The Valmikis are a variety of communities throughout India who all claim descent from the legendary author of the ''
Ramayana
The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
'',
Valmiki
Valmiki (; , ) was a legendary poet who is celebrated as the traditional author of the epic ''Ramayana'', based on the attribution in the text itself. He is revered as ''Ādi Kavi'', the first poet, author of ''Ramayana'', the first epic poe ...
. The Valmikis can be classified as a
caste
A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...
or ''
sampradaya
''Sampradaya'' (/ səmpɾəd̪ɑjə/,; ), in Indian-origin religions, namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, can be translated as 'tradition', 'spiritual lineage', 'sect', or 'religious system'. To ensure continuity and transmissi ...
'' (tradition/sect).
In the north-west
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
region, this caste had adopted Sikhism. During the
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against Company rule in India, the rule of the East India Company, British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the The Crown, British ...
, many Valmiki were prominent rebels. Notable examples include
Matadin Bhangi,
Gangu Mehtar and
Bhura Singh Valmiki.
According to the
2001 Census of India
The 2001 census of India was the 14th in a series of censuses held in India every decade since 1871.
The population of India was counted as 1,028,737,436 consisting of 532,223,090 males and 496,514,346 females. The total population increased b ...
, the Valmikis formed 11.2 per cent of the
Scheduled Caste population in the Indian state of
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste in
Delhi National Capital Region. The
2011 Census of India for
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241.
Demographics
Notable people
*
Om Prakash Valmiki
*
Hans Raj Hans
Hans Raj Hans is an Indian singer and politician. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a recipient of the civilian honour of Padma Shri. He sings Punjabi folk and Sufi music as well as in movies and has also released his own 'Pun ...
*
Navraj Hans
*
Yuvraj Hans
Yuvraj Hans is an Indian Punjabi-language actor. He is the son of singer-turned politician and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hans Raj Hans
Hans Raj Hans is an Indian singer and politician. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a rec ...
*
Sudeepa
Sudeep Sanjeev (born 2 September 1971), also known as Kichcha Sudeepa, is an Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, singer and television presenter, who primarily works in Kannada cinema. He has also worked in Hindi, Telugu and Tami ...
*
Devi Das Nahar
*
Sabar Koti
Other countries
In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.
See also
*
Mazhabi Sikh
*
Matadin Bhangi
*
Madakari Nayaka
*
Bhai Jiwan Singh
*
Bhura Singh Valmiki
*
Gangu Baba
*
Sikh Light Infantry
The Sikh Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army.[Valmiki
Valmiki (; , ) was a legendary poet who is celebrated as the traditional author of the epic ''Ramayana'', based on the attribution in the text itself. He is revered as ''Ādi Kavi'', the first poet, author of ''Ramayana'', the first epic poe ...](_blank)
*
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal
*
Balmikism
*
Valmiki Ashram
References
{{reflist
Dalit communities
Hindu communities
Scheduled Castes of Punjab
Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh
Scheduled Castes of Gujarat
Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh
Scheduled Castes of Delhi
Scheduled Castes of Haryana
Scheduled Castes of Chhattisgarh
Scheduled Castes of Assam
Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir
Scheduled Castes of Bihar
Scheduled Castes of Himachal Pradesh
Scheduled Castes of Odisha
Scheduled Tribes of Andhra Pradesh