Muslim Raj Gond
The Muslim Raj Gond are a small Muslim community found mainly in the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra in India. A small number are also found in the state of Madhya Pradesh. They are also known as the Dao Muslim Jamat. The community are Muslim converts from the Gond community.[1]
History and origin
The Dao Jamat are drawn from the largest tribal grouping in India, the Gond. They are descended from the family and close kinsmen of Gond chief who converted to Islam about three hundred years ago. The community descend from Raja Bhagtu Shah, the ruler of the state of Deogarh, who converted to Islam. He took the Muslim name Shaikh Bakht Buland Goindi. The principality was taken over by the Bhonsle Marathas in the 18th Century.[2]
Present circumstances
The Muslim Raj Gond are found mainly in the city of Nagpur, living mainly in the Dao Mandi area. In addition, they are also found in the village Matkajheri in Nagpur District. They are also found in the districts of Hoshangabad, Betul, Balaghat, Seoni, and Raisen. The community is endogamous, although there are cases of marriage with the Mughal, Shaikh and Momin Ansari communities. They are now called Mughal Goindis or Shaikh Goindis. They have also given up the historic practice of clan exogamy. Like other Muslim communities in Maharashtra, they have come under the influence of the Tableeghi Jamat. There has also been a movement towards adoption of Urdu, and the use of the Gondi language has almost disappeared.