Shershahabadia

The Shershahabadi (Urdu: شیر شاہ آبادی‎) are a Bengali Muslim community found in the state of Bihar and West Bengal in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of Bihar and Bedia Community of Bengal. Common surnames used by the community include Mandal and Sekh.[1] This Community, also known as Bhatiya means peoples live in lower land and was settled by the bank of river Ganges from Katihar district of Bihar on the north bank and Rajmahal District of Jharkhand on the south bank to Murshidabad districts of West Bengal on the South bank and Rajshahi district of Bangladesh on the north bank. They owned the Hindu surname Mandal mainly. They were formerly known as Kharwar Mandal. Today mostly Kharwar Mandal of Katihar district of Bihar are Hindu but other places they are Muslim Bhatiya. Most of them are Sunni Muslims guided directly by Arabian Islamic movement Al-Hadees.

In various districts of the Kosi Belt, they are also known as Mal Dahiya, Bhatiya, Budhiya and Bediya.[2]

Terminology

The term Shershabadia is derived from the name of the Pargana called Shershabad which had grown up during the rule of the Pathan king Shershah of Gour. The Pargana Shershabad was located in the area of southern Malda and northern Murshidabad.[3]

History and origin

The word Shershahabadia (from Persian: شیرشاه‌آبادی‌ها) literally means those settled on the land by Sher Shah. They acquired this name on account of the fact that this community was settled in the Lalgola of Murshidabad disrtrict by the Muslim ruler Sher Shah Suri. According to other traditions, the community are a sub-group of the Bedia community of West Bengal. The community is said to have originated in the districts of Malda, Nadia, Murshidabad and some part of Burdwan in what is now West Bengal. They form a sub-group within the larger Bedia community. Though they have different customs in religious activity than Shaikh of Bihar . Shershahabadia still speak Bengali, but most now have knowledge of Hindi, which is the official language of Bihar. They live mainly in the surrounding districts of Bihar and West Bengal named Purnia, Katihar, Burdwan, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia and Malda. Presently, after the divide of Bihar into Jharkhand, the districts of Jharkhand namely Pakur and Sahibganj are where they are found.[1]

During the British period, the Shershahbadi were considered by the authorities to be a Criminal tribe.[2]

Present circumstances

The Shershahabadia practice community endogamy Cross cousin and parallel cousin marriages are prevalent. They are a community of settled agriculturist, but as their population has grown, the land ownership has been sub-divided. This has led to many becoming landless, and a growth of those in the community who are agricultural labour, day labour, teaching, business etc. The community entirely belongs to Sunni Muslim. The majority do not belong to any of the four recognized theological schools of Islam viz. Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali. Rather they follow all the correct call from all the four Imams and they are known as Ahl al-Hadith (strict followers of the Quran and Hadith). Preaching of any Pir/ Darbesh (Muslim Saint) is not accepted of them normally. Except the prayer in funeral ground they do not perform Jiyarat (a type of prayer kindling light). They do not take part in any sort of Milad/ Jalsa. In their social organization role of a Sardar/ Mandal (Chief of the Community) is very important. Their females follow the system of Parda (Veil) as far as practiced. Shershahabadia women are experts in stitching clothes and singing Bedia Geed (songs). As a whole they are not involved in popular Muharram but some of them are remain on fasting throughout the day. Marriage is consumed only at daytime. During marriages they perform the rituals like Haldi etc. Charham and Chalisha (observance on fourth and fortieth day after death) are not performed in Shershahabadia Community. Shershabadias speak in Badia dialect at home.[1]

See also

References
  1. People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 876 to 877 Seagull Books
  2. Mohammad Sajjad (13 August 2014). Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours. Taylor & Francis. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-317-55981-8.
  3. "West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Report on Khotta Muslim" (PDF). www.wbcdc.gov.in. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
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