Chaush

The Chaush or Chaus are Muslim[1] community of Hadhrami Arab descent found in the Deccan region of India.[2] Chaush is an indianized version of the Arabic word JAYSH, which means Army. Most of the Arabs were drafted in Hyderabad army whether it was the Nizam's Army or the Nazm E Jamiat (irregular army). So that's how Chaush came in to existence

The Chaush or Chaus were brought from Yemen to work in the former Hyderabad State as military men and body guards 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 bodyguards. [3] They are most concentrated in the neighbourhood of Barkas in Hyderabad city and Aurangabad [3]Chaush are spread across erstwhile Hyderabad State(Deccan) notably in Adilabad, Nizamabad,Karimnagar,Asifabad, Kagaznagar,Parbhani and Balharsha. Many Chaush later settled in other parts of India, and around the world as part of the Hyderabadi diaspora, especially in Pakistan, and Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

The founders of both the Qu'aiti and Kathiri states in Hadhramawt had previously served as jemadars in Hyderabad.[4]

Most Arabs (Chaush) still take pride in their culture wearing traditional lungi and headgear called ghutra. Locals identify them by their tribes.

Among the best known 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]