The Halalkhor are a Dalit Muslim community, found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India . The Halalkhor are also known as Shaikhra or Shahani in Bihar and Muslim Bhangi and in Uttar Pradesh.[1][2]
History and origin
[edit]The word halal khor is from Persian حلالخور and literally means those who eat halal food.[3] The community is traditionally associated with mazdoori and are descended from the Hindu Bhangi community who converted to Islam.[4] Initially they were Sunnis, but are believed to have converted to the Shia sect in the 18th century. In some states in North India, they have backward caste status.[5][6][7][8] They are divided into two sub-groups, the Kampu and Shaikada. The community are found throughout Uttar Pradesh, and speak various dialects of Hindi such as Awadhi.
The Halalkhor of Bihar are Muslim sweepers, and are also known as Mehtar, Bhangi, and Halalbegi. They are found throughout Bihar, and speak a number of dialects. According to traditions, they are Muslim converts from the Hindu Bhangi caste.[9] The Halalkhors of Bihar are split on sectarian lines between Shia and Sunni. There is no intermarriage between these two sects. Many Halalkhor in Bihar are employed as sweepers by the various municipalities in Bihar. Many have also emigrated to Mumbai and Kolkata, where they are employed as day labourers.[10]
The Halalkhor often face discrimination from the other Muslim castes, and are one of the most marginalized Muslim group in Uttar Pradesh. Like other communities, they have a traditional caste council, known as the biradari panchayat.[11] This caste council is involved in resolving disputes within the community. There are now growing demands for the community to be granted Scheduled Caste status, which is currently restricted to Hindu Dalits only.[12][13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Lee, Joel (February 2018). "Who is the true Halalkhor ? Genealogy and ethics in dalit Muslim oral traditions". Contributions to Indian Sociology. 52 (1): 1–27. doi:10.1177/0069966717742223. ISSN 0069-9667 – via Academia.edu.
- ^ Mansoor, Abdullah (12 July 2023). "Muslim Dalit Halalkhors are the same as Valmikis. They need legal protection too". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "halalkhor". Oxford English Dictionary.
- ^ Automation, Bhaskar. "मुस्लिम हलाल खोर, धोबी आदि जातियाें को मिले एससी का दर्जा, 26 को सम्मेलन". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Bihar" (PDF). www.ncbc.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh" (PDF). ncbc.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Rajasthan" (PDF). sec.rajasthan.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). jharsewa.jharkhand.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ adminindustv. "सामाजिक अस्पृश्यता और बहिष्करण से लड़ती मुस्लिम हलालखोर जाति - Indus News TV". www.indusnewstv.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Vivekanand (2022). ""Halalkhor": The Untouchables of Mughal India". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 81: 378–385. ISSN 2249-1937.
- ^ "Band-baaja & an identity bane - Halalkhor community sees vote as power to protest colonial error". Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Letters Muslim Dalits Halalkhors". Frontier articles on Society & Politics. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Sarkar,N (13 October 2025). "A Muslim Sanitation Caste and the Constitution of India - South Asia @ LSE". South Asia @ LSE -. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
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