Malkana
Encyclopedia
The Malkana are a Muslim
community found in Pakistan
and North India
. They are also known as Musalman Rajput.
Rajput
caste. They were converted during the reign of the Mohammed Shah Bangash, the Pathan
ruler of Farrukhabad
. They relate their story of their conversion to Islam
to an incident. Once, Qassim Ali, the son of a local Muslim ruler visited Farrukhabad
, and hunted peacock in the forest. A Hindu Rajput of the area, named Fateh Singh, murdered Qasim Ali, after being told the Qassim Ali had killed the peacock. The king, on hearing the death of his son, came to the locality, and challenged the Rajputs to battle. During the course of the battle, one of the Rajputs, Umroa Singh came in the custody of the Muslims. Once released, other members of the Rajput community considered him impure, and as result of this social ostracism, converted to Islam. He took the name the Amir Khan.
In Agra District
, the Malkana claimed descent from a number of Hindu castes. Those of Kiraoli
, where they occupy five villages, claim descent from a Jat. Other Malkana families in the district claim descent from Panwar, Chauhan
, Parihar
and Sikarwar Rajput
s. In Hathras District, they were found mainly near the town of Sadabad. They belonged to Jat and Gaurwa
communities that had converted to Islam. At the term of the 20th Century, the Malkana were a community that was on the religious faultline, as there customs were a mixture of Hindu and Muslim traditions. They kept Hindu names, used the salutation Ram Ram, and were endogamous. But the community buried their dead, practiced circumcision, and visited mosques on special occasions. This eclectic nature of the community led to attempts by both Hindu and Muslim revivalist to target them.
This has led to splits in the community, with many members of the community converted to Hindusim in the early part of the 20th Century, during the course of the shuddhi
movement. The shuddhi campaign among the Malkanas, was launched in early 1923 and led by the Arya Samaj
under Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. This re-conversion campaign reached its peak by the end of 1927, by which time some 1,63,000 Malkana Muslims are said to have been brought into the Hindu fold.
exogamy, like other North Indian Hindu communities. Lately, they have also started to marry with in the Pathan
and Mughal
communities. Uniquely, many Malkana still marry into families that are now Hindu, as a result of the shuddhi movement. It is not uncommon to have families, where close relatives are Hindu. Although the community is Sunni Muslim, they continue to observe many Hindu traditions, and celebrate the festivals of Diwali
and holi
. In Farrukhabad District
, their main clans are the Bais
, Chauhan
, Gaharwar, and Rathore
. While in Etah District
, their main clans are the Bhale Sultan and Bhatti.
The Malkana are agriculturists, and have customs similar to other Muslim peasant communities of North India. They have a traditional caste council, which is losing its influence, particularly among younger members of the community.
A small number of Malkana have also emigrated to Pakistan, after the partition of India
. There are now communities found in Karachi
.
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...
community found in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They are also known as Musalman Rajput.
History and origin
According to the traditions of the Farukhabad District Malkanas, they were originally members of the HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
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...
caste. They were converted during the reign of the Mohammed Shah Bangash, the Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
ruler of Farrukhabad
Farrukhabad District
Farrukhabad district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Fatehgarh is the district headquarters. The district is part of Kanpur Division....
. They relate their story of their conversion to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to an incident. Once, Qassim Ali, the son of a local Muslim ruler visited Farrukhabad
Farrukhabad
Farrukhābād , is one of the important cities of Central Doab Region in the State of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. The city was founded in 1717 by Mohammed Bangash who named it after the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar. Farrukhabad is situated on the bank of sacred river Ganges.-Demographics: India...
, and hunted peacock in the forest. A Hindu Rajput of the area, named Fateh Singh, murdered Qasim Ali, after being told the Qassim Ali had killed the peacock. The king, on hearing the death of his son, came to the locality, and challenged the Rajputs to battle. During the course of the battle, one of the Rajputs, Umroa Singh came in the custody of the Muslims. Once released, other members of the Rajput community considered him impure, and as result of this social ostracism, converted to Islam. He took the name the Amir Khan.
In Agra District
Agra District
Agra District is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and the historical city of Agra is the district headquarters. Agra district is a part of Agra division.-Geography:...
, the Malkana claimed descent from a number of Hindu castes. Those of Kiraoli
Kiraoli
Kiraoli is a town and a nagar panchayat in Agra district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Kiraoli is located at . It has an average elevation of 168 metres ....
, where they occupy five villages, claim descent from a Jat. Other Malkana families in the district claim descent from Panwar, Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
, Parihar
Parihar
Parihar is a clan which is part of many communities including Rajputs, Gurjars and Jats. According to the Handbook on Rajputs by famous British historian A. H...
and Sikarwar 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...
s. In Hathras District, they were found mainly near the town of Sadabad. They belonged to Jat and Gaurwa
Gaurwa
The Gaurwa are a Rajput community, found in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India.-History and origin:...
communities that had converted to Islam. At the term of the 20th Century, the Malkana were a community that was on the religious faultline, as there customs were a mixture of Hindu and Muslim traditions. They kept Hindu names, used the salutation Ram Ram, and were endogamous. But the community buried their dead, practiced circumcision, and visited mosques on special occasions. This eclectic nature of the community led to attempts by both Hindu and Muslim revivalist to target them.
This has led to splits in the community, with many members of the community converted to Hindusim in the early part of the 20th Century, during the course of the shuddhi
Shuddhi
Shuddhi is Sanskrit for purification. In Hinduism it is a part of worship. It also sometimes refers to reverting to Hinduism after converting from Hinduism to another religion.-Shuddhi movement:...
movement. The shuddhi campaign among the Malkanas, was launched in early 1923 and led by the Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
under Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. This re-conversion campaign reached its peak by the end of 1927, by which time some 1,63,000 Malkana Muslims are said to have been brought into the Hindu fold.
Present circumstances
The Malkana who have remained Muslim are an endogamous community, and practicing gotraGotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
exogamy, like other North Indian Hindu communities. Lately, they have also started to marry with in the Pathan
Rohilla
The Rohilla are a community of Hindi-speaking Pashtun also known as Pathan, historically found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. Most are now also found in Pakistan where they are now part of the Mohajir community. At one time, they form one of the largest Pashtun diaspora community...
and Mughal
Mughal (tribe)
The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...
communities. Uniquely, many Malkana still marry into families that are now Hindu, as a result of the shuddhi movement. It is not uncommon to have families, where close relatives are Hindu. Although the community is Sunni Muslim, they continue to observe many Hindu traditions, and celebrate the festivals of Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
and holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
. In Farrukhabad District
Farrukhabad District
Farrukhabad district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Fatehgarh is the district headquarters. The district is part of Kanpur Division....
, their main clans are the Bais
Bais Rajput
The Bais Rajput , are an ancient Rajput clan consisting of the wealthy, warriors, entrepreneurs and Zamindar .The Bais Rajput are one of the Chattis Rajkul - 36 Royal Rajput lineages...
, Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
, Gaharwar, and Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
. While in Etah District
Etah District
Etah district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Etah town is the district headquarters. Etah district is a part of Aligarh Division. It is dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs.-Economy:...
, their main clans are the Bhale Sultan and Bhatti.
The Malkana are agriculturists, and have customs similar to other Muslim peasant communities of North India. They have a traditional caste council, which is losing its influence, particularly among younger members of the community.
A small number of Malkana have also emigrated to Pakistan, after the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
. There are now communities found in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.