ROZER ASEEL

NAMES - ASEEL, ASIL OR ASLI ?

The name of the breed can be written in various ways as in India and neighbouring countries various (local) names excist. This of course caused by the complexity of the Indian languages. The meaning of the names Asil, Aseel or Asli is "purebred"or "from pure decent'. These names are originally of Persian-Arabic origin. Before Islamic rule the Asil and sub-varieties were only known throughout the Indian continent by their local names. How come they were called Asil, Aseel or Asli ? The answer lays in the history of India (including Pakistan and Bangladesh). Onwards the 7th century the north of India (and Pakistan) slowly came under Islamic rule. This Islamic conquest of the northern part of India started with the invasions of the Turkish-Afghani Ghaznavids. This finally resulted in the founding of the great Islamic Mughal dynasty in 1707 ! Islamic culture including the use of the Persian-Arabic language influenced Indian society and culture. Therfor the name Asil or Aseel must have been introduced by the Muslim rulers. Asil are throughout India also known by their local names.

BREED CLASSIFICATION

In my opinion the Asil family can devided into two main groups, the small Reza type (also known in some Western countries incorrectly known as -Rajah-type) and the large Asil type (in western countries known as Kulang Asil). As mentioned in the "Name" paragraph the information is based on the information (whereunder local names) provided by breeders from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Russia (Caucasus region) and Central Asian republics (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Dagestan, etcetera). Other ideas and Asil classification systems excist. Visitors of this website should after analysis the displayed information decide what for him or her is the most plausible or logic interpetation of the listed information. Remark: some sources in and outside the Indian- subcontinent also mention a third Asil group, the socalled mediumweight Asil, in many countries outside India referred to as "Calcutta Asil". There however no evidence to backup this claim.

ASIL COLOURS

The color names such as Sonatol, Jawa, Amir Ghan, Kaptan (Kalkatiya) are mainly used outside India and these expressions refer to the names used in the old kingdom of Oudh. The massive presenece of British troops and a loyal "Nawab"(local Muslim ruler) made this region very important. It was a stronghold for the British and stiff promotion of this region was made by good old Herbert Atkinson (see his publications) and his friends which were stationed as servicemen or administrators in this area. Today this former kingdom is known as Awadh and is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh (with famous cities like Lucknow and Allahabad). Native Indians, Pakistani, Bangla and Sinhala people use colour names (for example Zardi = yellow, Lakha = red, Kala or Kali = black , Naila = blue, etcetera) or names which refer to a qualtiy or specific features (for example Jangli = wild, Kalkatiya = black spurs) or even names of places (for example Amroha, Mianwali, Rampur, etcetera).

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