Muslim Rajputs

History

The term Rajput is traditionally applied to the clans who claimed Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi and Agnivanshi lineages of Kshatriya in the Hindu varna system. They are sometimes also known as Ranghars.

Conversion to Islam and ethos

Upon their conversion from Hinduism to Islam, many Muslim Rajputs maintained many of their Hindu customs. Muslim Rajputs also often retained common social practices, such as purdah (seclusion of women), with Hindu Rajputs.

Despite the difference in religious faith, Muslim Rajputs have cooperated with Hindu Rajputs on several occasions against common threat. For example, the Khanzadas of Mewat fought with Rana Sanga against Babur.

In 1993, instances of conversions of Rajputs to Islam were recorded in Khurja tehsil of Bulandshahr, in western Uttar Pradesh.

Muslim Rajput clans

Khanzadas of Mewat

Mewat was a kingdom in Rajputana with its capital at Alwar ruled by a Khanzada Rajput dynasty during the period of the Delhi Sultanate. Hasan Khan Mewati fought along with Rana Sanga in the Battle of Khanwa against Babur, and died in the battle. Mewat covered over a huge area in present-day Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Meo Khanzadas claimed to have been descended from Hindu Yadu Rajputs.

Kindwars of Kharagpur

The Kharagpur Raj was a Muslim Kindwar Rajput chieftaincy in modern-day Munger district of Bihar. Raja Sangram Singh led a rebellion against the Mughal authorities and was subsequently defeated and executed. His son, Toral Mal, converted to Islam and took name Roz Afzun. Roz Afzun became a loyal commander to Jahangir and Shah Jahan, and Jahangir referred to him as his "favourite" commander in the empire. Another prominent chieftain of this dynasty was Tahawar Singh who played an active role in the Mughal expedition against the nearby Cheros of Palamu.

Lalkhani

The Lalkhanis are a Muslim Rajput community and a sub-clan of the Bargujars. They were the Nawabs of various estates in western Uttar Pradesh. These included Chhatari and neighbouring regions including parts of Aligarh and Bulandshahr.

Qaimkhanis of Fatehpur-Jhunjhunu

The Qaimkhanis were a Muslim Rajput dynasty who were notable for ruling the Fatehpur-Jhunjhunu region in Rajasthan from the 1300s to the 1700s. They were descended from Hindu Chauhan Rajputs, though also stated by the historian Dirk Kolff to have Turkic origins.

Mayi chiefs

The Mayi clan were the chieftains of the Narhat-Samai (Hisua) chieftaincy in modern-day Nawada district in south Bihar. Descended from Bhatti Rajputs of Talwandi, one of their notable figures was Daulat Khan Mayi, a Rajput subahdar of Kandahar. The founder of the Mayi clan was Nuraon Khan who arrived in Bihar in the 17th century. His descendants were Azmeri and Deyanut who were granted zamindari rights over six parganas by the Mughal authorities. Deyanut's son was Kamgar Khan who expanded his land by attacking and plundering neighbouring zamindars. Kamgar Khan also led numerous revolts against the Mughals and attempted to assert the Mayi's independence. His descendant was Iqbal Ali Khan who took part in the 1781 revolt in Bihar against the British however his revolt failed and Mayi's lost much of their land.

Bengal

Rajput communities began settling in Bengal during the Sultanate period where they were given high ranks in the Bengal government. One notable example is of Bhagirath of Ayodhya, who belonged to the Hindu Bais clan, who was appointed as the Dewan of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah. His son, Kalidas Gajdani embraced Sunni Islam through the guidance of Ibrahim Danishmand and became known as Sulaiman Khan. Bhagirath's grandson, Isa Khan, grew to become the chief of Bengal's Baro-Bhuiyan confederacy which posed as a threat to the Mughals who wanted to conquer Bengal. The diwans of Mymensingh and Dhaka during the 19th-century were said to be the descendants of Muslim Rajputs.

Another Bengali Rajput community are the Ghosi, who can predominantly be found in the 24 Parganas and Midnapore districts, particularly near the towns of Barrackpur and Kharagpur. They migrated to Bengal from Kanpur five centuries ago and are descended from Amar Singh Rathore, a Rajput nobleman from Jhansi who converted to Islam. They are divided into several clans; Rathore, Dogar, Chauhan, Khelari, Tatar, Lehar, Nahar and Maidul.

Gichki of Makran

Makran state was ruled by Gichki Nawabs, who were of Rajput origin. Their ancestor, Jagat Singh, had migrated from Rajputana in the 17th century and converted to Islam, although the clan later Balochised.