Shershahabadia
Encyclopedia
The Shershahabadi are a Muslim
community found in the state of Bihar
and West Bengal in India
. They are part of the larger Shaikh
community of Bihar
and Bedia
Community of Bengal. Common surnames used by the community include Mandal
and Sekh. They are also known as Bhatia or Sissobadia.
by the Muslim
ruler Sher Shah Suri
. According to other traditions, the community are a sub-group of the Bedia
community of West Bengal
. The community is said to have originated in the districts of Malda
and Murshidabad
in what is now West Bengal
. They form a sub-group within the larger Bedia
community. Though they have do different customs in religious activity than Shaikh of Bihar
. Shershahabadia still speak Bengali
, but most now have knowledge of Hindi
, which is the official language of Bihar
. They live mainly in the surrounding districts of Bihar
and West Bengal
named Purnia
, Katihar
, Murshidabad
, and Malda .
.Majority not belonging to any of the four recognized theological schools of Islam viz. Hanafi, Safei, Maleki and Humbeli. Rather they are known as Ahl al-Hadith( strict followers of Holy Quran and Hadith
) or La-Majhabi( having no Majhab). Preaching of any Pir/ Darbesh (Muslim Saint) is not accepted of them normally. Excepting the prayer in funeral ground they do not perform Jiyarat( a type of prayer kindling light). They do not take part in any sort of Milad/ Jalsa. In their social organization role of a Sardar/ Morol( Chief of the Community) is very important. Female is their society try to follow the system of Parda(Veil) as far as practiced. Shershahabadia women are expert in stiching clothes and singing Bedia
Geed(songs). They as a whole is not involved in popular Muharram
but some of them are remain on fasting throughout the day. Marriage consumed only at daytime. During marriages they perform the rituals like Haldi etc. Charham and Chalisha (observance on fourth and fortieth day after death) are not performed in Shershahabadia Community. Shershabadias speak in Badia dialect at home.
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 Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and West Bengal 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 part of the larger Shaikh
Shaikh of Bihar
The Shaikh are a Muslim community commonly found in the state of Bihar in India.The community are converts from the Ahir caste. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. A number of Bihari Shaikh families are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. Common surnames used by...
community of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and Bedia
Bedia (tribe)
The Bedia a community of Bihar, they believe that they originally lived on Mohdipahar and have descended from the union of Vedbansi prince with a Munda girl. The other view is that a section of the Kurmis were outcasts and to be known as the Bedia or Wandering Kurmis.The Bedia or sometimes...
Community of Bengal. Common surnames used by the community include Mandal
Mandal
is a town and municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Mandal.The town of Mandal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and Sekh. They are also known as Bhatia or Sissobadia.
History and origin
The word Shershahabadia (from Persian: شیرشاهآبادیها) literally means those settled on the land by Sher Shah. They acquired this name on account of the fact that this community was settled in the Purnia DivisionPurnia Division
Purnia division is an administrative geographical unit of Bihar state of India. Purnia is the administrative headquarters of the division. Currently , the division consists of Purnia district, Katihar district, Araria district, and Kishanganj district....
by the 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...
ruler Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
. According to other traditions, the community are a sub-group of the Bedia
Bedia (tribe)
The Bedia a community of Bihar, they believe that they originally lived on Mohdipahar and have descended from the union of Vedbansi prince with a Munda girl. The other view is that a section of the Kurmis were outcasts and to be known as the Bedia or Wandering Kurmis.The Bedia or sometimes...
community of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. The community is said to have originated in the districts of Malda
Malda district
Malda district is a district of West Bengal, India. It lies 347 km north of Kolkata, the state capital. Mango and silk are notable products of this district. The special variety of mango produced in this region, popularly known by the name of the district, is exported across the world and...
and Murshidabad
Murshidabad district
Murshidabad district is a district of West Bengal in eastern India. Situated on the left bank of the river Ganges, the district is very fertile. Covering an area of 5,341 km² and having a population 5.863m it is a densely populated district and the ninth most populous in India...
in what is now West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. They form a sub-group within the larger Bedia
Bedia (tribe)
The Bedia a community of Bihar, they believe that they originally lived on Mohdipahar and have descended from the union of Vedbansi prince with a Munda girl. The other view is that a section of the Kurmis were outcasts and to be known as the Bedia or Wandering Kurmis.The Bedia or sometimes...
community. Though they have do different customs in religious activity than Shaikh of Bihar
Shaikh of Bihar
The Shaikh are a Muslim community commonly found in the state of Bihar in India.The community are converts from the Ahir caste. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. A number of Bihari Shaikh families are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. Common surnames used by...
. Shershahabadia still speak Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, but most now have knowledge 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...
, which is the official language of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. They live mainly in the surrounding districts of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
named Purnia
Purnia
Purnia is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Purnia district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is located 400 km from Patna.The Indian army, Border Security Force ,and the SSB and the have bases around the city...
, Katihar
Katihar
Katihar is a town situated in the north eastern part of Bihar state in India. It is headquarters of Katihar district.- Geography :Katihar is located at...
, Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
, and Malda .
Present circumstances
The Shershahabadia practice community endogamy Cross cousin and parallel cousin marriages are prevalent. They are a community of settled agriculturist, but as their population has grown, the land ownership has been sub-divided. This has led to many becoming landless, and a growth of those in the community who are agricultural labour, day labour, bidi binding, teaching, business etc. The community is entirely belong to 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...
.Majority not belonging to any of the four recognized theological schools of Islam viz. Hanafi, Safei, Maleki and Humbeli. Rather they are known as Ahl al-Hadith( strict followers of Holy Quran and Hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
) or La-Majhabi( having no Majhab). Preaching of any Pir/ Darbesh (Muslim Saint) is not accepted of them normally. Excepting the prayer in funeral ground they do not perform Jiyarat( a type of prayer kindling light). They do not take part in any sort of Milad/ Jalsa. In their social organization role of a Sardar/ Morol( Chief of the Community) is very important. Female is their society try to follow the system of Parda(Veil) as far as practiced. Shershahabadia women are expert in stiching clothes and singing Bedia
Bedia (tribe)
The Bedia a community of Bihar, they believe that they originally lived on Mohdipahar and have descended from the union of Vedbansi prince with a Munda girl. The other view is that a section of the Kurmis were outcasts and to be known as the Bedia or Wandering Kurmis.The Bedia or sometimes...
Geed(songs). They as a whole is not involved in popular Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
but some of them are remain on fasting throughout the day. Marriage consumed only at daytime. During marriages they perform the rituals like Haldi etc. Charham and Chalisha (observance on fourth and fortieth day after death) are not performed in Shershahabadia Community. Shershabadias speak in Badia dialect at home.