Valmiki caste

Valmiki is a name used by a variety of communities throughout India who all claim descent from the author of the Ramayana, Valmiki. The Valmikis can be classified as a caste or Sampradaya (tradition/sect).[1] In the North West Punjab region, this caste had adopted Sikhism. They were given the task of engaging in war. The Indian British government recruited them in their army and declared them a martial caste.[2] During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many valmiki were prominent freedom fighters. Notable examples include Matadin Bhangi, Gangu Mehtar, Bhura Singh Valmiki. At the present time many changes have been seen in this caste, now they incline towards politics[3] and government high positions.

This article is about the Indian caste community. It is not to be confused with Balmiki sect.

According to the 2001 Census of India, the Valmikis formed 11.2 per cent of the Scheduled Caste population in Punjab[4] and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste in Delhi National Capital Region.[5][6] The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241.[7]

South India

In South India the term is mainly used as a self-identification by the Boya or Bedar caste, a traditional hunting and martial caste who are considered as Backward castes now changed by government of Andhra Pradesh into scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh, Most Backward caste (MBC) in Tamil Nadu and Scheduled Tribe in Karnataka. The Valmikis are mainly concentrated in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh and in Bellary, Raichur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka, although they are spread all over the state.[8][9] They also built a temple of Valmiki in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.[10] In Andhra Pradesh they are known as Boya Valmikis or Valmikis.[11][12]

Other countries

In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. Valmiki Hindu Jati (in Hindi). 19 January 2021. ISBN 9789350485668.
  2. "Sikhi Wiki".
  3. "बैठक: पूर्व मंत्री कृष्ण कुमार बेदी के समर्थन में उतरा वाल्मीकि समाज, आज फिर बुलाई महापंचायत". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 28 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  4. "Punjab: Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Census I. 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. "Delhi: Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes" (PDF). Census India. 2001. p. 1. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. Leslie, J.(2003) Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki. Ashgate publishing their favorite weapon is karha . ISBN 0754634302
  7. "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  8. Caste,Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh:Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories (PDF), Osmania University
  9. J. Sreenath; S. H. Ahmad (1989). All India anthropometric survey: analysis of data. South Zone. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 37.
  10. Mohammad, Afsar (December 2013). The Festival of Pirs: Popular Islam and Shared Devotion in South India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199997596.
  11. Virendra Kumar (1975). Committees and Commissions in India, 1947-73: 1979 (2 v.). Concept Publishing Company. p. 42. ISBN 9788170225089.
  12. Beals, Alan R. (29 September 2017), "The South Indian World", Village Life in South India, Routledge, pp. 27–44, doi:10.4324/9781351299923-1, ISBN 978-1-351-29992-3, retrieved 7 August 2021
  13. Jacobs, Stephen (2010). Hinduism Today: An Introduction. A & C Black.
  14. "Memorandum submitted by Central Valmiki Sabha International (UK)". United Kingdom Parliament. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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