Teli is a caste traditionally associated with the extraction and trade of oil across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The community derives its name from its hereditary occupation of pressing oilseeds, historically carried out using the bullock-driven oil press known as the ghani. Over time, members of the community have diversified into a wide range of occupations, including agriculture, trade, and other forms of commerce.
Members of the Teli community follow different religious traditions. While many Teli are Hindu, others are Muslim; the Muslim Teli are commonly known as Roshandaar or Teli Malik. Within the broader Teli grouping, there are several sub-castes that reflect regional, occupational, and social distinctions, with some sub-groups identifying with higher mercantile status, such as the Telik Vaishya.
In contemporary India, the Teli community is included in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category by the Central government, which makes most of its members eligible for affirmative action measures in education and public employment. However, certain higher sub-castes within the Teli grouping, such as Telik Vaishya, are not part of the Central OBC list. Classification can also vary at the state level, reflecting regional social and economic conditions.
The community's identity is rooted in its traditional craft and trade networks, which have historically connected oilseed cultivators with local markets. Cultural practices, surnames, and customs vary considerably across regions, shaped by local language, religious affiliation, and the specific sub-caste to which a family belongs.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Teli.