Dikhit Khanzada
Encyclopedia
The Dikhit Khanzada are a sub-group wirthin the Khanzada
community found in eastern Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They also refer to themselves as Dikhit Thakurs or sometimes just Thakurs. The Dikhit Khanzada are Muslim
converts from the Dikhit
Rajput
community.
, who converted to Islam
, and took the name Malikdad Khan. He founded the town of Lalauli, which has remained the centre of the tribe. In addition to Fatehpur District
, Dikhit Khanzada communities are also found in the districts of Banda
, Gorakhpur
, Sultanpur
and Kheri. The Banda District
Dikhit are said to have converted to Islam
at the hands of Mohammad Ghori, and as such call themselves Ghori Dikhit. They are found mainly in the villages of Adri, Piprodar, Mahabara, Hardauli, and Sobada.
s, except the taluqdar
families, but incorporate many folk beliefs. The Dikhit speak both Awadhi and Urdu
. They were at one time substantial landowners, but with the carrying out of land reform by the government of India
after independence in 1947, they lost many of their larger estates. The community are now small to medium sized farmers, growing wheat, sorghum, pulses and sugar cane. They have no caste council or panchayat, although there are localized panchayats in their villages. Although the community did practice clan exogamy, this is no longer the case.
The sense of Rajput identity amongst the Dikhit Khanzada remains strong, especially those of Fatehpur District
. In their marriages too, Rajput customs are followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. The community also practices clan exogamy, marrying into other Khanzada
communities such as the Gautam Khanzada
. Although Rajput traditions remain strong, the community are far more orthodox then neighbouring Khanzada
communities.
Khanzada (Awadh)
The Khanzada or Khan Zadeh are a community of Hindu converted Muslim Rajputs, found in the Awadh region of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. A few are also found in the state of Bihar. This community is distinct from the Rajasthan Khanzadas, who are also a community of Muslim Rajputs. They also...
community found in eastern Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They also refer to themselves as Dikhit Thakurs or sometimes just Thakurs. The Dikhit Khanzada are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
converts from the Dikhit
Dikhit
The Dikhit also known as Kinwar are a Hindu Rajput clan found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.- Origin :The clan gets its name from the Sanskrit word dikshita which means "the initiated". They are said have given the name by Rajah Vikramjit of Ujjain about 50 B.C. They claim to be...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
community.
Origin
The Dikhit Khanzada claim descent from Ram Singh Dikhit of what is now Fatehpur DistrictFatehpur district
Fatehpur district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district covers an area of 4,152 km². The district has a population of 2,308,384 . Fatehpur city is the administrative headquarters of the district. Located on the banks of the sacred rivers Ganges and...
, who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and took the name Malikdad Khan. He founded the town of Lalauli, which has remained the centre of the tribe. In addition to Fatehpur District
Fatehpur district
Fatehpur district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district covers an area of 4,152 km². The district has a population of 2,308,384 . Fatehpur city is the administrative headquarters of the district. Located on the banks of the sacred rivers Ganges and...
, Dikhit Khanzada communities are also found in the districts of Banda
Banda District
Banda district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Banda is the district headquarters. It is a part of Chitrakoot Division.Banda is famous for its Shajar stone, used for making jewellery, and the historically and architecturally significant sites Khajuraho and Kalinjar. Khajuraho is...
, Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...
, Sultanpur
Sultanpur District
Sultanpur District is a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. The district is a part of Faizabad Division. Its administrative head is Sultanpur.-History:...
and Kheri. The Banda District
Banda District
Banda district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Banda is the district headquarters. It is a part of Chitrakoot Division.Banda is famous for its Shajar stone, used for making jewellery, and the historically and architecturally significant sites Khajuraho and Kalinjar. Khajuraho is...
Dikhit are said to have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
at the hands of Mohammad Ghori, and as such call themselves Ghori Dikhit. They are found mainly in the villages of Adri, Piprodar, Mahabara, Hardauli, and Sobada.
Present circumstances
The Dikhit Khanzada are Sunni MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, except the taluqdar
Taluqdar
A taluqdar or talukdar , is a term used for Indian land holders in Mughal and British times, responsible for collecting taxes from a district...
families, but incorporate many folk beliefs. The Dikhit speak both Awadhi and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. They were at one time substantial landowners, but with the carrying out of land reform by the government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
after independence in 1947, they lost many of their larger estates. The community are now small to medium sized farmers, growing wheat, sorghum, pulses and sugar cane. They have no caste council or panchayat, although there are localized panchayats in their villages. Although the community did practice clan exogamy, this is no longer the case.
The sense of Rajput identity amongst the Dikhit Khanzada remains strong, especially those of Fatehpur District
Fatehpur district
Fatehpur district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district covers an area of 4,152 km². The district has a population of 2,308,384 . Fatehpur city is the administrative headquarters of the district. Located on the banks of the sacred rivers Ganges and...
. In their marriages too, Rajput customs are followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. The community also practices clan exogamy, marrying into other Khanzada
Khanzada (Awadh)
The Khanzada or Khan Zadeh are a community of Hindu converted Muslim Rajputs, found in the Awadh region of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. A few are also found in the state of Bihar. This community is distinct from the Rajasthan Khanzadas, who are also a community of Muslim Rajputs. They also...
communities such as the Gautam Khanzada
Gautam Khanzada
The Gautam Khanzada are a sub-group wirthin the Khanzada community found in eastern Uttar Pradesh in India. They also refer to themselves as Gautam Thakurs. The Gautam Khanzada are Muslim converts from the Gautam community.-Origin:...
. Although Rajput traditions remain strong, the community are far more orthodox then neighbouring Khanzada
Khanzada (Awadh)
The Khanzada or Khan Zadeh are a community of Hindu converted Muslim Rajputs, found in the Awadh region of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. A few are also found in the state of Bihar. This community is distinct from the Rajasthan Khanzadas, who are also a community of Muslim Rajputs. They also...
communities.