

irregular patterns. The causal factors of these patterns

which include both the physical and cultural elements of the

landscape have been discussed while describing the process of

obtaining such shapes by the individual villages. The

regional distribution of village patterns indicates that

about 40 per cent of the total 510 villages have assumed

rectangular shape with maximum concentration in the Balsareand

Undulating Plain with Sand dunes zone. The second dominant

shape square has been found in case of about 24 per cent

villages with largest occurrence in Ghaggar Flood Plain. The

village-pattern and population size relationship reveals that

the rectangular and square patterns are most commonly found

in small population size settlements, while the circular or

near circular village-forms are associated with the larger

sized rural settlements.

 2K7

Morphological structure of rural settlements has

been studied by taking into consideration the characteristics

of rural dwellings,economic structure,field structure and

socio-spatial structure. About 34 per cent of the total

houses have one or two rooms.On the basis of the building

material used dwellings have been classified into three types

viz. (i) Kutcha houses, (ii) Pucca houses, and (iii) Mixed

houses. Most of the houses (69.33 per cent ) in the study

area are built of burnt bricks. Roofs are largely (75.36 per

cent ) built of timber and burnt bricks. In case of house

floors, about 70 per cent are made out of mud. About 90 per

cent of the houses have courtyard and 32 per cent dwellings

have verandah. Only 14 per cent houses have the provision of

latrines / toilets. The old Hindu buildings give combined

expressions of both Hindu and Mughal architecture. The per

capita income of the rural people is about Rs. 321 per month

of which 70 per cent comes from the primary and 30 per cent

from the secondary economic activities. About 71 per cent of

the income is used for food and clothing. The distributional

pattern of fields indicates that cultivated lands belonging

to dominant castes in the village find closer proximity to

the core of the settlement. Besides, social and economic

status also determines the field distance from the centre of

the village. The socio-spatial structure of the five sample

villages by and large fits well into the Religio-Ritua 1

Model. The dominant caste (like Rajput, Jat,Jat sikh,etc.)and

the castes of higher social status like Brahmin and Bania

have their residential houses near or very near to the core

of the settlement. While, on the other hand, the people

belonging to service castes of lower social order in the

ritual-hierarchy occupy the less advantageous locations on

the peripheries.

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