| Total population |
|---|
| 2,989,000[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| • India • Pakistan• Nepal |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Mallah (Urdu:ملاح) (Bangla:মাল্লা)are the traditional boatmen caste and ethnic group of North India, East India and Pakistan.[2] A small number of Mallah are also found in Nepal.[3]
The word mallaah is said to come from an Arabic word which means a motion of moving like bird’s wing. In Bangla the words majhi and malla usually go together and refer to communities affiliated with the river and sea. Those of India are largely Hindu, with a small Muslim minority, while those of Pakistan are Muslim. Phoolan Devi, the controversial dacoit and politician belonged to the Mallah community.[4]
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The community is found along the banks of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Most Mallah groups trace their descent from the ancient Nishada tribe, mentioned in the Mahabharat. They are related to the Kewat community, who form the bulk of the boatmen class of North India. Other Mallah sub-groups include the Bind, the Goriya, the Chai, Tiar and Dhimar tribes. All of these groups of Hindu Mallaah are endogamous. Among the Muslim Mallaah, the Chaudriya are largest sub-group, followed by the Jarya. The Muslim Mallaah are found mainly in western Uttar Pradesh.[5] Many Mallaah are now cultivators, with a few now have also taken to other occupations. In Uttar Pradesh, they speak Khari boli, Awadhi and Hindi. They have backward caste status in Uttar Pradesh, and Scheduled Caste status in Delhi. The majority of the community are Hindu, although there are a small number of Muslim Mallah.[6]
In Bihar, they are both cultivators and boatmen. They claim descent from the Hindu god Nisadh. The community is also known as Mandalji or Machua. They speak the Angika dialect of Hindi. The community consist of three sub-castes, the Dhoar, Parbattikurin, and Semeri.[7]
In North India, the Mallaah have set up a caste association, the Akhil Bharitiya Nishad Sabha (the All India Nishad Association), which acts as a community welfare association.
In West Bengal and Orissa another sub-group of the Mallah community is present and they are known as Mahishya. This community is found mainly in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal. They speak Bengali and are Hindus.
It Sindh, the Mallaah are the traditional boatmen of Sindh, living along the inlets of the Indus delta.
In Punjab, the boatmen belong either to the Mallaah or Jhabel tribe. In south west Punjab, they are often regarded as a clan of Jats, and found mainly along the banks of the Indus. In this region, many Mallaah are cultivators, and have given up their occupation as boatmen. They generally combine their specialized occupation of boat management with other occupations such as fishing and the growing of waternuts. All the Punjab Mallaah are Muslims. In Bahawalpur, the Mallaah, Mohana and Jhabel are said to have a common origin, with Mohana being fishermen, the Mallaah being boatmen and Jhabel being cultivators.[8]