Lalkhani

Lalkhani
Regions with significant populations
• India • Pakistan
Languages
• Urdu • Hindi
Religion
• Islam 100% •
Related ethnic groups
• Bargujar • Ranghar • Malkana • Rajput

The Lalkhani are a Muslim Rajput community, found in North India. They are a sub-division of the Bargujar clan of Rajputs. The community is found mainly in the districts of Aligarh and Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. They are found in Dataganj and Gunnaur tehsils of Badaun District. The term Lalkhani does not apply to all Muslim Bargujar, as those originally from Haryana, now found in Punjab, Pakistan are a distinct community.[1]

Origin

The Bargujar ancestors of the Lalkani came from Rajasthan and settled in the Doab in the 12th century. According to their traditions, they were invited by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler of North India, to deal with the Chandel Rajputs who were causing trouble for the king. They get their name from Lal Singh, who was a favourite of Akbar and was given title of Lal Khan. His grandson, who converted to Islam during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir,[2] together with his brother Ahmed Khan, Bikram Khan, Kamal Khan and Rai Khan, from whom descend the Lalkhani, Ahmadkhani, Bikramkhani, Kemalkhani and Raimani clans of Muslim Bargujars. As a result of the conversion, the Lalkhanis were granted 64 villages, and became substantial landowners. The term Lalkhani now covers the Lalkhani proper, as well as the other four clans. With the breakup of the Mughal Empire, the Lalkhani chieftains craved out several Zamindari estates in North Western and United Provinces, the main ones being Pahasu, Chhatari, Danpur, Dharampur, Pindrawal, Sadabad, Jalpi, Chhava, Uniassa, Bhadanwara[3][4] and Talib Nagar, and from their clan came the Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari "Nawab of Chhatari", a prominent Muslim League politician, and last Prime Minister of the Hyderabad State.[1]

Custom and traditions

Other than the former jagirdar families, most Lalkhani are small- to medium-scale farmers, with their villages densest in the area bordering the districts of Bulandshahr and Aligarh. A few villages are also found in Badaun District, mainly in Dataganj and Gunnaur tehsils.

The Lalkhani marry into other Rajput Muslim clans in the neighbourhood, such as the Pundirs and Chauhan, as well as marrying close kin, and have no concept of clan exogamy. They are Sunni Muslims, historically they incorporated several Hindu beliefs, but many of these practices have now been abandoned. The Lalkhani speak standard Urdu,.

Notable Lalkhanis

References

  1. 1 2 People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two edited by A Hasan & J C Das
  2. ↑ The Caste System of Northern India By Sir Edward Blunt. p. 203.
  3. ↑ Mathura-Brindaban-The Mystical Land Of Lord Krishna By F. S. Growse. pp. 36–37.
  4. ↑ Robinson, Francis. Separatism Among Indian Muslims: The Politics of the United Provinces. Cambridge University Press.
  5. ↑ The Indian Year Book, Volume 23; Volumes 25-28 by Sir Stanley Reed. Bennett, Coleman & Company. 1941. pp. 916, 1085.
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