Jadgal people

The Jadgal (also known as Nummaṛ or az-Zighālī) is an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group which speaks the Jadgali language. Jadgals are present in the Balochistan region of Iran and Pakistan, as well as in Oman.

Etymology
The "Jadgal" is a balochi language term, made of two words Jad (Jat) and Gal (speech, organization, group), basically a group of jats. The balochs historically used the Jadgal word for indigenous Sindhis of Makran, and Jadgali for their language.

History
Jadgal people are often connected with the Jats of Balochistan. They migrated from Sindh via Bela to Panjgur. Anthropologist Henry Field notes the origin of the Jadgals to be in the western Indian subcontinent; they subsequently migrated to Kulanch and are still found in Sindh and Balochistan. the term was used to distinguish between a Sindhi and pure baloch. Regardless of their origins, they are generally seen as Baloch by the society in Balochistan.

When the Arabs arrived in modern-day Sindh 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 against the Sultanate of Oman.

Demographics
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, Hormozgan and Kerman provinces.

Language
Jadgal people in Balochistan speak Jadgali language, although they converse with strangers in Balochi. Many linguists believe the Lasi dialect of the Lasi people may be related to Jadgali.

Tribes

 * Sardarzahi
 * Bizenjo
 * Zehri
 * Sasoli
 * Mengal
 * Mir
 * Hoot