jatis

Jatis were occupational communities in Indian society—groups of families linked by a common work or craft, and by shared rules and customs.

• Work and identity together: A jati often included people involved in the same kind of livelihood (for example, weaving, pottery, farming, metalwork, trading, or service work). Over time, the occupation became a strong part of the group’s social identity.
• Local and regional: Jatis were usually organised at the level of a town, village, or region. The same broad occupation could have different jatis in different places, each with its own traditions and status.
• Rules and support: Many jatis had informal councils or leaders who helped settle disputes, maintained community rules, and supported members in times of need—especially important in periods when political power was unstable.
• How jatis shaped the economy: Because skills were passed down and work was organised through trusted community ties, production and services could continue smoothly—whether it was cloth being woven, pots being made, or goods being transported and sold.
• Not the same as “varna”: Varna is a broad four-fold idea found in some texts, while jati refers to the many real, everyday social groups people actually belonged to. There were (and are) hundreds of jatis.

Understanding jatis helps explain how everyday life and local economies stayed organised and resilient, even when kings and kingdoms changed.