Muslim Gaddi

The Muslim Gaddi are a Muslim Rajput community found mainly in northern India. After the partition of India in 1947, many of the Gaddi in the states of Haryana and Delhi migrated to Pakistan and are now found in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. In Pakistan and North India, community members are called Ghazi. The Gaddi of Bihar claim Arab ancestry.[6] The Ghazi|Gaddi in Bihar and Jharkhand claim descent from a Sufi saint Gaddi Salahuddin Elahi, and said to have arrived in the region in the 19th century.

There a number of theories as to the origin of the Ghazi|Gaddi community. In South Asia, there are two distinct groups who go by the name Ghazi|Gaddi. In the foothills of the Himalaya, in what are now the state of Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir resides a Hindu nomadic community known as the Gaddi.[4] The Muslim Ghazi|Gaddi of North India is not an alpine community, but are found in the plains of North India, distributed in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and have never been nomadic. Prior to the independence in 1947, Muslim Ghazi|Gaddi communities were also found in Haryana. In fact, it is unclear whether there is any connection between the two groups other than the sharing of a common name.[4][5]

With regards to the Muslim Ghazi, there are different theories as to their origin. The Gaddi of Bihar claim Arab ancestry.[6] The Ghazi|Gaddi in Bihar and Jharkhand claim descent from a Sufi saint Gaddi Salahuddin Elahi, and said to have arrived in the region in the 19th century. This is shown by the fact that most Ghazi|Gaddi in Bihar and Jharkhand still speak Bhojpuri, the language of eastern Uttar Pradesh, and not the local Sadri language.[7] According to some other sources, they were the earliest inhabitants of Awadh, and this region they are often also referred.[8]

The Muslim Gaddi of North India are found in the plains of North India, distributed in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Prior to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, Muslim Gaddi communities were also found in Haryana

According to some other sources, they were the earliest inhabitants of Awadh, and this region they are often also referred.[8] The Gaddi are found in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Lohardaga, Chakradharpur, Rohtas and Jamshedpur. The Gaddi are strictly endogamous, and practice both cross-cousin and parallel cousin marriages. They speak both Urdu and Bhojpuri. The Gaddi of Bihar are largely relying on the selling of milk, and are a semi-urban community. A small number of the community have become businessmen and traders. The Gaddi have their own clan association, the Bihar Gaddi Anjuman. Some sources say Muslim Gaddi were Rajputs in origin that converted to Islam.^[1]

A Research Book (in Urdu) on Gaddi casts has been written by Abdul Jabbar Khan Ghazi, A Ghazi|Gaddi Lawyer, discussing all casts and sub casts of Ghazi|Gaddi present in India and Pakistan . The Origin and the initial use of Word "Gaddi" is discussed in detail in the book.[9]

There also exists an alpine hindu nomadic community sharing the same name of Gaddi but they are different and not to be confused as related to each other^[2]

In North India, the Gaddi are a community that has been associated with farming, mostly cattle. They are involved in the selling of milk, especially those settled in towns. Some owns the huge parts of Land that are earned by hard work of their ancestors. They have much in common with other pastoral communities, In addition, the western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana the Gaddi have always possessed agricultural land, and are a small and medium scale cultivators. However, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the word Gaddi is almost become synonymous with milk selling.^{[3][page needed]}

Many Gaddi Muslims, especially younger generations, are moving into fields such as teaching, administration, and healthcare, though challenges remain, including a lack of adequate infrastructure in some regions. Many Gaddi Muslims, especially those in urban centers like Ranchi, Dhanbad, Sambhalpur, Jamshedpur have diversified into more lucrative sectors such as real estate, trade, and large-scale business.

The Rajak Dairy Farm (in (Bistupur) Jamshedpur) was likely established in the early 20th century as part of Tata Steel's initiatives to contribute to local community welfare and development in the Jamshedpur region. Tata Steel, founded in 1907, had a long history of contributing to the welfare of the local population, not only through industrial jobs but also by investing in rural development. The dairy farm, as part of these efforts, aimed at improving the local economy through modern agricultural practices and providing a reliable source of milk and dairy products to both the town and surrounding rural areas. The prominent clients/customers involved the Center point hotel, the Sonnet in Jamshedpur. The establishment was sold in 2007 to late Billu Kapila and Rajeev Singh Dugal, industrialists who replaced it with to hotels such as Ramada Group and Alcor Hotels, respectively.

Another prominent business was established by Saheb Ali in Ranchi, who is real-estate owner in Ranchi and near by cities in Jharkhand, is also a Gaddi community. He owns and runs Hill View Constructions Private Limited, which is registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

While there is no specific record of any major national-level politician or statesperson identifying explicitly as a Gaddi Muslim, there are several local and regional leaders in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh who may have ancestral ties to Gaddi communities. Some of them have played roles in advocating for the rights and development of Muslims in their states. In Bihar, Gaddi Muslims have historically been involved in local politics, particularly in village panchayats and smaller constituencies. They are often seen as community leaders in their rural areas, though many do not achieve national prominence.

The western Uttar Pradesh Gaddi, like other neighbouring peasant castes have benefited from the effects of the green revolution, and many have successfully begun mechanising their farming, such as buying tractors.^{[4][page needed]}

The Gaddi are Muslims of the Sunni sect, following various denominations such as Hanafi, Barelvi, Deobandi, and even local Folk Islam. They are an endogamous community, practising clan and village exogamy in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (i.e. not marrying within the clan). Among other Gaddi communities, marriages are preferred within the biradari, and with a marked preference for parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. The Gaddi tend to reside in multi clan and multi religious villages, often occupying their own quarters. In western Uttar Pradesh, the Gaddi are what is often referred to as the dominant clan, usually making between half and two thirds of the population of the village, and their villages are referred to as Gaddi villages.^{[5][page needed]}

Tata Steel, which has historically been a major employer in the region, has also been involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at improving educational access in the region. Tata-run schools and initiatives such as Tata Skills Development Program have contributed to local educational empowerment, including for girls.

Like many other rural Muslim communities in Bihar and Jharkhand, Gaddi Muslims have gradually shifted from traditional occupations like animal husbandry to real-estate prominently, or income-generating activities such as trade, and local businesses. However, like many in the region, they continue to face challenges in terms of economic mobility and access to modern job markets. Education has been a key area of progress. Bihar/Jharkhand, in particular, has seen efforts to increase literacy rates among its Muslim population, including programs targeting rural communities.

The state of girl education among Gaddi Muslims in India is a work in progress, shaped by both challenges and opportunities. While significant strides have been made in improving the enrollment of girls in schools, there are still considerable hurdles to overcome, particularly in terms of early marriage, economic barriers, and cultural norms. The educational challenges and gender disparities for Gaddi Muslim girls are indeed more pronounced in rural areas rather than urban centers like Jamshedpur, Patna, Ranchi, or Bihar's other cities, where educational infrastructure and socio-economic conditions tend to be better.

The positive trends observed in urban areas highlight that with the right combination of community support, Tata Group led initiatives, and increased awareness.

• Gaddi
• Gaderia