Mukhi (''mukhia'') is the title used for a head of community or village elitesIndia's Villages. Development Department, West Bengal, 1955 and their local government in

Western India Western India is a loosely defined region of India consisting of western states of India, Republic of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Ministry of Home Affairs in its Western Zonal Council Administrative divisions of India, Adminis ...

and

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

.Peasant Pasts: History and Memory in Western India. Vinayak, Chaturvedi, University of California Press, 2007 It is derived from the word ''mukhiya'' meaning 'foremost', and prior to Indian independence they were the most powerful person in each community, imbued with both civil and judicial powers.

Status

Mukhi headmen generally came from the wealthiest or most prominent families within their community and acted as the presidents of the local panchayats. According to local traditions, the Mukhi could be a hereditary position inherited by the eldest sonGujarat, Part 3. Popular Prakashan, 2003 or an elected position, as were the panchayats. Decisions made by the panchayat were accepted by their communities and did not require enforcement. In developed areas, many also held high positions in business.

History

The tradition of mukhis and ''panchayat raj'' (village self-government) is thought to be thousands of years old but currently decreasing in influence due to the growth of government and democratic decentralisation. Since at least the 16th Century, the roles carried out by mukhis included those relating to local revenue gathering and expenditure, policing and justice. By the 19th, under the British rule of India, they became government appointed agents. They led local Panchayats and acted as local representative of the rulers. In 1876, according to the Village Police Act, the mukhis were also given central roles in the criminal justice system and required to carry out surveillance about suspicious activities and reporting to district level officials. They had powers to resolve conflicts within their community, particularly those relating to marriages, and give consent over the building of properties and officiate over daily events or rituals.Encyclopaedia of Ismailism. Mumtaz Ali Tajddin Sadik Ali, Islamic Book Publisher, 2006. In

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

, Sindh the position was always held by a member of the Bhaibund community who presided over the collection of fines for the violation of duties and obligations.

Ismailism

In the

Ismaili Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia, who accept ...

Nizari Nizari Isma'ilism () are the largest segment of the Isma'ilism, Ismailis, who are the second-largest branch of Shia Islam after the Twelvers. Nizari teachings emphasise independent reasoning or ''ijtihad''; Pluralism (philosophy), pluralism— ...

tradition, the term is also used for the guardian of each Jama'at Khana where the Mukhi acts as the tangible symbol of the

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

's authority, by officiating over daily rituals.

Family name

Mukhi is also a common name within

Sindhis Sindhis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group originating from and native to Sindh, a region of Pakistan, who share a common Sindhi culture, history, ancestry, and language. The historical homeland of Sindhis is bordered by southeastern Balochi ...

denoting a hereditary relationship to a mukhi and, from a separate root, in other Indian communities as meaning "beautiful".A Smaller Hindustani and English Dictionary, Taylor & Francis

References

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Sources