Milki (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Milki are a Muslim
community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are also known as Malik, and found entirely in the Awadh
region. A small number of Milki are also found in Karachi
in Pakistan
. The Milki, together with the Qidwai
, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group of a community who collectively form the Mian Muslim. The Mian Muslim were once a community of substantial landowners in the Awadh
region.
) of land were made during the period of the Delhi Sultanate
. They were given these grants of land as an incentive to settle the land. In Unnao District
, they were substantial landowners, and played an important role in the history of that district.
They were also the scribes, administrators, writers, magistrates, judges. lawyers, chief executive officers and village accountants in the Awadh
region. The Milki were also appointed to the position of clerks and official record keepers by the state. As part of their duties, they learnt Turkish
and Arabic
, economics, administration and taxation. They successfully adapted themselves as scribes and functionaries under the new colonial British. The Milki have much in common with the neighbouring Muslim
community, the Kayatha Muslim
, with whom they share many traditions and customs.
claim to be Siddiqui Shaikhs
, while those of Azamgarh
and Ballia
claim to be of Turk
origin. All the various groups of Milki intermarry, and there are also instances of intermarriage with the Qidwai
and Kayastha Muslim
communities. The Milki are also found in the districts of Faizabad
, Pratapgarh, Barabanki
and Allahabad
. Some Milk are Sunni, while other are Shia. They speak standard Urdu
, although most also have an understanding of the Awadhi dialect of Hindi
.
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 also known as Malik, and found entirely in the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
region. A small number of Milki are also 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...
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...
. The Milki, together with the Qidwai
Qidwai
The Qidwai or Kidwai are a community of Muslims in Pakistan and India. They are mostly settled in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also settled in the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The Qidwai, together with the Milki, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group of a...
, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group of a community who collectively form the Mian Muslim. The Mian Muslim were once a community of substantial landowners in the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
region.
Origin
The Milki get their name from the fact that their ancestors were a class to whom revenue free grants (milk in PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
) of land were made during the period of the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
. They were given these grants of land as an incentive to settle the land. In Unnao District
Unnao District
Unnao District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Unnao is the district headquarters. The district is part of Lucknow Division.-History:...
, they were substantial landowners, and played an important role in the history of that district.
They were also the scribes, administrators, writers, magistrates, judges. lawyers, chief executive officers and village accountants in the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
region. The Milki were also appointed to the position of clerks and official record keepers by the state. As part of their duties, they learnt Turkish
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, economics, administration and taxation. They successfully adapted themselves as scribes and functionaries under the new colonial British. The Milki have much in common with the neighbouring 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...
community, the Kayatha Muslim
Muslim Kayasths
The Kayastha Muslim are community of Muslims, descendents of members of the Kayasth caste who embraced Islam. They live in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan and many have now settled in United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The community uses...
, with whom they share many traditions and customs.
Present Circumstances
The Milki of Unnao DistrictUnnao District
Unnao District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Unnao is the district headquarters. The district is part of Lucknow Division.-History:...
claim to be Siddiqui Shaikhs
Siddiqui
Siddiqui, is a Muslim family name, found in the South Asia and the Middle East. Shaikh is an additional title used occasionally by Siddiqui/Siddique to signify their Arab heritage...
, while those of Azamgarh
Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...
and Ballia
Ballia District
Ballia district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Ballia district is a part of Azamgarh Division situated in eastern Part of Uttar Pradesh. Main occupation is agriculture. Ballia City is district headquarters and commercial Market of this district. There are four Tehsil in...
claim to be of Turk
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
origin. All the various groups of Milki intermarry, and there are also instances of intermarriage with the Qidwai
Qidwai
The Qidwai or Kidwai are a community of Muslims in Pakistan and India. They are mostly settled in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also settled in the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The Qidwai, together with the Milki, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group of a...
and Kayastha Muslim
Muslim Kayasths
The Kayastha Muslim are community of Muslims, descendents of members of the Kayasth caste who embraced Islam. They live in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan and many have now settled in United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The community uses...
communities. The Milki are also found in the districts of Faizabad
Faizabad District
See also: Faizabad Faizabad district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Faizabad city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district occupies an area of 2,764 km²...
, Pratapgarh, Barabanki
Barabanki District
The Barabanki district is one of four districts of Faizabad division, lies at the very heart of Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and forms as it were a centre from which no less than seven other districts radiate...
and Allahabad
Allahabad District
Allahabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Allahabad town is the district headquarters. Allahabad district is a part of Allahabad Division.As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttar Pradesh ....
. Some Milk are Sunni, while other are Shia. They speak standard 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...
, although most also have an understanding of the Awadhi dialect of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
.
See also
- Shaikh of Uttar PradeshShaikh of Uttar PradeshThe Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Quite a few Shaikh have immigrated to Pakistan, where they form an important element in the Muhajir community...
- SiddiquiSiddiquiSiddiqui, is a Muslim family name, found in the South Asia and the Middle East. Shaikh is an additional title used occasionally by Siddiqui/Siddique to signify their Arab heritage...
- Qidwai ShaikhQidwaiThe Qidwai or Kidwai are a community of Muslims in Pakistan and India. They are mostly settled in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also settled in the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The Qidwai, together with the Milki, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group of a...
- Kayastha MuslimMuslim KayasthsThe Kayastha Muslim are community of Muslims, descendents of members of the Kayasth caste who embraced Islam. They live in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan and many have now settled in United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The community uses...
s