Who are Meo Muslims?

The communal clashes that broke out in Nuh district of Haryana on July 31 this year following a religious procession have brought the larger Mewat region into focus. The Mewat region is spread across the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and also serves as the home to the Meo Muslim community.

In 2016, during the Jat reservation agitation, angry mobs set fire to entire markets in important cities like Rohtak, the unofficial capital of the Jat heartland. Cow vigilantes in the Mewat area have been active despite the BJP-led Manohar Lal Khattar government coming to power in 2014, but Haryana has remained peaceful since then.

Meos, who converted to Islam at different times, mainly live in Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sohna, and Palwal in Haryana, around Delhi. They also inhabit Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Aligarh, and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, Bharatpur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan also hold a significant Meo population.

Who are the Meos Muslims?

The Meos follow syncretic traditions and inhabit a vast and very backward region, named Mewat, which takes its name from the word 'Meo'. It includes the Nuh, Palwal, Faridabad, and Gurgaon districts of Haryana, the Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan, and a few areas of western UP, including Mathura.

Communities like Jats, Meenas, Rajputs, and Ahirs originally hail from; they wear the same type of clothes as the members of these castes. The members of these castes eat the same kind of food and speak the same dialect. However, in Mathura, the dialect is influenced by Braj Bhasha.

Professor SK Chahal, Chairman of Haryana’s Kurukshetra University’s History Department and the Dean of the Social Sciences faculty, stated to The Indian Express that Mewat was one of fifteen subahs (provinces) during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar in medieval India. Chahal asserted that the Sultans of Delhi, up to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, gradually converted the Meos to Islam during the 12th to 17th centuries.

On March 27, 1527, Mughal ruler Babur with his huge army was standing in Khanwa village of present Bharatpur district and in front of him was King Rana Sanga of Mewar.

Historians say that between these two armies there was another hero who stopped Babar's steps from moving forward. The name of this hero was Raja Hasan Khan Mewati, who was Muslim by religion and Rajput by blood. Hasan Khan supported Rana Sanga and sacrificed himself in the battle. Meo Rajputs are settled in Nuh-Mewat of Haryana and Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan.

These Meo Muslims speak Mewati language and they are descendants of Gorwal Khanzada, Tomar, Rathor and Chauhan Rajputs. Changed religion but did not forget culture Mev Muslims are famous in entire Mewat region for narration of folk epics and ballads

Meos: A Unique Blend of Traditions

The Meos, residing in the Mewat region, embrace both Islamic beliefs and Hindu customs. They celebrate Hindu festivals and even have their version of the Mahabharata. Despite their syncretic culture, they maintain the practice of 'gotras', reflecting their Hindu roots.

Historical accounts vary on the timeline of Meos' conversion to Islam. Some say it began in the 11th century under Mahmood Ghazni, while others attribute it to Feroze Shah Tughlaq's reign. During Aurangzeb's rule, Meos converted to Islam to enhance their political role around Delhi.

The Mewat area faces issues of poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment. Tensions between Meos and right-wing groups escalated after incidents of cow-related violence. The distrust between communities has persisted due to political failures.

The Meos stand out with their unique identity, different from both mainstream Hindu and Muslim communities. In their marriages, they blend Islamic Nikah with Hindu customs like maintaining their gotra. Meos adopted Islam between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, still evident from their names like Ram Singh or Til Singh. The Mewat region people believe they're Kshatriyas, converting to Islam over time, influenced by Sufi Pirs, from their original roots.

Nuh Violence Incident

A clash during a VHP-organized procession in Nuh resulted in violence. Political leaders took different stances. CM Khattar viewed it as planned violence, while Dushyant Chautala blamed inadequate preparation. The incident's aftermath reveals political motivations for the upcoming Assembly polls.

The communal violence in Haryana raises concerns about similar incidents before the Lok Sabha elections. However, Haryana's informed rural population may thwart attempts to polarize voters. The state's strong shield against misinformation and exploitation could limit electoral gains for right-wing forces.

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