Milki (caste)

Milki

Total population
1,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
•  India •  Pakistan
Languages
• Urdu • English
Religion
• Islam 100% •
Related ethnic groups
• Kayatha Musalman • Qidwai • Siddiqui • Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh • Shaikh

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

Origin

The Milki get their name from the fact that their ancestors were a class to whom revenue free grants (milk in Persian) 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.^[4]

Present Circumstances

The Milki of Unnao District 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.^[5]

See also

• Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh
• Siddiqui
• Qidwai Shaikh
• Kayastha Muslims

References

1. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?peo3=17583
2. ^ Tribes and castes of Northwestern Provinces and Oudh by William Crooke
3. ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 968 to 972 Manohar Publications
4. ^ Tribes and castes of Northwestern Provinces and Oudh by William Crooke
5. ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 968 to 972 Manohar Publications