Dikhit Khanzada

The Dikhit Khanzada are a sub-group wirthin the Khanzada community found in eastern Uttar Pradesh in India. They also refer to themselves as Dikhit Thakurs or sometimes just Thakurs. The Dikhit Khanzada are Muslim converts from the Dikhit Rajput community.^[1]

Origin

The Dikhit Khanzada claim descent from Ram Singh Dikhit of what is now Fatehpur District, who converted to Islam, and took the name Malikdad Khan. He founded the town of Lalauli, which has remained the centre of the tribe. In addition to Fatehpur District, Dikhit Khanzada communities are also found in the districts of Banda, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur and Kheri. The Banda District Dikhit are said to have converted to Islam at the hands of Mohammad Ghori, and as such call themselves Ghori Dikhit. They are found mainly in the villages of Adri, Piprodar, Mahabara, Hardauli, and Sobada.^[2]

Present circumstances

The Dikhit Khanzada are Sunni Muslims, except the taluqdar families, but incorporate many folk beliefs. The Dikhit speak both Awadhi and Urdu. They were at one time substantial landowners, but with the carrying out of land reform by the government of India after independence in 1947, they lost many of their larger estates. The community are now small to medium sized farmers, growing wheat, sorghum, pulses and sugar cane. They have no caste council or panchayat, although there are localized panchayats in their villages. Although the community did practice clan exogamy, this is no longer the case.^[3]

The sense of Rajput identity amongst the Dikhit Khanzada remains strong, especially those of Fatehpur District. In their marriages too, Rajput customs are followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. The community also practices clan exogamy, marrying into other Khanzada communities such as the Gautam Khanzada. Although Rajput traditions remain strong, the community are far more orthodox then neighbouring Khanzada communities.^[4]

See also

• Khanzada

References

1. ^ Fatehpur District : A Gazetteer Volume XX, District Gazetteers of the United Provinces edited by H Neville page 88
2. ^ Fatehpur District : A Gazetteer Volume XX, District Gazetteers of the United Provinces edited by H Neville page 88
3. ^ Tribes and Castes of Northwestern Provinces and Oudh by William Crooke page 38
4. ^ "India Today". India Today. 2002-07-15. http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20020715/living.shtml. Retrieved 2010-08-18.