Jhojha
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India | |
| Languages | |
| • Khari Boli • Urdu • | |
| Religion | |
•  Islam 100% • | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Khoja • Rajpoot • Jhojha Turk. |
The Jhojha are a Muslim community or clan found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab in India.[1] A few were also found in the Mohali District of Punjab.[2]
History and origin
There are a number of traditions as to the origin of the Jhojha community.The Jhojha community is descendant from the Turks in India. They were in the armies of Turks. Whenever Turks won any region they give some properties around the region to their soldiers to live and protect from the enemies . They have to struggle a lot for their survival because the areas they were provided were lack of basic needs that is why they were called "Jhuj" or " Jhoojne wala". Later the name was transformed into Jhojha. As the Indian soldiers were Rajputs and many of these Hindu Rajputs converted to Islam and lived with Jhojha Community. They are also called Jhojha Rajput.
Present Circumstances
The Jhojha are a community made of up of small peasants, concentrated in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh. They have a village-based caste council, which exercises social control. In terms of religion, they are fairly orthodox Sunni Muslims, and have customs similar to other neighbouring Muslim peasant castes, such as the Kamboh, Garha, and Muley Jat.[1]
The Jhojha have two statewide caste associations, the Tanzim Anjuman Jhojha (Organization of Jhojha associations)and Uttar Pradesh Jhojha Kanyan Sabha.