Zamindara
| Regions with significant populations |
|---|
•  India •  Pakistan |
| Languages |
|
• Urdu • Hindi • Khari Boli • Awadhi • |
| Religion |
|
• |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Zamindara are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Rautara.[1] Many members of Zamindara community have migrated to Pakistan after independence have settled in Karachi, Sindh.
History and origin [edit]
The Zamindara claim to be sub-group within the Shaikh community. Zamindara in Urdu means a landowner, and was a name given to a community of diverse origin in what is now eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Zamindara are said to descendents from Brahmin & Rajput groups that converted to Islam. Many Zamindaras were substantial landowners, and reference is made to this community in the Ain-i-Akbari, as the landowmers of South,West, Azamgarh.[1]
Present circumstances [edit]
The Zamindara are concentrated in Azamgarh District, particularly in Azamgarh, in short all those who bear the title "Shaikh". They are essentially a community are large landowners, prior to the abolition of the Zamindari system. Like other Muslim peasant castes, such as the Shaikhzada and Jhojha of western Uttar Pradesh, they are strictly endogamous. They speak "Different Awadhi" known as Azamite language among themselves, but Urdu with outsiders.
