Sikarwar Khanzada
Encyclopedia
The Sikarwar Khanzada are a Muslim
community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are a part of the wider Khanzada
community of eastern Uttar Pradesh
. The community uses the surname khan
.
converts from Sikarwar
Rajput
clan. They claim descent from Kamat Dev Sikarwar, who left Vijaipur Sikri now Fatehpur Sikri
, in AD-1527 after the 'Battle of Kanhua' with Babur . Kamat Dev became Karim Khan after conversion and established the Kamsar Paragna of Zamania in Ghazipur district in his name. Kamat Dev's genealogy descends from Pratap Rao Sikarwar who had constructed the Anup Tal of Sikri in his father's Anup Dev Sikarwar's name. The now shattered Elephant Gate of Sikri was also constructed by Pratap Rao. He had a son Udai Raj Sikarwar and a grandson Parmeshwar Dev Sikarwar. Parmeshwar in turn had three sons namely- Pujian Dev Sikarwar, Niverdhan Dev Sikarwar and Sahaj Dev Sikarwar. Sahaj Dev had a son by the name of Kamat Dev Sikarwar. It was Kamat Dev Sikarwar who was caught and converted by Babur after the 'Battle of Kanhua' along with three of his sons. Their names were- Puran Mal Sikarwar, Vishnu Dev Sikarwar and Naman Dev Sikarwar. After conversion Puran Mal became Akhram Khan, Vishnu became Ajmat Khan and Naman became Inayat Khan. After conversion Babur even gave Karim Khanji a state to rule in Sikri. Babur knew that if a ruler gets converted it becomes easier to convert the rest of the population. Karim Khan was a Prince of Vijaipur Sikri. Since he had converted under duress he gave away his state. The progeny of Vishnu or Ajmat Khan and Naman or Inayat Khan continues to reside at Sikri and Agra. They seem to call themselves 'Rangers'. The famous Salim Chiste, a contemporary of Akbar also seems to belong to this clan. The progeny of Puran Mal or Akhram Khan shifted to Eastern Uttar Pradesh. His father Karim Khan visited Rao Dham Dev Sikarwar (his Kin) (at Gahanban now Gahmar) during Akbar's rule. Rao Dham Dev Sikarwar was the last ruler of Sikri who fought against Babur.Akhram Khanji could be an ancestor of the Chaudhary family of Allahdadpur of Sultanpur District
. They were at one time substantial landowners of Sultanpur.The Sikarwar Khanzada of Zamania
tehsil
of Ghazipur District
reside in Kamsar Paragna.As per Madam Beveridge the translator of Baburnama, there is a 'Gap' of 15 MONTHS just before Babur's death in 1530 AD. These details if mentioned at all by Babur seem to have been removed from his records. Some Sikarwars of village Samauta also got converted to Islam
during Aurangzeb's period. . Edited by a Sikarwar of Gahmar..
s, who incorporate many folk beliefs. They are mainly small and medium sized farmers, from Aldamau in Sultanpur District
, where they occupy nine villages. They also occupy a number of villages near Zamania
in Ghazipur District
. In addition to the Sikarwar Khanzada, the Sikarwar converts who call themselves Ranghar
in Agra District
also belong to this clan.
Their sense of belonging to the Rajput
community remains strong. The Sikarwar Khanzada strongly identify themselves with the wider Rajput
community of wadh]. The persistence of their marriages customs, like bursting of crackers and sending specially made laddoos
to biradari members are some examples. Many continue to serve the armed forces of India
, an activity traditionally associated with Rajputs. The Khanzadas were badly affected after the amindari] system was abolished. Like other Indian Muslims, there is a movement towards orthodoxy, as many of their villages have started having madrasas. These madrasas have facilitated growth of Urdu
. It seems to replace Awadhi dialect that they speak traditionally. .
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 the state of 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 are a part of the wider 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...
community of 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...
. The community uses the surname khan
Khan (name)
Khan is a surname and title of Central Asian origin, primarily found in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.- Origin :...
.
Origin
Sikarwar Khanzada are 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...
converts from Sikarwar
Sikarwar
Sikarwar is a clan of Rajputs found around Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Sikarwars were the founders of Vijaypur Sikri by Babur.Some Jatt clans have adopted 'Sikarwar' as their Gotras....
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...
clan. They claim descent from Kamat Dev Sikarwar, who left Vijaipur Sikri now Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Built near the much older Sikri, the historical city of Fatehabad, as it was first named, was constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar beginning in 1570...
, in AD-1527 after the 'Battle of Kanhua' with Babur . Kamat Dev became Karim Khan after conversion and established the Kamsar Paragna of Zamania in Ghazipur district in his name. Kamat Dev's genealogy descends from Pratap Rao Sikarwar who had constructed the Anup Tal of Sikri in his father's Anup Dev Sikarwar's name. The now shattered Elephant Gate of Sikri was also constructed by Pratap Rao. He had a son Udai Raj Sikarwar and a grandson Parmeshwar Dev Sikarwar. Parmeshwar in turn had three sons namely- Pujian Dev Sikarwar, Niverdhan Dev Sikarwar and Sahaj Dev Sikarwar. Sahaj Dev had a son by the name of Kamat Dev Sikarwar. It was Kamat Dev Sikarwar who was caught and converted by Babur after the 'Battle of Kanhua' along with three of his sons. Their names were- Puran Mal Sikarwar, Vishnu Dev Sikarwar and Naman Dev Sikarwar. After conversion Puran Mal became Akhram Khan, Vishnu became Ajmat Khan and Naman became Inayat Khan. After conversion Babur even gave Karim Khanji a state to rule in Sikri. Babur knew that if a ruler gets converted it becomes easier to convert the rest of the population. Karim Khan was a Prince of Vijaipur Sikri. Since he had converted under duress he gave away his state. The progeny of Vishnu or Ajmat Khan and Naman or Inayat Khan continues to reside at Sikri and Agra. They seem to call themselves 'Rangers'. The famous Salim Chiste, a contemporary of Akbar also seems to belong to this clan. The progeny of Puran Mal or Akhram Khan shifted to Eastern Uttar Pradesh. His father Karim Khan visited Rao Dham Dev Sikarwar (his Kin) (at Gahanban now Gahmar) during Akbar's rule. Rao Dham Dev Sikarwar was the last ruler of Sikri who fought against Babur.Akhram Khanji could be an ancestor of the Chaudhary family of Allahdadpur of Sultanpur District
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:...
. They were at one time substantial landowners of Sultanpur.The Sikarwar Khanzada of Zamania
Zamania
Zamania is a city and a municipal board in Ghazipur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Zamania, as quoted by the historians is a name originated from Jamadagni Rishi .It is located on the banks of river Ganges. It is divided into two main towns Zamania tehsil and Zamania Railway station...
tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
of Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division...
reside in Kamsar Paragna.As per Madam Beveridge the translator of Baburnama, there is a 'Gap' of 15 MONTHS just before Babur's death in 1530 AD. These details if mentioned at all by Babur seem to have been removed from his records. Some Sikarwars of village Samauta also got converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
during Aurangzeb's period. . Edited by a Sikarwar of Gahmar..
Present circumstances
'Sikarwar Khanzadas' 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, who incorporate many folk beliefs. They are mainly small and medium sized farmers, from Aldamau in Sultanpur District
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:...
, where they occupy nine villages. They also occupy a number of villages near Zamania
Zamania
Zamania is a city and a municipal board in Ghazipur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Zamania, as quoted by the historians is a name originated from Jamadagni Rishi .It is located on the banks of river Ganges. It is divided into two main towns Zamania tehsil and Zamania Railway station...
in Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District
Ghazipur District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division...
. In addition to the Sikarwar Khanzada, the Sikarwar converts who call themselves Ranghar
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
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:...
also belong to this clan.
Their sense of belonging to the 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 remains strong. The Sikarwar Khanzada strongly identify themselves with the wider 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 of wadh]. The persistence of their marriages customs, like bursting of crackers and sending specially made laddoos
Laddu
Laddu or Laddoo is a ball-shaped sweet popular in South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh as well as countries with immigrants from South Asia. Laddu is made of flour and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe...
to biradari members are some examples. Many continue to serve the armed forces of 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...
, an activity traditionally associated with Rajputs. The Khanzadas were badly affected after the amindari] system was abolished. Like other Indian Muslims, there is a movement towards orthodoxy, as many of their villages have started having madrasas. These madrasas have facilitated growth of 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...
. It seems to replace Awadhi dialect that they speak traditionally. .