Andhra Muslims is a name given to the Muslims hailing from Andhra Pradesh, India, collectively part of the larger Dakhini Muslims. Andhra Muslims have a different culture and traditions and speak a distinct dialect of Urdu, hereafter hypothetically referred to as South Dakhni for educational purposes only. Urdu is second official language in Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh, where Andhra Muslims are in significant numbers.
Contents
Andhra and Hyderabadi Muslims
While Hyderabad is the capital of the state of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh(1956-2014), the indigenous Muslim culture of the city is vastly different from Andhra Pradesh. Due to its position as the capital of one of the most important Muslim dynasties in India for four centuries, Hyderabad has been a melting pot of foreign cultures and influences. Their mother tongue is Urdu (some Dakhni) and the old Hyderabadi elite is said to have foreign roots.
The Andhra Muslims on the other hand have been little influenced by foreign cultures. Barring a few of the Telangana districts, they almost universally speak a variant of Dakhni i.e. South Dakhni as their mother tongue and can communicate in Telugu quite well. However many can manage a smattering of standard Urdu, largely because of the dominance of Urdu in Islamic publications in India. In their food habits and other secular practices, they are indistinguishable from their Non Muslim neighbours.
Religion
Most of the Andhra Muslims are Sunni, and follow the Hanafi school of Islamic Jurisprudence. There is also a minor Shia population in various districts, including Hyderabad and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Language
South Dakhni is the language spoken by Andhra Muslims. The term South Dakhni is not cognizant to Andhra Muslims as they simply refer to it as Urdu, though different from standard Urdu. South Dakhni is closely related to the more widespread and famous Hyderabadi Urdu and are mutually intelligible. South Dakhni has some loan words from Telugu but its contribution to the later is quite significant. Though they might not be pronounced the same way as in Urdu or South Dakhni that is spoken locally, such words in Telugu were borrowed from Urdu.
South Dakhni like Hyderabadi Urdu and other Dakhni dialects is different from traditional Urdu in many ways. The plural of a word is formed by sufixing 'an' to the word (a behaviour having its origins in Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh), the letter 'n' is silent. E.g. pottian (girls), choran (thieves), machcharan (mosquitoes), naaman (names), kitaban (books) etc. And, the letter "Qaaf" is pronounced as "Khaa"; 'qabar' (grave) is pronounced as 'khabar' (news) and 'qadam' (foot) is pronounced as 'khadam'.
Some Telugu words in South Dakhni...
Some Urdu words in Telugu...
Urdu words in Government Administration and Judiciary
Some salient features of South Dakhni...
History
The spread of Islam in Andhra Pradesh has been the gradual result of centuries of Muslim rule from Hyderabad. Consequently, there is no specific time period from which the spread of Islam here may be dated. A useful indicator would be the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1312. Proselytization was carried out by individual Sufi saints and major shrines may be found in Kadapa and Penukonda.
Population
According to the Census of 2001, Andhra Pradesh has a population of approximately 7 million Muslims who form around a little under 9% of the State's population. Out of this around a million and a half live in Hyderabad. Therefore, an approximate figure for Andhra Muslims would be somewhere around 6 million. The sex ratio is around 960 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 933. The literacy rate stands at 68%, again higher than the national average of 64%.
Distribution
Andhra Muslims are found fairly spread over the State. However their greatest concentration is in Kurnool district where they number around 600,000 and form 17% of the district's population. Important populations are also found in Kadapa, Guntur and Anantapur. Like the Muslims of North India, Andhra Muslims are also concentrated in the cities with much smaller rural populations. Kadapa and Anantapur have around 30% and 25% respectively. North Coastal Andhra has very few Muslims.
In A.P. after bifurcation (2014)
After bifurcation, A.P. has 13 districts. Among these 13 districts, four Rayalaseema Districts (Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Chittoor Districts) and four Coastal Andhra districts (Nellore, Ongole, Guntur and Krishna Districts have a considerable Muslim population. East Godavari, West Godavari and Vishakhapatnam Districts have a sizable Muslim population.
Occupational Structure
Most Andhra Muslims like rest of Andhra population are agriculturists. Many Andhra Muslims are also found in various crafts, some passed on for generations. Significant number are involved in small businesses and what is known as "Kutir Parishrama". Due to lack of higher education among Andhra Muslims their representation among executive level jobs are limited, however many Andhra Muslims have held distinguished posts with in state and private sector.