| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan • India • | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Khari Boli • Awadhi • Haryanvi • | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Gaddi, Muslim Rajput |
The Muslim Gaddi are a Muslim Rajput community found mainly in northern India. After the partition of India in 1947, many of the Gaddi in the states of Haryana and Delhi migrated to Pakistan and are now found in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. In Pakistan and North India, community members are called Ghazi. Muslim Gaddi were Rajputs in origin that converted to Islam. [1]
Traditionally, the Gaddis were Rajput (Kshatriya varna ) who were defeated by Sultan Mahmud Ghazni in Sindh province, where they had several republics. Following their defeat, Mahmud Ghazni converted them to Islam. After converting to Islam, they became known as Muslim Gaddi Or Ghazi . The Gaddi are now found in the central and southern parts of Pakistan's Punjab, Muzaffargarh, Onkara, Sheikhpura, Gujranwala and Nankana Sahib, especially in the cities of Gujranwala, Sheikhpura, Kot Addu and Kundhiya. Most of the Gaddi Or Ghazi of Punjab live in villages equipped with modern facilities, where a large number are employed in the army and police departments, as in India. They marry within their caste groups and are Sunni Muslims, who speak Haryanvi, Punjabi and Urdu languages. Muslim Gaddis displaced from Rajasthan and Delhi in India are settled in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh, Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur etc. [2]
While some other reference told Gaddis linked with Hindu Shahi dynsty, according to historians, the Gaddis are descendants of the Hindu Shahi dynasty. The last Rajput king of Hindu Shahiya dynsty Bhimpala was killed in the battle with Mahmud of Ghazni, thus bringing an end to the Hindu Shahi dynasty. After this, the king's family members and soldiers left Afghanistan and fled towards the Himalayas where they came to be known as Gaddis. [3]
The Hindu Shahis, also referred to as the Kabul Shahis and Uḍi Śāhis, were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and their core territory was described as having contained the regions of Gandhara and in current Eastern Afghanistan, encompassing the area up to the Sutlej river in modern day Punjab, expanding into the Kangra valley.
Al-Biruni, an Iranian polyglot and the only contemporary source on the dynasty, described that the Hindu Shahis as Brahmins. However this view goes against the opinions of authors from later centuries. Kashmiri historian, Kalhana in his 12th century work Rajatarangini, described the Hindu Shahis of being of Rajput ( Kshatriya varna ).
There also exists an alpine Hindu nomadic community sharing the same name of Gaddis. Hindu Gaddis also include castes such as Brahmins, Rajputs, and Dhangar etc. They are distinct from the Muslim Gaddi community because Muslim Gaddi Community do not rear sheep and goats. Therefore, these two communities are distinct. We all know from history that both of them have the same name. The Muslim Gaddis were traditionally from the Khastriya varna, who embraced farming and Islam after the defeat of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni . We also know from history that the Muslim Gaddi community has never raised sheep and goats. Therefore, these two communities are distinct. [4]
While some historians believe the Muslim Gaddi community originated from the of Rajasthan, the Muslim Gaddi community is also known as Ghazi in Pakistan and northern India, which in Arabic means Warrior. Hindu Gaddi rajput community in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir also consider themselves descendants of the Gadhavi rulers of Rajasthan. [2]
In North India, the Gaddi are a community that has been associated with farming, mostly cattle. They are involved in the selling of milk, especially those settled in towns. Some owns the huge parts of Land that are earned by hard work of their ancestors. They have much in common with other pastoral communities, In addition, the western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana the Gaddi have always possessed agricultural land, and are a small and medium scale cultivators. However, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the word Gaddi is almost become synonymous with milk selling. [5] [ page needed ]
Many Gaddi Muslims, especially younger generations, are moving into fields such as teaching, administration, and healthcare, though challenges remain, including a lack of adequate infrastructure in some regions. Many Gaddi Muslims, especially those in urban centers like Ranchi, Dhanbad, Sambhalpur, Jamshedpur have diversified into more lucrative sectors such as real estate, trade, and large-scale business.
The Rajak Dairy Farm was likely established in the early 20th century as part of Tata Steel's initiatives to contribute to local community welfare and development in the Jamshedpur region. Tata Steel, founded in 1907, had a long history of contributing to the welfare of the local population, not only through industrial jobs but also by investing in rural development. The dairy farm, as part of these efforts, aimed at improving the local economy through modern agricultural practices and providing a reliable source of milk and dairy products to both the town and surrounding rural areas. The prominent clients/customers involved the Center point hotel, the Sonnet in Jamshedpur. The establishment was sold in 2007 to industrialists who replaced it with to hotels such as Ramada Group and Alcor Hotels, respectively. [6] While there is no specific record of any major national-level politician or statesperson identifying explicitly as a Gaddi Muslim, there are several local and regional leaders in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh who may have ancestral ties to Gaddi communities. Some of them have played roles in advocating for the rights and development of Muslims in their states. In Bihar, Gaddi Muslims have historically been involved in local politics, particularly in village panchayats and smaller constituencies. They are often seen as community leaders in their rural areas, though many do not achieve national prominence.
The western Uttar Pradesh Gaddi, like other neighbouring peasant castes have benefited from the effects of the green revolution, and many have successfully begun mechanising their farming, such as buying tractors. [7] [ page needed ]
The Gaddi are Muslims of the Sunni sect, following various denominations such as Hanafi, Barelvi, Deobandi, and even local Folk Islam. They are an endogamous community, practising clan and village exogamy in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (i.e. not marrying within the clan). Among other Gaddi communities, marriages are preferred within the biradari, and with a marked preference for parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. The Gaddi tend to reside in multi clan and multi religious villages, often occupying their own quarters. In western Uttar Pradesh, the Gaddi are what is often referred to as the dominant clan, usually making between half and two thirds of the population of the village, and their villages are referred to as Gaddi villages. [8] [ page needed ]
Tata Steel, which has historically been a major employer in the region, has also been involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at improving educational access in the region. Tata-run schools and initiatives such as Tata Skills Development Program have contributed to local educational empowerment, including for girls.
Like many other rural Muslim communities in Bihar and Jharkhand, Gaddi Muslims have gradually shifted from traditional occupations like animal husbandry to real-estate prominently, or income-generating activities such as trade, and local businesses. However, like many in the region, they continue to face challenges in terms of economic mobility and access to modern job markets. Education has been a key area of progress. Bihar/Jharkhand, in particular, has seen efforts to increase literacy rates among its Muslim population, including programs targeting rural communities.
The state of girl education among Gaddi Muslims in India is a work in progress, shaped by both challenges and opportunities. While significant strides have been made in improving the enrollment of girls in schools, there are still considerable hurdles to overcome, particularly in terms of early marriage, economic barriers, and cultural norms. The educational challenges and gender disparities for Gaddi Muslim girls are indeed more pronounced in rural areas rather than urban centers like Jamshedpur, Patna, Ranchi, or Bihar's other cities, where educational infrastructure and socio-economic conditions tend to be better.
In Delhi, through the efforts of the late Mr Noor Mohammad (advocate), an All India Gaddi Welfare Association(AIGWA) was founded in the year 1988, with the aim of uniting and the social upliftment of Gaddis from various parts of India. Gaddis have contributed to the development of modern India by effectively taking part in the scientific and technical establishments, medical profession, legal fraternity, and politics of India. Many Gaddis in India have migrated for better educational and financial opportunities to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Many Gaddis have emigrated to western countries in pursuit of better prospects. According to Khalid Rehman Ghazi S/o Late Abdur Rehman Ghazi, A Master's degree holder in History from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Indian Muslim Gaddi originated from Turky. He says that the Turkish Gaddi cmmunity came in India during the time of Mehmood Gaznavi as soldiers and ultimately settled in India. This community remain loyal with every ruling class in India. Even they remain loyal to the British Government and today this community have four MLAs in Utter Pradesh.
The positive trends observed in urban areas highlight that with the right combination of community support, Tata Group led initiatives, and increased awareness. [9]