Muslim Raj Gond

The Muslim Raj Gond are a Muslim community found mostly in the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra in India. A few Raj Gond 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. The Ruling Class among the Gond were known as Raj gonds.

History and origin[]

The Dao Jamat are drawn from the largest tribal grouping in India, the Gond Ethnic Group. They are descended from the family and close kinsmen of Rajgond 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.^[1]

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.

See also[]

• Tadvi Bhils

References[]